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| Category | USAC/CART IndyCar | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Penske | ||||||||||||
| Designer | Geoff Ferris | ||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Penske PC-5 | ||||||||||||
| Successor | Penske PC-7 | ||||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminum Monocoque | ||||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Top rocker arms; wide-based lower wishbones; inboard coil spring/damper units with varying shocks | ||||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Parallel lower links; single top links; twin radius rods; outboard coil spring/damper units with varying shocks | ||||||||||||
| Length | 3810mm (150in) without wing/drivetrain | ||||||||||||
| Width | 2032mm (80in) | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1016mm (40in) without wing, at roll hoop | ||||||||||||
| Axle track | Front track 1,549mm (61in) Rear track 1,575mm (62in) | ||||||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,692mm (106in) | ||||||||||||
| Engine | Cosworth DFX 2,650 cc (161.7 cu in)V880° 76.2mm (3in) Garret AiResearch TurbochargedMid-engined,longitudinally mounted | ||||||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland L.G.500[1] 4 speed with reverse gear removedmanual | ||||||||||||
| Power | 800–1,000 hp (600–750 kW) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 1,603 lb (727.1 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Fuel | Methanol, supplied byMobil | ||||||||||||
| Tires | Goodyear Eagle Speedway Specials - Rear 27.0x14.5-15 - Front 25.5x10.0-15 | ||||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Penske Racing | ||||||||||||
| Notable drivers | Rick Mears Tom Sneva Mario Andretti | ||||||||||||
| Debut | 1978 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||||||||
| First win | 1979 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||||||||
| Last win | 1979 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||||||||
| Last event | Duman's Turn 4 Restorations Indy (known) | ||||||||||||
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ThePenske PC-6 is aUSAC andCARTopen-wheel race car, designed by British designerGeoff Ferris atPenske Racing, which was constructed for competition in the1978 season. It won the1979 Indianapolis 500, being driven byRick Mears.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
The Penske PC-6 was introduced to racing in 1978 at the62nd Indianapolis 500, driven by Tom Sneva, Rick Mears, Mario Andretti, and Larry Dickson. It would place 2nd, later going on to achieve 1st place at the1979 Indy 500 with Rick Mears behind the wheel, cementing hisGould Charge #9 livery as one of the most famed on the PC-6. Other drivers would later try out the car, like Dennis Firestone, albeit without much success. From this point on not much is known about the PC-6. It may not have raced at all until more recent recreational races.
Tom Sneva made history in his Penske PC-6 qualifying at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway in 1978, setting a record four-lap average speed of over 200 miles per hour that became- and still is- a famous milestone of automotive racing. While laps crossing 200 miles per hour had been achieved at the speedway, none had been done on a hot track, though many had tried. Sneva also set the record for the first official lap crossing 200 miles per hour at the Indy 500 just one year prior, albeit in aMcLaren M24 owned byRoger Penske.
