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1994 Penske PC23 - Timeline
About this vehicle
The Penske PC-23 epitomised Indycar in the 1990's. Sleek, fast and beautiful it dominated in its two guises, first with the quad-cam Ilmor Indy V8 engine and then fitted with "the atom bomb of Motor racing", the Mercedes-Benz 500I. Chassis 08 was one of Emerson Fittipaldi's two cars during the later half of the 1994 season before becoming the primary test car during the winter. In early 1995 it was sold to the Bettenhausen team where it was raced by Stefan Johansson. That part of it's history is still being researched as Bettenhausen also bought chassis 09.
Latest updates
Boost system
While the chassis and bodywork have gone to MCT for final fit we have been looking into the boost system. The original system uses both mechanical and electronic control but can be switched to work purely mechanically via a switch above the drivers legs.
We have managed to get an original regulator from Canada and two new solenoids to 1994 specification.
End Plates
Original End Plates in short oval configuration. These were adapted to suit the RC rear wing.
Exhaust Heatshield Final Fit
Ady Matthews has now finished producing the heat shielding which looks terrific. As Indycars have a full underwing the section between the floor and the top of the sidepod is only just tall enough for the exhausts to transit though hence the need for the shielding.
Cold air is fed into the header bag from a small NACA duct in the side of the floor and back out through a vent above the inlet.
Bodywork Fit
The bodywork is now completely stripped and fits a good deal better than it did. There is still a lot of tidying up to do but less than was initially anticipated. It is estimated the car is now over 20Kg lighter just though removing the paint.
Spare Front Wng
This is believed to be one of the original wings from PC 23 08. It is marked up as Laguna Race and is painted in Bettenhausen colours so would have been used by Johansson in 1995.
Various Bodywork Parts For Paint
Please make sure these to to Tom and Ian Castle for stripping.
