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  Article Image gallery (14) PC93/001 Specifications  
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Country of origin:United States
Produced in:1993
Numbers built:8
Designed by:Nigel Bennett for Team Penske
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:July 10, 2018
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Click here to download printer friendly versionBy Team Penske standards, the 1992 season had been a difficult one. Emerson Fittipaldi did score four wins in the Chevrolet-powered PC21 but ultimately on outright pace, the Cosworth-engined cars had dominated. For the 1993 season, chief designer Nigel Bennett evolved the existing design to create the PC22. Crucially, engine builder Ilmor provided a new evolution of the Chevrolet badged engine that was hoped to address all the shortcomings it had suffered in 1992.

Like its predecessors, the PC22 was a wholly conventional design built around a carbon-fibre composite monocoque. Suspension was by double wishbones with push-rod actuated springs and dampers on all four corners. Used as a fully stressed member was the 'C' specification Chevrolet 265 V8 engine, which was built by Ilmor in England. Fitted with a single Garrett turbocharger, it produced around 775bhp. It was mated to a sequential, six-speed gearbox.

Perhaps more profound for Team Penske than the revised car was the retirement of Rick Mears. He had been with Penske since 1978 and had won the Indy 500 four times and placed his Penske on pole a record breaking six times. Tasked with filling these impossibly big shoes were veteran Emerson Fittipaldi and Penske's 1992 third driver Paul Tracy, who had been promoted after Mears' retirement. Early in the year one Ayrton Senna also tested a PC22 but nothing came of it.

Fittipaldi and Tracy were on the pace from the start but faced a new foe in 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell. He scored a surprise debut victory with his Cosworth engined Lola. Tracy managed to score the PC22's first victory in round three at Long Beach and then Fittipaldi grabbed victory in the blue ribband Indy 500. They would go on to win a further six races including three one-two finishes but eventually had to settle for second and third in the championship behind Mansell.

For 1994, the PC22 evolved in the all-conquering PC23, which used Mercedes-Benz labelled Ilmor engines. Privateers continued to race the PC22 with updated engines, with an impressive third at Indy for Bobby Rahal as the best result. Scoring eight wins out of a possible 16 in 1993, the PC22 was arguably the best car on the grid but Tracy's inconsistency in particular meant that the championship eluded Team Penske.

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  Article Image gallery (14) PC93/001 Specifications