THE PENSKE MERCEDES BENZ FOR THE "500 MILES OF INDIANAPOLIS"

In masterful, Penske Racing had removed a V8 engine of two valves, taking shelter to the new regulation that allowed that motors of these characteristics enjoyed 55 inches of the pressure of turbo instead of the 45 established for motors of the camshaft to the head.

In reality, these production engines already had that privilege that three years ago extended to prototype engines. This group enjoyed greater displacement; 209 cubic inches instead of a maximum of 161.5 (2.65 liters) of the engines with a tree to the head.

The construction and the development of the Mercedes Benz engine were kept in absolute secrecy, no one imagined that it aimed to win 500 lndy four months later.

During the month of May, only with the technical specifications that confirmed a potential superiority with respect to the others, complaints began.

Others commented that although a first level effort was deducted when dealing with Penske and Mercedes Benz, there were still several questions such as the reliability, temperature issues and even tire wear demanded by the higher torque and power of these engines. The speed issue was quickly out of the question as soon as the doors of the Speedway opened with two of Penske's three cars in the front row, one of them in the Pole Position.

From the beginning of the race, Emerson Fittipaldi always gave the feeling that he had things under control of the Indianapolis 500, in an edition riddled with accidents and setbacks that left aside serious contenders who already had enough problems with the Penske.

In a separate race, the Penske was the Japanese train. In a traffic situation, Al Unser Jr. overtook Emerson who rushed to recover his position, although he still had a lap of advantage and only had to wait. At the most favorable moment to pass the turbulence of Unser's car added to the speed and the fact that Emerson increased the instability of his car by passing over the irregularities of the inner rope of the track, caused the car to get on. side and end against the wall.

Villeneuve had a chance of victory despite his obvious mechanical disadvantage. He could complete the distance without further stops, while the Penske had to make one more stop. Due to the accident of Emerson enters the Pace Car, reducing the consumption of Al Unser and the checkered flag falling on the trunk of this one.

Penske will submit to the consideration of the CART the approval that the Mercedes engine can compete in the championship in the same conditions as in Indianapolis, but this regulation of the CART forces all the turbo engines to compete with 45 inches of pressure.

The general climate of disapproval of the new regulations that had allowed Penske to take home the most important test in the world almost blamed the latter for fraudulent victory. Penske, who is an owner of Illmor, replaced General Motors with Mercedes Benz in society. But even so, the Mercedes engines are manufactured by Illmor in England.

This victory in 1994 could not have been fairer, which if true is that it created many questions, perhaps the most serious is that if this special regulation for Indianapolis is maintained, it would be the case that the teams have two engines, one for the championship and another one for Indi, the most important test of the calendar, for many ruined by this theme the edition of this year.