Scott McLaughlin’s 2018 Supercars Championship
winning Ford Falcon on display in Scottsdale. (The Tomaso Collection)
As no jokes about ScottyMac’ needing His Ford
Falcon to bounce off the walls at Mother Speedway. Or Team Penske’s travails
during Ye Month ‘O May…
In what’s become a cherished tradition during
every visit to The Valley of The Sun, once again your Humble No Fenders Scribe
Tomaso was blissfully ensconced in the Penske Racing Museum this past March.
Some three weeks plus after my latest visit, I
suddenly found myself wondering if my recollection of my inaugural visit was
correct? To which I’m happy to say it was fairly spot-on nearly twenty years
later. Albeit it was actually November 30, 2005 when I first set foot inside
the Penske Racing Museum thanks solely to Blogmeister Miguel taking me there.
Having seen El Capitano talking to Ye ‘Ol Windbag Dave Despain on Wind Tunnel
the same year from the museum…
Although it slays me now, I guess I really
shouldn’t be surprised that I launched a nine page story on my first visit to
la Museo some 13yrs ago. For which if you’re inclined. Whale’ Yuhs better be
Damn well inclined or comfy if you’re gonna read All Gory 4,253 words written
in Thy No Fenders Post, Aye Karumba!
http://www.nofenders.net/2012/04/penske-racing-museum-inaugural-visit.html
Arriving at 1PM, Blogmeister Miguel and I
accidently walked into the adjoining Aston Martin dealership, where we were
immediately met by a friendly Salesman curtly asking if He could help us? To
which Miguel seeing the rest of our party waving at us thru the glass walls,
said I guess the museum is next door…
The first IndyCar chassis encountered was Josef
Schlick’ Newgarden’s 2023 Indianapolis 500 winner. Followed by His 2017
Championship winning mount. Other various IndyCars sat on display, including
two Norton Gould Rick Mears cars. Mears 1984 No. 6 “Yellow Submarine” Indy 500
winner. Whilst Snowbyrd MJ’ read to me the information plaque upon Tom sneva’s
racecar that He set the first official 200mph lap at the Brickyard in.
Gil de Feran’s 100th race winning Reynard/Honda
resplendent in Team Penske’s long standing Marlboro white with Dayglo red also
graced the museum’s main floor. Being the car that won El Capitano His “Ton” of
IndyCar victories, becoming the first ever IndyCar team to do so.
Along with Newgarden’s 2023 Indianapolis 500
winner, there were a further three chassis I’d never “seen” before. One being
the red No. 12 Verizon of Will Power, the Aussie’s 2022 mount that He won the
final Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, along with that year’s Astor Challenge
Cup aboard. Nee 2022 IndyCar Series title.
Both Blogmeister Miguel and Artiste Dave were
“wowed” by and audaciously bright neon lime green IndyCar bellowing to Symone’,
nee Pageantry’, aka Simon Pagenaud. Being Simon’s 2019 Menard Indianapolis 500
winner.
The fourth and final “New” car that initially
stumped me as Snowbyrd MJ’ said it was the #17 of ScottyMac’s, Huh? Turned out
to be Scott McLaughlin’s No. 17 Ford Falcon FG X racecar that He campaigned for
FordDJR Team Penske between 2017-18. The last Falcon model raced Down Under in
V-8 Supercars.
As it makes sense that the car that Mclaughlin
first came tantalizingly close to winning the 2017 Supercars Championship with,
and then securing the first of His three consecutive Supercars titles in 2018
with, is now proudly on display in Scottsdale.
https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/mclaughlin-reunites-with-first-supercars-title-winner/
Also, initially I was Cornfuzed’ over why
Newgarden’s 2023 Indy 500 winner wasn’t the same chassis that He used to repeat
winning in 2024? And I still hadn’t figured it out some three weeks later,
until No Fenders Offical’ Photographer Carpets came up with a close answer.
Whale’, at least He pointed Mwah in the right direction…
Having “read”, err listened to the IndyStar’s
article on the gala reopening of the IMS Museum, which includes the Penske
Gallery. Replete with the 1988, 1994, 2009 and 2024 Indianapolis 500 winning
chassis on loan. Along with Penske Racing’s first Indianapolis 500 entry, Mark
Donohue’s 1969 Lola T152. And the winner from El Capitano’, aka roger Penske’s
very first trip to Mother speedway in 1951.
Do Y’all know the answer to this riveting
trivia question? Time’s up, put them pencils down…
Yep, that’s right, the 2024 Dallara DW12
chassis featured the new for that season’s Hybrid Energy Recovery System, (ERS)
adding some 100lbs to the ageless DW12 racecar. Having made it’s 200th start at
St Pete one year ago!
Although IndyCar didn’t introduce the Hybrid
ERS system until Mid-Ohio in July, 2024. I’m 86% certain that the 2024 Dallara
DW12 was decked out with the new magnesium bell housing/transmission casing and
other ERS ancillaries, minus the ERS unit…
Hence, Arse-suming this Dallara DW12 also
included the auxiliary “plumbing” systems. Most notably the right hand side ERS
cooling radiator, that Chevrolet teams used the “blocker” plate , louver or
whatever they’re called at the Thermal Club this year to negative effect. When
the increased temperature sent the ERS into “limp” mode to preserve itself from
overheating!
Or was it simply the fact that I heard sometime
this May that Penske simply pulls every Indianapolis 500 winner out of service
for posterity’s sake to be displayed in perpetuity?
Naturally, as time marches on, and we’ve just
wrapped up another vaunted “Month of May”. Especially with how crazy this
year’s race was! I’m beginning to forget what else was on hand? Although I know
Mark Donohue’s 1973 IROC Porsche 911 Carrera RSR was there. Along with El
Capitano’s 1963 Catalina NASCAR Tintop’.
Whilst Snowbyrd MJ’ told me that the 1972 Hurst
Oldsmobile Pace Car was on display. Although I don’t remember if Donohue’s 1972
McLaren M16 Sunoco Indy 500 winner was on display?
And although I knew it wouldn’t be there, I was
still disappointed that one of the Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsch 963’s
weren’t present. Then again, Id Arse-sume that the All conquering No. 7 will
once day in the future grace the Penske Racing Museum.
And that’s just a slice of what was Thar’, since I didn’t even mention Joey “Sliced bread” Logano’s 2015 Daytona 500 winning Pennzoil Ford fusion, or All of the “Eye Candy” outside the museum…
