1996 Mercedes-Benz Penske PC25

 

After the 1995 season, the team Penske, along with the vice champion Al Unser Jr. decided to promote some changes in the team for 1996, especially after the humiliating attempt to classify their two cars in the Indy 500 that year,

team-penske-penske-pc25-mercedes-unser-jr--35420team-penske-penske-pc25-mercedes-tracy-35421(1)
In comparison with the previous year’s version PC24, PC25 was aerodynamically optimized – hardly visible to the naked eye – and its engine was completely redesigned. The unit was fitted with a modified block, including crankshaft, connecting rod, bore and stroke. PC25 was producing 800HP/588kW.

Emerson Fittipaldi 1996 Penske Mercedes PC25 Champcar. Goodwood Festival of Speed 1997 3Capture
The biggest change has hit Emerson Fittipaldi, who saw the return of former teammate, Paul Tracy.

Emerson Fittipaldi 1996 Penske Mercedes PC25 Champcar. Goodwood Festival of Speed 1997 1Emerson Fittipaldi 1996 Penske Mercedes PC25 Champcar. Goodwood Festival of Speed 1997
To put warm cloths in the situation, Roger Penske gave Emerson Fittipaldi, along with a chassis Penske, the team Hogan.

Emerson Fittipaldi 1996 Penske Mercedes PC25 Champcar. Goodwood Festival of Speed 1997 5Capture
In this way, Emerson Fittipaldi started to lose motivation, being reflected in poor results, even suffer a serious accident in Michigan, involving the Canadian Greg Moore.

the red #9 PC-25 for Penske-HoganEmerson Fittipaldi (12 of 16 races), 18.
In an interview with Terra site, Emerson Fittipaldi has identified that he sensed one kind of premonition of the accident.

“I was thinking about stop competing and, despite my passion, I knew it was time to stop. I spoke with the owner of the team the day before about an accident. It’s funny because it seems to have been a prediction of what would happen. It was a call from God saying to stop. Below is the video with the accident:

PPG Indy Car World Series 1996 standings:

7 7 Paul Tracy 3 Marlboro Penske PC-25 Mercedes 248 Flagged 6
8 5 Al Unser, Jr. 2 Marlboro Penske PC-25 Mercedes 246 Flagged 5
10 8 Emerson Fittipaldi 9 Marlboro Penske PC-25 Mercedes 241 Flagged 3

The results for Penske at the end of 1996 season

4. Al Unser, Jr. Marlboro Team Penske Penske PC25 (Mercedes-Benz) 125
13. Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske Penske PC25 (Mercedes-Benz) 61
18. Emerson Fittipaldi Hogan Penske Racing Penske PC25 (Mercedes-Benz) 29

Results for Paul Tracy

1996 14 races 0 wins 1 podium 3 pole position 2 fastest race laps

Paul Tracy in the marlboro-team-penske-pc25
At the end of the 1996 season Team Penske found itself in unfamiliar territory; for the first time in over 20 years, the team had not scored at least one win in the CART championship. The combination of the exclusive Penske chassis, Ilmor-Mercedes engine and Goodyear tire proved to be no match for the readily available Reynard chassis, Honda engine and Firestone tires.

For legendary team-owner Roger Penske the easiest route to success was to switch to the most competitive machinery but his close ties with all three elements of his package forced him to continue on the same foot in 1997 with Penske PC26.

tm_mercedes_benz_formula-1_2Penske PC25
Data Sheet for Mercedes-Benz Penske PC25:

Transmission 6-speed manual transmission in unit with the differential gear
Shifting Sequential manual shift
Transmission type Change-speed gear
Maximum speed over 400 km / h

 

Foot brake Acting on front- and rear wheels
Wheels Light-alloy wheels, center mounting
Front tires 26.0/9.5 x 15
Frame design Carbon fiber monocoque with integrated roll bar
Rear tires 28.0/14.5 x 15
Front wheel suspension Double wishbone, inboard spring/shock absorber units (operated by push rods)
Drivetrain Direct transmission from engine-transaxle unit to rear wheels
Rear wheel suspension Double wishbone, inboard spring/shock absorber units (operated by push rods)
Brake system Hydraulically actuated

 

Engine type IC 108 C
Inlet valves 2 inclined overhead valves per cylinder, actuated via barrel tappets
No. of cylinders / arrangement 8 / 82° V
Outlet valves 2 inclined overhead valves per cylinder, actuated via barrel tappets
Configuration In front of rear axle, longitudinal; vertical
Valve operation 2 overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, gear drive
Combustion principle Four-stroke Otto (with manifold-injection and Garrett turbocharger)
Crankshaft 5-bearing
Bore x Stroke 91 x 50.9 mm
Fuel system Manifold injection, electronically controlled
Total displacement 2650 cc
Compression ratio 12.4
Fuel tank capacity 151 l
Maximum / output / rated output over 800 hp
Cooling Water circulation cooling
Lubrication Dry-sump lubrication
Cylinders Light alloy block with Nicasil coated light alloy liners
Cylinder head Light alloy, removable
Ignition Electronically controlled

 

Wheel Base 2972 mm
Front track 1730 mm
Rear track 1630 mm
Length 4953 mm
Vehicle weight 703 kg
Engine weight 123 kg
Seats 1