 |
|
The winning No. 6 Sunoco Penske Racing Lola T70.
(Image source: sportscardigest.com)
|
Any Hardcore IndyCar aficionado will know
that El Capitano', nee Roger Penske, at the youthful age of 32, entered his
then Penske Racing in its Debutante Indianapolis 500 a Half Century ago.
With Penske's lead Driver Mark Donohue behind
the wheel of Penske's customer Four Wheel-drive Lola T-152 Offy', (Offenhauser)
which I've previously chronicled in another long ago No Fenders tome.
Yet this No Fenders story is cleverly tied to
Penske's meandering sports Cars forays the past half century, with Roger having
just eclipsed his 200th Start. For which "The Captain's" brace 'O Acura
Daytona Prototypes are a long ways from his earlier machinery.
Since I typically forget that Penske Racing
won its lone 24 Hours of Daytona event 50 years ago this past January. In what
is claimed to have been a surprise victory, back when the Drivers were
"He-Men!" With just two Drivers going the distance.
As Donohue with Co-Driver Chuck Parsons,
presumably a fairly unknown racer, albeit Diehard Sports Cars Fanatics will
know that Parsons won the 1966 U.S. Road Racing Championship. (USRRC)
As Parsons was substituting for the injured Ronnie
Buckhum, originally slated to partner with Donohue at Daytona...
As the duo won aboard a Lola T70 Mk IIIB Coupe
propelled by the ubiquitous Chevrolet 5-litre Small Block V-8, followed home by
another Lola T70-Chevrolet, giving Lola a 1-2 victory.
Ironically the runner-up Lola racing under
the American International Racing (AIR) Banner, was the short-lived Race Team
owned by some 'Ol Hollywood Actor named James Garner!
Whilst 'Ol Jimmy Rockford would go onto pilot the
Celebratory Indy 500 Pace Car at Mother Speedway three times, if I remember
correctly...
Alas, when I think of Roger Penske Racing;
Err Team Penske's various sports Cars ventures, I immediately think of a few of
my favourite racing cars.
With those iconic Porsche RS Spyders which
Decimated the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) springing to mind. Although Sadly,
when American Sports Car racing was Split between two rival Sanctioning Bodies,
nee ALMS vs. Grand Am. Keeping them from contesting the Rolex 24.
Along with my Numero Uno Prancing Horse, the Uber
Nasty Sunoco Ferrari 512M which Mark Donohue co-drove with some Bloke fondly
known here in Nofendersville as 'Ol Hobbo', nee HobbsCap', aka David Hobbs in
the early 1970's.
As Gory Hell! Can it already be a Decade
since Mark's son David Donohue & Company, including Buddy Hot Rod' Rice won
the Rolex 24 in a Brumos Racing Riley/Porsche Daytona Prototype on the 40th
Anniversary of Penske's lone 24hrs win at Daytona International Speedway, Eh?
Not to mention
that Penske & Donohue were Kickin' Arse in Thar Narly Chevy Camaro Zed-28's
during the 1969 SCCA Trans Am Series season!
