Penske Linked To F1 Return

[Senna 0]

PENSKE LINKED TO F1 RETURN

Giant US racing corporation Penske is considering a return to Formula 1, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper.

Penske has been the most successful team in the US single-seater scene for the last 30 years and also runs a front-running NASCAR franchise.

Owner Roger Penske is believed to have made contact with Bernie Ecclestone about entering a team in F1 in 2008 on the caviat that it will be able to operate on a profit through the FIA's recently-announced low-budget regulations.

"A big private team, very well known in America, recently told Bernie:

[pumpdoc 2]

As long as he leaves the IRL..............

[ButtonGod 0]

It'll be a big commitment to make if Penske come back and I would say that they need to set up a team base in Europe. As pumpdoc said, they'll have to leave IRL too and I reckon that both would be essential in order to make a successful F1 return.

[AutoRacer5 0]

That is heresy Pumpdoc, they MUST compete at Indy, and you know it!

[ButtonGod 0]

That is heresy Pumpdoc, they MUST compete at Indy, and you know it!

They still would in the US GP. Penske being a team would completely fill out the granstands at Indy, I'm sure.

[AutoRacer5 0]

I'm talking about the Indianapolis 500.

[ButtonGod 0]

I know what you're talking about.

[monza gorilla 1]

I thought they had a factory in Dorset. Poole?

[ButtonGod 0]

Have they? Haven't heard of that before. If they have then well, thats half the job done.

[pumpdoc 2]

That is heresy Pumpdoc, they MUST compete at Indy, and you know it!

No they MUST ditch the IRL, I was a BIG Penske fan till he jumped, now I could care less, same for the Andretti's

[AutoRacer5 0]

He still has to do the Indianapolis 500.

[F1 FANatic 1]

"A big private team, very well known in America, recently told Bernie:

[apex 0]

Two reasons why penske is considering a return to F1:

1. The Irl is losing the war to CCWS and is going the way of the Do Do Bird in the not to distant future. Penske made the wrong choice when he jumped ship. My guess is he knows a sinking boat when he sees it, and will let Tony George go down with the floundering ship.

2. The reported and projected cost cuts to fielding an F1 team in the near future make if finacially viable at around 100 to 130 million.

Penske knows he's on a losing train with the IRL and is looking to other options. Even if he starts an f1 team he will still be involved in and field a Indy 500 car. He did this while he was still in champcar as a rivel to the IRL series.

,

Having said this, a Penske return to F1 is just what the series needs. Formula one to call itself a true world series of motor racing needs representation from the USA. With the state of F1 and interest in the series at an all time low in Yankeeland, bringing in a USA based team with an American racing icon like Penske at the helm, will bring back millions of americans viewers to the show. And more importantly with it, millions of USA based corporate sponsorship dollars the series. Penske is a BIG player in USA racing and commands alot of power.

[pumpdoc 2]

Great post!!

[nojvnof1 0]

Indeed. Well said apex.

[F1 FANatic 1]

2. The reported and projected cost cuts to fielding an F1 team in the near future make if finacially viable at around 100 to 130 million.

even at 100 mill, 80 will not be enough, not if he wants to be anywhere near the top, and the teams at the top will still spend 250mill

i think that the fia doesnt see that the time of priveteirteams is gone. if they want veiwers they need the manufacturers and they will only come if they can sepend 300 mill and make the highest tech cars there are. with the cost cuts and tech limits put in place they will not want to compete, and so people who want to watch fast tech advanced racing wont watch because the priveteer teams dont have the resorces to bring that to the table

[apex 0]

The verdict is still out on what it will take finacially to cut it in F1. If penske comes you can bet he will have the goal to win in the series, it's been his modus operandi his entire racing career! I wouldn't expect anything less of penske. You can also be sure that Penske will be able to raise whatever funds necessary to win. He has many connections with corporate america that would line up to be associated with the Penske racing name and he has a very close relationship with the Honda Organization. No small player wouldn't you agree. Penske has been successful at ever form of racing he has been involved in.

[pumpdoc 2]

No long time fan of Penske's can forget the beautiful Sunoco Penske McLarens of the early '70's

[AutoRacer5 0]

Or the 1985 March driven by Sullivan...

[TripFontaine 0]

I know Penske in American Open-Wheel series but Penkse in F1 was way before my time....

....So I was wondering, how did they do in F1??

[pumpdoc 2]

If I recall not well, he had to many irons in the fire.........

[apex 0]

Penske only raced in about 30-35 f1 races in the 70's. He won an f1 race in 1976 at the Osterreichring in a Penske-Ford PC4 with John Watson at the wheel. Penske withdrew from f1 at the end of 1976. His first driver mark Donohue, was ironically and tragically killed while in practice at the osterreichring in 1975.

1971 -Penske-White Racing

Mosport Park 10 Mark Donohue McLaren-Ford M19A 8

DNS Watkins Glen 31 Mark Donohue McLaren-Ford M19A practised, but raced USAC event

10 Watkins Glen 31 David Hobbs McLaren-Ford M19A 22

1974 Penske racing

12 Mosport Park 66 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 24

DNF Watkins Glen 66 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 suspension 14

1975 Penske Racing

7 Buenos Aires 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 16

DNF Interlagos 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 handling 15

8 Kyalami 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 18

DNF Montjuich Park 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 accident 17

DNF Monte Carlo 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 accident 16

11 Zolder 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 21

5 Anderstorp 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 16

8 Zandvoort 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 18

DNF Le Castellet 28 Mark Donohue Penske-Ford PC1 transmission 18

5 Brands Hatch 28 Mark Donohue March-Ford 751 accident 15

DNF N

[monza gorilla 1]

The PC4 was a good looking piece of kit. As far as I know, the UK factory is still open, but only employs about 40 people, so Moorsville would probably be the base of operations.

a big undertaking though.

[TripFontaine 0]

thanks for the info!

[narain fan 0]

even at 100 mill, 80 will not be enough, not if he wants to be anywhere near the top, and the teams at the top will still spend 250mill

i think that the fia doesnt see that the time of priveteirteams is gone. if they want veiwers they need the manufacturers and they will only come if they can sepend 300 mill and make the highest tech cars there are. with the cost cuts and tech limits put in place they will not want to compete, and so people who want to watch fast tech advanced racing wont watch because the priveteer teams dont have the resorces to bring that to the table

what rubbish ,the manufacturer that won the past season had the 5th largest "budget

its not jst having the money,its about building competitive cars,or else toyota would have been constructors champ by now,and in the new 08 regs ,the men will be separated from the boys ....