Ayrton Senna, the 3-time Formula One world champion, tests a Penske Indy Car at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Questions about Senna's intentions for the upcoming 1993 season lingered throughout 1992, as he did not have a contract with any team by the end of that year. Ferrari had offered him a contract which Senna discussed with Niki Lauda but decided to decline the offer. He felt the McLaren cars were becoming less competitive than in previous years, especially given Honda's decision to abandon the sport at the end of 1992 and McLaren's lack of active suspension relating to rival Williams.
Given this scenario, Ayrton Senna secured an IndyCar testing session with the support of compatriot and Penske driver, Emerson Fittipaldi. In December 1992, in fact, Senna visited Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona to test a 1992 Penske PC-21 racer. Unlike the more advanced F1 cars, this IndyCar was powered by a turbo Chevrolet V8, had a traditional transmission with clutch pedal, iron brakes, and was markedly heavier.
To familiarize himself, Senna initially ran 14 relatively slow laps before completing a further 10 laps on the same tires and setting a best time of 49.09 seconds. By comparison Fittipaldi had set a best time of 49.70 seconds, which he later improved down to 48.5 seconds only by using the new 1993 Penske PC-22 at his disposal during this test session.
Questions about Senna's intentions for the upcoming 1993 season lingered throughout 1992, as he did not have a contract with any team by the end of that year. Ferrari had offered him a contract which Senna discussed with Niki Lauda but decided to decline the offer. He felt the McLaren cars were becoming less competitive than in previous years, especially given Honda's decision to abandon the sport at the end of 1992 and McLaren's lack of active suspension relating to rival Williams.
Given this scenario, Ayrton Senna secured an IndyCar testing session with the support of compatriot and Penske driver, Emerson Fittipaldi. In December 1992, in fact, Senna visited Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona to test a 1992 Penske PC-21 racer. Unlike the more advanced F1 cars, this IndyCar was powered by a turbo Chevrolet V8, had a traditional transmission with clutch pedal, iron brakes, and was markedly heavier.
To familiarize himself, Senna initially ran 14 relatively slow laps before completing a further 10 laps on the same tires and setting a best time of 49.09 seconds. By comparison Fittipaldi had set a best time of 49.70 seconds, which he later improved down to 48.5 seconds only by using the new 1993 Penske PC-22 at his disposal during this test session.
I was there. I worked at the Bob Bondurant school the test track was behind our garage. The Layton house F1 cars were being prepped in our garages . I have a photo of emmo in our garage talking to Mauricio gugamin while senna was running the test.
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