Awards

• Commended for Independent Publisher Book Awards (Transportation) 2015

Overview

Roger Penske was always looking for ways to gain the 'Unfair Advantage' with his cars. The Penske PC23 Mercedes, debuted at the 1994 Indy 500, bent the rules very close to the breaking point. Created in absolute secrecy, the new engine from Ilmor gave Team Penske 200 more horsepower than any other car in the race. The race was a turning point in American open wheel racing and for Team Penske, beating big names like Mario Andretti. The innovative redesign included a custom push-rod system and restyled rear deck. Of the eleven victories with this car, five were complete podium sweeps for Team Penske. No car rivaled the Penske PC23 and the engine was later ruled illegal. In a story that reads like a spy novel, the dramatic journey from recognizing the loophole to winning the Indy 500 is recounted in great detail with behind-the-scenes reporting.

Full Product Details

9781937747336

Table of Contents

Reviews

Beast is a fascinating story inspired by great characters, and it's beautifully told, too . . . The technical detail here is consummate, accompanied by crisp line drawings by Patrick Morgan, son of the late (and much-missed) Ilmor co-founder. But it's the human-interest angle that raises this story to the highest levels. A good motor racing book? No, simply a great book, full stop. We urge you to read it. --DS Motorsports Magazine This book is one of the best I've read on the subject of motorsports. The book flows easily and describes in detail how this immense project was conceived, developed and refined. The anecdotes are entertaining as the players involved are easy to follow and their individual personalities are explored and uncovered. Gurss places you in the dyno room in England, various board rooms of corporate America, the snow-covered Nazareth Speedway and inside the walls of the Brickyard. If you're a fan of racing in general this a must-have, but also a good read for anybody interested in corporate espionage and covert gamesmanship. --Steve Zautke Racing Nation dot com Read this story of The Beast on a cold winter's day - I guarantee you'll power through it as quickly as the Penske boys rampaged the field of 33 at Indianapolis. --Anne Proffit Motorsport dot com An incredible tale told from the perspective of those who made it happen. --John Zimmermann, Associate Editor Vintage Racecar Journal Jade Gurss has shone a light into the shadows of the Skunk Works-style operation from which emerged one of the greatest machines in Indy car history. --David Malsher Racer Magazine Gurss' prose style is madly gripping and emotional, so that it feels like you're part of it--an impressive feat for a writer who wasn't even there! When parts of the engine fail at the very last second, I was sitting there holding my breath, a ball of dread in my stomach. When all three Penskes were absolutely killing it in Indy 500 practice, I was hyped enough that I was smiling. --Elizabeth Blacklock Jalopnik

Author Information

Jade Gurss is the author of In the Red and co-author of New York Times Bestsellers Driver #8 and DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles. Gurss was in charge of marketing and publicity for Ilmor Engineering, the race-engine design and manufacturing arm of Mercedes-Benz. He also managed sports publicity for Mercedes-Benz. Native of Topeka, KS he now resides in Concord, NC where he actively provides lectures and presentations for universities as well as corporate clients on sports marketing and publicity, small business ownership, and NASCAR. Mario Illien is an engineer specializing in motorsport engine design. Native of Switzerland, Illien broke onto the race scene in 1971 with Bonnier. In 1983, Illien created Ilmor Engineering with Paul Morgan. Illien designed Indycars and Formula 1 engines. Illien is the Technical Director of Ilmor Engineering.

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