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.

Author Biography

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.