Team Penske PC4's Historic Win at the 1976 Austrian GP
F1 Racing History: Penske PC4's Historic Win at the 1976 Austrian GP
Penske PC4 was a Formula One car used by Team Penske in 1976 and was driven to victory in that year's Austrian Grand Prix by John Watson, scoring the last win for an American-licensed constructor in an F1 race.
The Austrian Grand Prix race weekend was marked by challenging weather conditions, with heavy rain pouring on the circuit. The treacherous conditions made it a demanding race for drivers; Watson showcased his talent and determination during the race, skillfully maneuvering his Penske-Ford through the wet circuit. Starting second on the grid behind James Hunt, Watson eventually crossed the finish line in first place, securing a memorable victory for himself and the Penske-Ford team. Nearly on the same day one year before, Mark Donohue, long-time Penske Driver and American icon, passed away in a crash at the same track; This was a day of redemption for Penske.
Although the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix victory was a significant achievement for Watson and Penske Racing, it didn't mark the beginning of sustained success for the partnership. As a result, Penske's involvement in Formula 1 was relatively short-lived, and they withdrew from the sport after the 1976 season.
The PC4 had two prior third-place podiums at the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard and the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. It competed in ten total races that season, three podiums, and 1 points finish. However, it only ran 2/3rds of the season and finished fifth in the championship.
The following 1977 season, Another American team, Interscope Racing, used the Penske chassis with Hawian-born American Driver Danny Ongais at 77' Watkins Glen and 77' Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji, finishing 7th. Jean-Pierre Jarier drove the ATS-Penske during the 1977 season, debuting at the Long Beach Grand Prix and finishing in the points at sixth place. That would be the best finish of the eleven races attempted during that season.
Team Penske continued to become an extremely successful Indy car, Trans-am, NASCAR, and IMSA. Team Penske has become synonymous with Indy car racing, with over 200 race victories, 270 poles, and 16 Championships. Team Penske, however, is probably best known for its 18 Indianapolis 500 victories. In 2022 Team Penske would make history, winning the Indycar and NASCAR championship in the same year.
