cars & fire firegeezer on 21 Aug 2008 08:42 am
Penske Racecars Destroyed In Truck Fire
A CUSTOM RACECAR TRANSPORTER BELONGING TO PENSKE RACING caught fire Wednesday and was virtually destroyed.
The truck was carrying the Penske Indy Car team’s two cars and all the pit equipment to this weekend’s IRL (road course) race in Sonoma, California. They were traveling on I-80 near Cheyenne, Wyoming when a wheel bearing on the trailer failed and started a fire. The two transport drivers got the truck off the road but were unable to extinguish the fire. They managed to separate the tractor and take it to safety while waiting the arrival of the local fire department.
The lower level of the 2-level trailer was completely destroyed. It contained all the pit equipment, all the team’s and drivers’ uniforms, tools, dynamometer and other equipment. The two racecars on the upper level were severely damaged, but it is not yet known if any part of them are salvagable.
They will race their two backup cars that were already in Sonoma for testing.
Penske Racing / Steve Swope image
Penske has already sent a backup truck carrying two additional cars, which are currently configured for an oval track, for spare parts along with a supply of tools and four crew members. They will stop in Wyoming to pick up the two original truck drivers and leave two of the mechanics with the wreckage to salvage what they can.
The early estimate of damage is “over $2 million.”
The Indianapolis Star has the STORY.
Penske Racing has a press release about the fire HERE.
on 22 Aug 2008 at 8:57 am 1.JackDK said …
Any Photos available???
Thanks
on 22 Aug 2008 at 9:10 am 2.firegeezer said …
Haven’t seen any yet, Jack. It took place in the dark out in the middle of nowhere, so obviously there weren’t any news reporters nearby at the time. If any photos of the remains or cleanup come online, I’ll post them. FG