TEAM PORSCHE PENSKE RACING NEWS

PORSCHE Penske Racing Finishes 15th at Barber Motorsports Park

LEEDS, Ala. (July 19, 2009) – Timo Bernhard drove the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley to a 15th place finish in Sunday’s Porsche 250 Presented by Legacy Credit Union at Barber Motorsports Park. Bernhard and Penske Racing co-driver Romain Dumas made their way through several mishaps over the course the 250-mile event on the 16-turn road circuit and will now turn their attention to a full day of testing on Monday. Penske Racing’s troubles at the challenging course near Birmingham began during practice late Friday afternoon and carried over into Sunday’s 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 event. On Friday, Dumas went off course at turn 12. When he climbed from the damaged No. 12 car, Dumas was limping, favoring his left ankle. After a short visit to the Care Center, Dumas was released with surface cuts and heavy bruising above his left ankle. Unfortunately, the Verizon Wireless Porsche required a little more time for repairs. The Penske Racing crew pulled an all-nighter Friday, working until 3:00 a.m. CT, to complete repairs on the car for the Saturday morning practice and afternoon qualifying sessions.  Dumas climbed behind the wheel Saturday morning for practice. He also qualified the No. 12 Verizon Wireless entry, securing the seventh starting position. The Frenchman rolled off the grid Sunday ready to put the Friday incident behind him, but shortly after taking the green flag, Dumas had a not-so-subtle reminder of Friday’s ride. “At the first corner [another car] moved over into my line and I had to move over to avoid hitting him,” said Dumas. “I dropped a wheel off the track and it was almost like Friday again – the front of the car, it just exploded.” Dumas brought the Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley down pit road for repairs. The crew originally intended to replace the nose only, but realized the left corner of the splitter was also missing. The splitter was replaced and then the new nose was installed on the Penske Racing entry. The No. 12 machine returned to the track three laps behind the leaders but it was back the pits a few laps later when Dumas complained of a vibration in the car. The front tires were inspected and the cause of the vibration was sourced – a wheel was bent from the impact in turn 1. Dumas brought the car down pit road on lap 36 for fresh tires, fuel and a driver change. Bernhard took control of the Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley and fought to the finish, eventually securing a 15th-place result for the team. Bernhard and Dumas were in agreement after the race – this is one event they were ready to put behind them. "This was a weekend to forget," said Bernhard, "The crew worked very hard to fix the car [after Friday’s incident], but we could not get a good result to repay them for their hard work. We scored points and hung in there and finished the race, so that is all good.” Verizon Wireless Porsche Riley and fought to the finish, eventually securing a 15th-place result for the team. Following the Porsche 250 Presented by Legacy Credit Union, Bernhard and Dumas are fifth in points, 33-points behind first place. After testing on Monday, the Verizon Wireless team will return to action in the Crown Royal 200 at The Glen, August 6-7 at Watkins Glen International.

ACCELERATION

0-30 mph: 1.5
0-40 mph: 2.0
0-50 mph: 2.9
0-60 mph: 3.5
0-70 mph: 4.1
0-80 mph: 4.7
0-90 mph: 5.9
0-100 mph: 6.8
0-110 mph: 7.8
0-120 mph: 9.4
0-130 mph: 10.8
Street start, 5-60 mph: 3.7
Top-gear acceleration, 30-50 mph: 4.3
50-70 mph: 4.8
Standing 1/4-mile: 11.2 sec @ 132 mph
Top speed (redline limited, mfr's est): 205 mph

BRAKING
70-0 mph @ impending lockup: 145 ft

FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city driving: 10 mpg
EPA highway driving: 16 mpg

INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL
Idle: 60 dBA
Full-throttle acceleration: 93 dBA
70-mph cruising: 78 dBA

PORSCHE CARRERA GT
Vehicle type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door Targa

Price as tested: $448,400 (base price: $448,400)

Major standard accessories: power windows and locks; remote locking; A/C; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheel

Sound system: none

ENGINE
Type: V-10, aluminum block and heads
Bore x stroke: 3.86 x 2.99 in, 98.0 x 76.0mm
Displacement: 350 cu in, 5733cc
Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Fuel-delivery system: port injection
Valve gear: chain-driven double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake-valve timing
Power (SAE net): 605 bhp @ 8000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 435 lb-ft @ 5750 rpm
Redline: 8400 rpm

DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Final-drive ratio: 4.44:1
Gear, Ratio, Mph/1000 rpm, Speed in gears
I, 3.20, 5.7, 48 mph (8400 rpm)
II, 1.87, 9.7, 82 mph (8400 rpm)
III, 1.36, 13.4, 112 mph (8400 rpm)
IV, 1.07, 17.0, 143 mph (8400 rpm)
V, 0.90, 20.2, 170 mph (8400 rpm)
VI, 0.75, 24.2, 205 mph (8400 rpm)

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.5 in
Track, front/rear: 63.5/62.5 in
Length/width/height: 181.6/75.6/45.9 in
Ground clearance: 3.8 in
Drag area, Cd (0.39) x frontal area (20.5 sq ft): 8.00 sq ft
Curb weight: 3146 lb
Weight distribution, F/R: 40.4/59.6%
Curb weight per horsepower: 5.2 lb
Fuel capacity: 24.3 gal

CHASSIS/BODY
Type: unit construction, carbon-fiber-reinforced tub with rear carbon-fiber subframe
Body material: carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic

CARRERA GT

INTERIOR
SAE volume, front seat: 50 cu ft
luggage: 2 cu ft
Front-seat adjustments: fore-and-aft
Restraint systems, front: manual 3-point belts, driver and passenger front and side airbags

SUSPENSION
Front: ind, unequal-length control arms, coil springs,
anti-roll bar Rear: ind, unequal-length control arms with a
toe-control link, coil springs, anti-roll bar

STEERING
Type: rack-and-pinion with hydraulic power assist
Steering ratio: 15.1:1
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Turning circle curb-to-curb: 39.4 ft

BRAKES
Type: hydraulic with vacuum power assist and anti-lock control
Front: 15.0 x 1.4-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc
Rear: 15.0 x 1.4-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc

WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheel size F: 9.5 x 19 in, R: 12.5 x 20 in
Wheel type: forged magnesium
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2; F: 265/35ZR-19 (93Y), R: 335/30ZR-20 (104Y)
Test inflation pressures, F/R: 32/32 psi
Spare: none