Still in the top group at 40
05/08/2024
Who knows this company? It starts with an "I", celebrated its 40th anniversary last weekend and has achieved an incredible 364 Indycar and 44 Formula 1 victories in those four decades. Add to that 22 first places in the famous 500-mile race at Indianapolis, 23 constructors' titles in the top US monoposto series and two world championship titles in Formula 1, and let's not forget the 120 NASCAR victories and 131 pole positions in the top US touring car series. So, which brand are we talking about here? That's right: Ilmor - the engine manufacturer founded in 1984 by Mario Illienand Paul Morganin Brixworth, England.
"Ilmor developed from an idea in the minds of Paul Morgan and myself to a reality thanks to the trust and confidence that Roger Penske placed in us. The original goal was just to design and develop a new Indy car engine, which resulted in the Ilmor 265-A. Over the years, we were lucky enough to work with various partners, including Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz and Honda," Mario Illien recalls the early days.
"My favorite, or proudest, moments were our first victory with Mario Andretti at the 1987 Indy Car race in Long Beach, followed by the first Indy 500 victory with Rick Mears in 1991. The months of the top-secret 265-E engine in 1994 were also a wonderful time. The V8, called the "500i" by Mercedes-Benz, was described by the media as the 'atomic bomb of motorsport'. It was the first engine in the history of the Indy 500 to take pole position on its debut and win the race. It was so superior that it was immediately banned by the regulations after its victory."
"Unfortunately, however, the last four decades have also brought their low points. Paul's fatal accident in May 2001 was an incredibly dark day. Paul and I were a great team and really appreciated each other and complemented each other well. Roger Penske was a great support for Ilmor and me during this time. He is central to the fact that the company still exists."
Back in 1990, the two engine wizards expanded into the USA with Ilmor Inc. in Michigan. But Ilmor's headquarters are still located on the same site in Brixworth where it all began in 1984. Of course, the entire "zwischengas" team would like to raise a glass to Ilmor's forty years and congratulate them wholeheartedly.
