XPEL PPF Protects Team Penske Indianapolis 500 Racecars At Over 230 MPH
Published On 5/26/2022
Motorsport fans everywhere wait with anticipation for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday, May 29th. Billed as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," this event features 33 of the world's top INDYCAR drivers in a 500-mile battle for the title of winning the Indianapolis 500. The prep work for this momentous event starts weeks in advance. Race teams work together to design, build, and ultimately paint their race cars before getting dialed in on the track. XPEL paint protection film has played a significant role in supporting Team Penske’s preparation for this historic race. The Indianapolis 500 is the only race in the season where Team Penske paints their race cars and has done so since 1969. Once painted, Team Penske uses XPEL paint protection film on their Indy race cars during testing and qualifying to ensure the paintwork is flawless on race day. For the 2022 Indianapolis 500, Team Penske entered three cars, each with a distinctive and complex livery. The lineup for Team Penske at the Indy 500 is the No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet car driven by Will Power, followed by the No. 2 Shell Fuel Chevrolet car with Josef Newgarden and the No.3 Pennzoil Chevrolet car piloted by Scott McLaughlin. Experts from PPG helped apply the multilayer paint scheme to each race car. Once painted, XPEL paint protection film covers the Indy car's forward-facing surfaces, like the nose, side mirrors, and fenders. As a result, the PPF works to protect the paintwork on all three Team Penske Indy cars against track debris at over 220 mph during hundreds of practice and qualifying laps. According to Team Penske, these race cars logged 2,224 miles, 892 laps, at an average speed of over 220 mph. In certain sections of the racetrack, speeds can exceed 240 mph.
Ben Atkins, Fabrication Manager for Team Penske, said this about having XPEL Inc. support in preparation for the 2022 Indy 500. "We trust XPEL and their products to help us protect some of the most important race cars we build all season, our Indianapolis 500 cars. The Indianapolis 500 is the most intense build-up to a race all season, with weeks of practice sessions and qualifying, all in conditions over 200 mph. We use XPEL protective film to ensure our cars, which are painted for this race, keep our iconic look and performance from start to finish throughout the month of May for the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing'." XPEL's industry-leading PPF means all three Team Penske race cars will be gleaming with scratch-free paint at the start line this Sunday, at the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500. Since 2020, XPEL has supported Team Penske in the INDYCAR and NASCAR Cup Series and is proud to be part of its well-established legacy in motorsport.
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