[5] The PC-23 was a design evolution of its predecessor, the PC-22,[2] which won the 1993 Indianapolis 500, 8 races over the entire season, and missing the 1993 CART title by only 8 points.

Other modifications included changes to the input gears of the gearbox, to cope with the lower rpm and higher power and torque the pushrod engine provided.

In the race, which was shortened by 10 laps due to darkness, Fittipaldi scored a 2nd place, while Unser and Tracy retired for electrical problems.

At Phoenix, the first oval race of the season, the PC23 scored its first win, with Fittipaldi ahead of Al Unser Jr.

In Toronto however, Unser's engine blew, while Fittipaldi finished 3rd, and Tracy 5th, ending an astonishing streak of seven wins in a row.

The Road America was won by then-rising star Jacques Villeneuve, his first in CART racing, while Unser clinched the championship ahead of Fittipaldi.

In the 1995, not counting the brief and unfortunate attempt to qualify at Indy 500 with their year-old car,[9] Penske Racing was running with the new PC-24, although with much less success.

[10] Much to the surprise of competitors, media, and fans, Marlboro Team Penske arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a brand new, secretly-built 209 cid Mercedes-Benz pushrod engine, which was capable of a reported 1000 horsepower.

[11] Despite reliability issues with the engine[11] and handling difficulties with the chassis,[12] the three-car Penske team (Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy) dominated most of the month, and nearly the entire race.

The car in its Indy 500 version caused a considerable uproar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in the racing world in general.