INDIANAPOLIS — In another example of how the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 can serve as a proving ground for the automotive industry, Pennzoil announced Friday that renewable oil will be used in all cars in the NTT IndyCar Series beginning with the 108th Indianapolis 500.
The sustainable motor oil is Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil, using re-refined base oil to deliver top engine performance with less greenhouse gas emissions.
IndyCar teams will use Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil during the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and throughout the NTT IndyCar Series.
“The addition of Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil using re-refined base oil is another significant milestone as we continue to move toward a more sustainable future for the NTT IndyCar Series and the motorsports industry,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said.
The use of RRBO in Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil conserves non-renewable resources by reducing its use of base oils made from primary fossil material. The re-refined base oil component used reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to the base oil used in the Pennzoil products formulated for the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series.
“We are thrilled to have Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil as the Official Lubricant of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series and to help showcase the advancements in technology and performance of motor oil made with a re-refined base oil,” said Bree Sandlin, vice president, Shell Lubricants Marketing North America. “IndyCar is a premier testing ground to prove the reliability and durability of our lubricant technologies for use in demanding road conditions.”
When combining RRBO with our premium additives, Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil delivers a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions1 compared to the Pennzoil products formulated for the 2023 racing season.
“Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil has been rigorously tested and approved by IndyCar, Chevrolet and Honda to meet the high-performance requirements for racing without compromise to performance,” said Bassem Kheireddin, Shell Motorsports technology manager.
The re-refined base oil used in Pennzoil Performance+ Racing Oil is created from used lubricants that undergo advanced re-refining processes, resulting in high-quality base oil that can be used as a component to formulate new lubricant products.
Generally, when oil has reached the end of its ‘useful’ life and has been drained from a vehicle or equipment, re-refining can remove depleted additives and contaminants that accumulate in motor oil during use.