This Ferrari 512 M Changed the Racing World Forever

When the Sunoco Ferrari 512 M first appeared at Daytona in 1971 it was a revelation. Manned by a dream team that included owner Roger Penske, chief mechanic John Woody Woodard, and drivers Mark Donohue and David Hobbs, the car combined Ferraris pedigree with Penskes legendary attention to detail in everything from his crews uniforms to the polished wheels. Slated to run at Daytona, Sebring, Le Mans, and Watkins Glen, this 512 M was the oddson favorite every time the Penske team rolled it onto the starting grid. In a historic run of bum luck, however, the car never won a single race. Debuting at the 24 Hours of Daytona, Donohue put the 512 M on the pole. Just before midnight, however, Vic Elford blew a tire on his Porsche 917 and in the ensuing slowdown, Charles Perry and his 911S ran into Donohue and the 512 M. The Penske crew taped and patched up the car as best they could and watched Donohue and Hobbs fight their way back to a third place finish. Next up was the 12 Hours of Sebring, where the 512 M