Comptech
Encyclopedia
Comptech is a firm that designs, engineers and builds race engines.
Comptech originated in mid '80's by preparing racing Acura Integra sedans with supercharged engines. Comptech then moved to the exotic Acura NSX powered IMSA
(International Motor Sports Association) prototype cars, winning three consecutive championships in 1990, 1991 and 1992. In 1992, driving the Comptech powered machines; Parker Johnstone
claimed all 11 poles in that season in the IMSA Camel Light Series. This then led Comptech to develop the Oldsmobile Aurora
and Chevy V-8 engine for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
in the late '90's through 2002 as well as producing Chevrolet
V-8 engines for IMSA. Additionally in 1994 & 1995 a Comptech engine went to victory lane in the 24 Hours of Daytona
Race in the World Sportscar Class.
Starting in 1991, Acura
reached an agreement with the Comptech Racing to use the V6 motor of the all-new Acura NSX in Comptech's Camel Lights Spice prototype. Acura would go on to take the Lights championship in its initial year, including a class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Acura and Comptech would take the Lights championships again in 1992 and 1993, as well as another Daytona class win in 1992 and a class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring for 1993.
During the open engine builder era in IndyCar, Comptech built engines for the following teams:
In 2000, a Comptech Oldsmobile Aurora engine won the Indianapolis 500
piloted by Juan Pablo Montoya
.
In the late 90’s and 2001 Comptech developed a Honda engine for Real Time Racing for the Speed World Challenge Series. These engines won many races and championships.
In 2002 - 2003 Comptech built engines for a number of Toyota Atlantic series teams.
In 2004 Comptech developed an engine program for Mazda
in the SPEED World Challenge
Series. With Comptech engines, Mazda’s Factory Race Team, Tri-Point Engineering campaigned multiple cars in the series to win the 2007 Touring Car Championship and the Manufacturers Championship. Currently, Comptech Mazda Race Engines are leading the Manufacturer and Driver Championship for the Speed World Championship.
Comptech is owned by Frederick W. Penney
and Penney Racing Supply. Comptech's sister company, Penney Racing Supply is also the sole distributor of Goodyear
Short Track tires west of the Mississippi River.
Patrick Dempsey
recently raced in the Long Beach Grand Prix using a Comptech engine.
Comptech originated in mid '80's by preparing racing Acura Integra sedans with supercharged engines. Comptech then moved to the exotic Acura NSX powered IMSA
IMSA
IMSA can refer to:* International Management Systems Association, original name of the International Project Management Association * Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a residential magnet school located in Aurora, Illinois...
(International Motor Sports Association) prototype cars, winning three consecutive championships in 1990, 1991 and 1992. In 1992, driving the Comptech powered machines; Parker Johnstone
Parker Johnstone
Parker Johnstone III is a former race car driver and motorsports announcer from Redmond, Oregon. An accomplished musician, he was the principal trumpet of the International Youth Orchestra, touring Europe, playing with Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic, and famed pianist Van Cliburn...
claimed all 11 poles in that season in the IMSA Camel Light Series. This then led Comptech to develop the Oldsmobile Aurora
Oldsmobile Aurora
The Oldsmobile Aurora was a full-size sports sedan made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and launched in 1995. The Aurora rode on the same Cadillac-derived G platform as the 2-door Buick Riviera....
and Chevy V-8 engine for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
in the late '90's through 2002 as well as producing Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
V-8 engines for IMSA. Additionally in 1994 & 1995 a Comptech engine went to victory lane in the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
Race in the World Sportscar Class.
Starting in 1991, Acura
Acura
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. The brand has been available in the United States and Canada since March 1986, marketing luxury, performance, and near-performance vehicles. It was introduced to Hong Kong in 1991, Mexico in 2004, and China in 2006...
reached an agreement with the Comptech Racing to use the V6 motor of the all-new Acura NSX in Comptech's Camel Lights Spice prototype. Acura would go on to take the Lights championship in its initial year, including a class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Acura and Comptech would take the Lights championships again in 1992 and 1993, as well as another Daytona class win in 1992 and a class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring for 1993.
During the open engine builder era in IndyCar, Comptech built engines for the following teams:
- Kelley RacingKelley RacingKelley Racing is a former Indy Racing League team founded by Fort Wayne, Indiana-based car dealer Tom Kelley that most notably fielded a Delphi sponsored car for Scott Sharp during its entire existence from 1998 to 2004...
with drivers Scott SharpScott SharpScott Sharp is an American race car driver in the American Le Mans Series. He is the son of six-time SCCA champion Bob Sharp. Scott Sharp is best known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League....
and Mark DismoreMark DismoreMark Dismore is a former driver in the Indy Racing League and the 1990 Toyota Pacific champion as well as the winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona with Dan Gurney's All American Racers in a Toyota GTP car with co-drivers Rocky Moran and P. J. Jones... - Chip Ganassi RacingChip Ganassi RacingChip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships...
with drivers Juan Pablo MontoyaJuan Pablo MontoyaJuan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
, Bruno JunqueiraBruno JunqueiraBruno Junqueira is a Brazilian race car driver that most recently competed in the IRL IndyCar Series. He is a former Formula 3000 champion and three-time runner-up in the Champ Car World Series.-Early career:...
, Jimmy VasserJimmy VasserJimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
, Tony StewartTony StewartAnthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
, Jeff WardJeff Ward (motocross)Jeff Ward is the first motocross rider in history to win every major AMA motocross national championship...
and Kenny BräckKenny BräckKenny Bräck is a race car driver from Sweden. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He is the winner of the 1999 Indianapolis 500 and the 1998 driving champion of the Indy Racing League. He survived one of the racing sport's biggest... - Rahal Letterman RacingRahal Letterman RacingRahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is an auto racing team that currently races in the American Le Mans Series and part–time in the IndyCar Series. Based in Hilliard, Ohio, it is co–owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, television talk show host David Letterman, and businessman Mike...
with driver Jimmy VasserJimmy VasserJimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series... - Bradley MotorsportsBradley MotorsportsBradley Motorsports was a racing team in the Indy Racing League owned by Colorado convenience store owner Brad Calkins. His son, Buzz Calkins, drove the bright red cars shod in the livery of Bradley Food Marts, Brad Calkins' company. Bradley won the first IRL race in 1996 at Walt Disney World...
with driver Buzz CalkinsBuzz CalkinsBradley "Buzz" Calkins is a former Indy Racing League driver. After a successful run in Indy Lights from 1993 to 1995 where he finished 11th, 10th, and 6th in his three seasons, he and his Bradley Motorsports team purchased a 1995 Reynard chassis to compete in the inaugural season of the IRL... - Walker RacingWalker RacingWalker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:...
with driver Sarah FisherSarah FisherSarah Marie Fisher is a retired American professional racecar driver who competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500... - Treadway RacingTreadway RacingTreadway Racing is a former auto racing team that competed in the early seasons of the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. The team was owned by Indianapolis business man Fred Treadway. Prior to the IRL's inaugural season in 1996, Treadway was able to sign former Indianapolis 500 Champion Arie...
with drivers Arie LuyendykArie LuyendykArie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk is a Dutch auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indianapolis 500....
, Sam SchmidtSam SchmidtSam Schmidt is a former Indy Racing League driver and current IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights Series team owner....
, Robby McGeheeRobby McGeheeRobby McGehee is a Indy Racing League driver from St. Louis, Missouri. He won the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1999 after finishing fifth and raced for veteran owner Fred Treadway the next few seasons...
, Jason LefflerJason LefflerJason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks before moving to NASCAR's three major series...
and Rick TreadwayRick TreadwayRick Treadway , is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 2001 and 2002 seasons with 11 career starts, including the 2002 Indianapolis 500.-IndyCar results:-External Links:*...
In 2000, a Comptech Oldsmobile Aurora engine won the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
piloted by Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
.
In the late 90’s and 2001 Comptech developed a Honda engine for Real Time Racing for the Speed World Challenge Series. These engines won many races and championships.
In 2002 - 2003 Comptech built engines for a number of Toyota Atlantic series teams.
In 2004 Comptech developed an engine program for Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
in the SPEED World Challenge
SPEED World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America . Founded in 1985, it consists of four classes: grand touring, touring car, a "GTS" class since 2010, and a "touring car B-spec" since 2012...
Series. With Comptech engines, Mazda’s Factory Race Team, Tri-Point Engineering campaigned multiple cars in the series to win the 2007 Touring Car Championship and the Manufacturers Championship. Currently, Comptech Mazda Race Engines are leading the Manufacturer and Driver Championship for the Speed World Championship.
Comptech is owned by Frederick W. Penney
Frederick W. Penney
Frederick W. Penney grew up in the Northern California town of Penryn in the 1970’s. He is one of four boys that became the author of the Penryn Boys Series of books. Through his experience he got to know many Penryn Boys and their amazing adventures...
and Penney Racing Supply. Comptech's sister company, Penney Racing Supply is also the sole distributor of Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
Short Track tires west of the Mississippi River.
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
recently raced in the Long Beach Grand Prix using a Comptech engine.
Sources
- Race Engine Technology; August 2008, Issue 32, page 56
- Racer, November 1993, page 36
- Modified Mag, SPEED World Challenge 2008 Fan Guide, page 8
- Hot Compact & Imports; April 2008, page 44
- SCCA Pro Racing, SPEED World Challenge, page 30