Shell’s Advanced Lubricants and Fuels Fueling Multi-Discipline Motorsport Success This Weekend

As race weekends intensify across North America, a silent yet crucial battle for performance is being waged beneath the sleek bodywork of Formula 1, NASCAR, and IndyCar machines. With modern motorsport regulations often imposing strict limitations on hardware, teams like Penske Racing and Scuderia Ferrari are increasingly turning to the fundamental chemistry of their powertrains – fuel and lubricants – to unlock vital performance gains. This weekend, Shell’s deep technical partnerships are poised to play a significant role in the quest for victory across all three major racing series.

In the heart of open-wheel racing, Shell’s collaboration with the iconic Team Penske is a cornerstone of their aggressive pursuit of a record-extending 21st Indianapolis 500 victory. Team Penske’s technical director, David Faustino, detailed the bespoke approach to lubrication for the demanding Indy 500. "We work in conjunction with Shell to develop a variety of custom lubricants for our IndyCar program," Faustino explained. "For the Indianapolis 500, we go as far as developing separate lubricant recipes for qualifying and the race." This granular level of customization is driven by the unique demands of different circuits. Faustino elaborated, "IMS [Indianapolis Motor Speedway], obviously we’re chasing the most efficient package, and the loads are very constant. When the car goes out there on the racetrack, it’s just running at a high speed, but in a very small RPM range, and it’s not going on and off power, so actually the torque is low, but the speed is high. Like on a road course or street course, you have like short first gear, low speed, super high acceleration, super high load, but lower constant speed. So, like, the application is different enough to where they can help us make a difference just with the use case of the car and that specific type of track."

The strategic advantage gained from these tailored lubricants was evident in the Indy 500 qualifying results, with David Malukas, driving for Team Penske, securing a front-row starting position. Faustino highlighted the specific considerations for qualifying runs. "It doesn’t have to last as long, and the difference there is when you start qualifying, everything’s cold, and in only four laps, it stays relatively cold, where in the race, it’ll stay at the elevated temperature the whole time." This allows for potentially more aggressive formulations focused purely on immediate performance over the shorter duration.

Dr. Selda Gunsel, Shell’s Chief Technology Officer, underscored the measurable impact of these advanced lubricants. "When it comes to transmissions or gearbox fluids, we actually work directly with Team Penske engineers to again improve the efficiency of the gearbox," Dr. Gunsel stated. "It’s the same principle as engine oil. We want to reduce friction and improve efficiency, but at the same time make sure that the gearbox operates efficiently under high load conditions, in the extreme conditions found in races, and we want to make sure that our oils sustain under different conditions, super speedways, or short tracks, and it is amazing. We can measure significant horsepower increases due to improved efficiency in the gearbox." Dr. Gunsel further confirmed that Team Penske has reported "significant numbers, horsepower increases" from their testing of Shell’s fluids, emphasizing the tangible benefits derived from this technological partnership.

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The synergy between Shell and Team Penske extends to NASCAR’s premier series. As the Coca-Cola 600 looms at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Shell’s engineers are working to optimize the transaxle efficiency of Team Penske’s Cup cars. Simultaneously, their collaboration with Roush Yates Engines aims to maximize both horsepower output and the durability of the Ford engines powering these machines. Dr. Gunsel noted a critical recent project: "One of our projects leading up to this season was testing lubricant formulas in order to allow our teams to successfully adopt the new 750 horsepower package that is in use at select tracks. We had to modify our lubricant formula in order to remain durable while maximizing performance."

For the grueling 600-mile Coca-Cola 600, durability is paramount, but performance remains a significant driving factor. Shell often develops custom oil formulas to eke out additional power. These formulations undergo rigorous dyno testing by Roush Yates Engines, with Team Penske collaborating to select the optimal blend for each race weekend. The distinct demands of different NASCAR chassis and engine configurations necessitate unique engine oil recipes, tailored to specific engine loads and race lengths. According to Dr. Gunsel, achieving these gains often hinges on friction reduction. "The engine oil, as well as the gearbox oil are customized based on the needs of the specific race team," she explained. "So, we work very closely to reduce friction and improve horsepower. We go to very, very low viscosities. If you are familiar with engine oil viscosities, we go to 0W water-like fluids to ensure that we minimize friction loss." This focus on extremely low viscosity oils is a testament to the relentless pursuit of marginal gains in a highly competitive environment.

In the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, Shell’s involvement with Scuderia Ferrari reaches an even more integrated level. Shell deploys a dedicated trackside laboratory and embeds its engineers directly alongside Ferrari’s technical staff in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. This on-site facility allows for continuous real-time testing of fuel and lubricant mixtures. Shell engineers monitor a complex array of performance parameters, providing Ferrari’s engineers with immediate recommendations for optimizing power unit settings.

The development of Formula 1’s new sustainable fuel regulations, which mandated 100% advanced sustainable components this year, represents a significant technological leap. Dr. Gunsel revealed that this was a four-year development process, with ongoing iterations. "Previously, the bio component requirement was only 10%," she recalled. "So, if you’re talking about going from 10% bio, 90% fossil-based gasoline to 100% sustainable feedstocks, one of the challenges is that these components don’t exist in the marketplace. There’s very limited quantities coming from startups, and we have some JVs that we leverage, but we really had to, like, invent new supply chains, new process technologies, new molecules to be able to develop this fuel."

Further compounding the challenge, some of these advanced sustainable components possess lower energy densities compared to traditional fossil fuels. Dr. Gunsel explained, "Some of these components have very low energy densities as compared to fossil fuels, so you really have to make up for that loss in the formulation." To overcome these hurdles, Shell employed advanced digital technologies, including machine learning-based digital workflows. "I think we screened over 2 million different formulations to be able to select a few to do the actual engine tests in Maranello in Ferrari," she noted.

This cutting-edge approach has facilitated the establishment of the trackside laboratory, a mobile unit that now travels to Formula 1 races. It provides Ferrari with near-instantaneous feedback on fuel and lubricant performance, enabling crucial adjustments between track sessions. This facility will be in full operation this weekend as Charles Leclerc and Ferrari aim to solidify their third-place standing in the championship at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Across these diverse motorsport disciplines, from the ovals of IndyCar and NASCAR to the global stage of Formula 1, Shell’s commitment to advanced fuel and lubricant technology is a unifying force. The drivers and teams competing for victory this weekend are beneficiaries of this sophisticated, behind-the-scenes engineering, a testament to the enduring impact of chemical innovation on the pursuit of speed and performance.

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