Known as the "Pennzoil Z-7 Special" and painted in Bright Yellow, the Rick Mears-driven Penske PC11 ran in the 1983 Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series.

Incorporating an aluminum monocoque chassis fabricated by Penske Cars Ltd, it was powered by a Ford Cosworth DFX turbocharged V8 that could develop 840 horsepower from its 161.7 cubic inches, on methanol fuel.

A Hewland 4-speed manual transmission puts the power to the ground.  Rocker arm suspension was used front and rear, including inboard springs and high-pressure gas shock absorbers. In an identically prepared team car, Al Unser, Sr. took the CART points championship in a PC11, and with Pennzoil as an associate sponsor. Roger Penske was the team owner on both entries.