Mechanic

When 1995 inductee Roger Penske started his racing team in 1966, Kainhofer was The Captain’s first employee. “Penske’s Maestro,” as motorsports journalist Gordon Kirby dubbed Kainhofer, was a major contributor to the company’s success. He set the standard for attention to detail, cleanliness and perfectionism that every other major team has emulated since. Over his 31 years with Penske, the team scored numerous championships across multiple categories, including 99 IndyCar wins and 10 Indianapolis 500 trophies. In 1977, Kainhofer became the Penske Racing engine shop manager and served as vice president and general manager of Penske Racing for nine years. In 1994, the former Stuttgart-trained Porsche mechanic helped develop the top-secret “pushrod” Mercedes engine that powered Al Unser Jr. to the pole and win. Kainhofer retired at the end of the 1997 season after contributing to the team’s 1997 PPG CART World Series manufacturer’s championship. Says Penske, “Karl built a culture around him of quality at the highest level and provided the inspiration for what Team Penske is today.”