Two-time Formula One World Champion and 1989 Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi joined Team Penske alongside teammates Mears and Sullivan for the 1990 season. With a star-studded lineup, this was the first time Team Penske expanded to three full-time drivers. The team debuted its new PC19 chassis and once again paired it with the Chevrolet Indy V8.

Mears opened the CART season strong, capturing the pole position and race at Phoenix International Raceway. At Indianapolis, Mears qualified second behind Fittipaldi, but in the race the Team Penske trio suffered tire-blistering problems, forcing Mears to make extra pit stops for tires, losing valuable time on the racetrack. Despite the tire setbacks, Mears finished third, ahead of his teammates. After eight years as Mears' sponsor, 1990 would be the last for Pennzoil and the famed livery.