Lotus 64
The Lotus 64 was a four-wheel driven - single-seater racing car, the 1969 by the British motor racing team Lotus for the 500-mile race at Indianapolis was built.
After the Lotus 29 , the Lotus 34 , the Lotus 38 and the revolutionary Lotus 56 , the 64 was the fifth racing car that Colin Chapman developed for the 500-mile race. The United States Automobile Club banned both turbines and all-wheel drive in the USAC racing series in the spring of 1969 , but partially lifted this ban on the drive when all four wheels were the same size and each only had a four- inch rim width.
Since the 56 had a gas turbine, Lotus decided to build a new car. The project was financed by Ford , who supplied a V8 turbo engine , and by STP . Andy Granatelli , Chief Executive Officer of STP and racing team owner, had initiated the trade. Three 64 were built. Mario Andretti was to drive the STP car, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt the two works cars, which were also painted in the sponsor's colors.
Maurice Philippe took over as much of the 56 for the 64 as possible. The long monocoque and suspension were used in the new car. The biggest difference was in the engine. Since Ford's 2.6-liter turbo engine developed more than 700 hp, a new transmission was developed.
All three cars took part in training, but Andretti had a serious accident and completely destroyed his 64 in the process. The accident was triggered by a hot wheel hub. Since this overheating also occurred in the other two vehicles, the vehicles were withdrawn from the race despite the fastest training times.
The racing cars were brought to England and never used in a race. Lotus Cars had a 64 fully restored almost forty years after it was built and first presented the car at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed .
literature
- Peter Higham: The Guinness Guide to international Motor Racing. A Complete Reference from Formula One to Touring Cars. Guinness Publishing Ltd., London 1995, ISBN 0-85112-642-1 .
- Rick Popely, L. Spencer Riggs: Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Publications International Ltd., Lincolnwood IL 1998, ISBN 0-7853-2798-3 .