It was the car that scared Indy 500 officials so much that they banned it after its one near brush with history. Yes, the museum staff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway packed up the famous 1968 Lotus Pratt & Whitney STP special and hauled it to England where Andy Petree took it for an easy jaunt up the hill at Goodwood. No, he did not attempt to set a speed record or really show off the car’s crazy performance potential. What he did do was give us and the crowd in attendance a unique motorsport experience by being able to actually watch this turbine powered, four wheel drive car operate.
One of the things that’s almost shocking to see when one looks at this car actually moving is how small it is. Still photos are one thing but you really get the perspective of size on this thing as it moves up the hill. Art Pollard was the driver of this car at the 1968 Indy 500. Andy Granatelli who was a perennial force to be reckoned with at the Indy 500 may have peaked when he debuted this creation that he teamed up with Colin Chapman on. USAC made rules to try and slow the cars down by shrinking the air inlet size for the engine.
Apart from the mode of propulsion, a turbine engine, there was the need for a transmission that could reduce the shaft speed of the engine into workable RPM and the team also decided to make the car all wheel drive…just because.
This doorstop shaped racer from Indy’s golden age has stood the test of time well. Sure this is a parade lap but seeing the heat billowing out of the exhaust and listening to this Lotus swoosh by is about as neat a racing experience as one can have!
I loved those turbine cars!!!