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Lotus 56 Turbines Remembered Fondly at 2014 Indianapolis 500

The #70 Lotus 56-turbine originally driven by Graham Hill in the ’68 Indy 500 makes laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Carb Day. [Mark Walczak photo]
Speedway, IN (May 25th, 2014) – In 1968, STP boss Andy Granatelli once again startled the racing world when he brought four wedge shaped Lotus-56s that were each powered by a Pratt and Whitney ST6 kerosene drinking turbine power plant. The cars were considered advanced for their day as they had four-wheel drive, Girling inboard brakes and a chain drive “transfer” case with a center differential, splitting output to the front and rear differentials. The Lotus-Turbines maiden test at Indianapolis was in April of ‘68 with superstar Jim Clark behind the wheel. Sadly, shortly after the test, Clark was killed in a Formula Two race in Hockenheim, Germany.

The year previously, Granatelli brought the “whooshmobile” to Indianapolis with driver Parnelli Jones. The STP-Paxton turbocar was a bulbous looking car that was accused of sandbagging after qualifying sixth. Perhaps was proven true when Parnelli passed four cars on the outside of Turn One and in the south short chute and was given the bird by polesitter Mario Andretti when Parnelli passed him coming out of Turn Two. A diminutive parts failure on “Silent Sam” with nine laps to go grounded the #40 Turbine, but was not forgotten.

This year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway paid tribute to Andy Granatelli and his legacy with a parade of the three existing Lotus-Turbines still in their championship car configuration. Four cars were built, #20, #30, #60 and #70 cars. Due to Clark’s death and a wrist injury to Jackie Stewart, British Formula One driver (BRM) Mike Spence was brought in by Lotus’ Colin Chapman. Spence was quick to adapt to the Speedway and was running fast laps. Meanwhile, USAC Sprint Car driver, Greg Weld was struggling in the #30 Lotus. Late in the day on Tuesday, May 7 Spence test-hopped the #30 and crashed hard in the first turn. Unfortunately Spence suffered fatal head injuries when the right-front tire came back and struck the young Englishman.

Driver shuffling continued as Joe Leonard was assigned to the #60 vacated by Spence, Art Pollard was assigned to the #20 and meanwhile Graham Hill came in from Europe and quickly got up to speed in his assigned #70. On the opening day of qualifications, Pelican Joe put the #60 on the pole with a new track record of 171.559-MPH and teammate Graham Hill qualified second. Pollard who had the least amount of practice time of all, put in a safe speed and placed the #20 Lotus in eleventh spot in row four.

Race day was another story as the Lotus 56s didn’t dominate as some suggested. However, Leonard found himself in the lead and in position for the win when a fuel pump driveshaft failed, almost at the same time, the same issue befelled Pollard. Hill had gone out earlier due to a crash.

The car of Spence was sent to England and was later run several times in Formula One. Although modified you could still see the classic wedge shape of the Lotus 56. Lotus team drivers Dave Walker, Reine Wesill and future F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi drove the car (Lotus 56B). It is believed this is the first time the ‘fourth’ Lotus 56 has been in the United States since returned to England in ’68.

All four Lotus cars were reunited at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum for their excellent turbine car exhibition. Seven other turbine-powered Indy cars are on display celebrating the diversity of cars at the Brickyard in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Other cars featured were:
1955 SAC Fireboid Turbine
1962 John Zink Trackburner
1966 Jack Adams Aircraft Special
1967 STP Oil Treatment Special
1968 Shelby “Botany 500” Turbines (2)
1968 STP Lotus 56 Wedge Turbines (4)
1969 Jack Adams Turbine

“We are very excited to bring 11 turbine cars together for this unique display,” said Ellen Bireley, Hall of Fame Museum director. “The turbines represent a unique era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and although they never won at the track, they are remembered by race fans around the world. We look forward to sharing the beautiful display with our patrons of the largest, most diversified collection of turbine cars ever assembled at one time.”

The turbine exhibition is scheduled to run through March of 2015.

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