mclaren indycar 1970s

 

The M16 was unveiled at the Colnbrook factory in January 1971, some four months before action got underway at Indianapolis. Now on view at the MTC, it provides a timely reminder of the heritage of the papaya livery that returns to the F1 grid this year, as well as reflecting McLaren’s history of engineering excellence. It was Mark Donohue and Johnny Rutherford who would score the famous wins at the Brickyard for the marque. Penske opted to stick with its proven C/Ds, which the team itself had updated, so only the works outfit had the new cars. Would you like to view the site in Español? This time much of the work was done by Coppuck’s young assistant, John Barnard. In fact the 500 itself proved somewhat disappointing, with Revson managing only a low-key second behind the Colt of Al Unser, Donohue stopping with gearbox problems, and Hulme spinning early on before having engine trouble. Lessons learned with the M16 series would actually feed back into the M23 F1 car that was designed at the end of 1972, especially with regard to making the chassis light. Sadly he was killed at Kyalami in March. He led the final 13 laps to give both McLaren and the Penske team their first Indy 500 victories, earning a $218,000 first prize. McLaren CEO Zak Brown told The Associated Press the team would not buy its way into the 500 and was halting this year’s effort. However in another race of high attrition at Ontario, the relatively unheralded Roger McCluskey emerged to win for the American Marine team with his ex-works M16A. The M16B featured a range of modifications, including new wings, suspension geometry, and radiators. McLaren decided to upgrade the basic design for the new season. Great deals on Indy McLaren Diecast Formula 1 Cars. Meanwhile Coppuck is pleased to see the 1974 500 winner back at McLaren’s base, albeit in Woking rather than where it was born in Colnbrook. Numerically, Eagle dominate this period with 37% of all entries, followed by McLaren … Also new for 1974 was the absence of the Gulf sponsorship that had proved so successful going back to the Can-Am era, but the works cars initially continued in the familiar Papaya Orange livery. For 1977 it was superseded by the much more modern M24, which was itself derived in large part from the M23. It was to be a great year for Rutherford, who was now clear number one at McLaren. Close, We have noticed that you are using the English version of our web site. Peter Revson was born in New York City, the son of Martin Revson (1910–2016) and Julie (née Phelps) Hall (1914–2000). 1970. His only race victory came at Phoenix, but he again finished second in the championship, this time to AJ Foyt. Designer Gordon Coppuck decided to start afresh for 1971, and there was no hiding the fact that the all-new M16 (or M16A as later versions caused it to be known) borrowed its wedge shape from the Lotus 72 which had proved so successful in Grand Prix racing in 1970, taking Jochen Rindt to a posthumous World Championship title. USAC opted to slow the cars for 1974, mandating narrower wings and restricting their overhang. Earlier versions of the car would continue to race in private hands for several years. But Donohue and Revson were again on the front row, in second and third. McLaren built six revised M16Cs for 1973, for works and Penske use. Formula 1 has been a mainstay, but further sports car projects have continued alongside, including a Le Mans 24 Hours victory with the McLaren F1 GTR in 1995. McLaren made the Indianapolis 500 its personal playground in the 1970s with three victories in 10 appearances, then the manufacturer was done, back to England with a focus on Formula 1 and no time for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Fernando Alonso’s quest to win motorsports version of the Triple Crown has sparked a renewed […] As was standard in those days, it used a 2.6-litre Offenhauser engine, mounted in a supporting frame. McLaren went with the latter group, and Rutherford gave the works team its final two wins at Atlanta in what was otherwise a disappointing year – he finished a distant 18th at Indy after losing a ton of time with a gearbox issue. So for 1975 the team produced yet another variation on the theme, dubbed the M16E. Mark Donohue in the McLaren M16B, 27 May 1972. USAC opted to slow the cars for 1974, mandating narrower wings and restricting their overhang. He won an Ontario heat early in the year and then triumphed at Indianapolis and Milwaukee on consecutive weekends. The final decision to build a McLaren Indy car came in 1969 after team driver Denny Hulme was forced to retire while running as high as 2nd in … There was disappointment for the works outfit when Revson and his team mate Gordon Johncock both retired, while Bettenhausen also failed to finish in the other Penske entry. “When we went to Indy we were very, very pleased to have raised the speed by about 10mph,” says Coppuck. The change also coincided with a move from the venerable 4-cylinder Offenhauser engine to the new Cosworth DFX, while sponsorship from First National City meant the end of the famous papaya orange colour scheme. 1970: Indy and Can-Am 47 The First McLaren Indy Car 47 The 1970 Can-Am Season 51 Reynolds Block 52 Chevrolet Racing 53 Chevrolet Racing: The Cosworth Vega 55 NASCAR Engine Development 56 CHAPTER 9 1971: Knutson Returns—With Bailey 59 Roger Bailey’s Ticket 61 “Herbie Horsepower” 62 Roger Meets Herbie 63 CHAPTER 10 McLaren Racing 1971–1976 67 Meanwhile Briton David Hobbs finished fifth at Indy in the second works entry, which ran in Carling Black Label colours. Rutherford enjoyed another good run at Indy, finishing second in a race cut short by rain. Would you like to view the site in 中国? Meanwhile Bettenhausen trumped in the Texas 200 with a Penske-run M16C. Another victory at Pocono helped him to second in the USAC championship, although he lost the title to Bobby Unser. “There was a lot more to it than that, you can’t just copy it,” he says. McLaren built a strong legacy in Indy car racing in the 1970s, both as a works team, and through other teams – notably Penske – running McLaren chassis. Visit our cookie policy to find out more about our use of cookies and how to opt out. Roger Penske bought two of the new cars, for Donohue and Gary Bettenhausen. His mother had been a nightclub singer at the time Martin met her. By 1979 Indycar racing was in a state of flux, thanks to a split between USAC and the new CART organisation. “Peter sat on pole, and considering that we’d only done two Indy races in the history of the company that was a big deal.”. Fuel tanks were also made less vulnerable, and there was more of an emphasis on economy. The team’s year started well when the latter won the second race of the season at Trenton in an older M16A. AAR produced an entirely new car for 1972, based in some part on the successful McLaren M16, and it proved to be the quickest car of the season. The M16 would log three Indy 500 victories over its remarkable lifetime, and as such is one of the most successful designs in the history of the race. The M16C looked a little more like an F1 machine than the previous car, with a full length engine cover, and a new, more rounded cockpit surround. Rutherford meanwhile went off to drive the Chaparral, designed by former McLaren man Barnard. The M16 was clearly still competitive, and thus as with the M23, McLaren saw no reason for a radical overhaul. McLaren built a strong legacy in Indy car racing in the 1970s, both as a works team, and through other teams – notably Penske – running McLaren chassis. However in another race of high attrition at Ontario (where Revson started second) the relatively unheralded Roger McCluskey emerged to win for the American Marine team with his ex-works M16A, while back-up driver Mike Hiss was second for Penske. Alas, he was the first retirement with an engine failure at Indianapolis, where Tom Sneva put his Penske M24 on pole, and finished second. Bob Fernley, president of the IndyCar … Background. “Teddy was very unsure in terms of how the financial stability was going to be without Bruce. Would you like to view the site in 中国? Bobby Unser took pole position six times in nine races. For 1976 McLaren continued with the final E version of a type that had already amassed an extraordinary history, with the newer works cars by now joined on the grid by many earlier models which had moved onto private hands, with varying degrees of success. McLaren made the Indianapolis 500 its personal playground in the 1970s with three victories in 10 appearances. Indeed Revson ultimately took pole at a record speed, with Donohue earning second place and Hulme – never a fan of ovals – in fourth. Donohue’s parked machine was badly damaged when struck by a crashing car later on, and a new chassis had to be built and shipped to the USA. Against expectations he ended up as USAC series champion with a design that was essentially now two years old. Meanwhile Gary Bettenhausen won the Texas 200 with a Penske-run M16C. The team won the prestigious award for engineering excellence. Teddy didn’t have that to work with.”. Works drivers Denny Hulme and Peter Revson gave the car its first testing miles at Ontario Motor Speedway, before Roger Penske took over and ran with Mark Donohue at Phoenix and Indianapolis. Then the manufacturer was done, back to England with a focus on Formula One and no time for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”. The works team only contested the big 500-mile races, and was also out of luck, although Johncock led at Pocono. Denny Hulme and Chris Amon were supposed to have given the Offenhauser-engined McLaren M15 its Indy debut in 1970. McLaren withdrew from U.S. open-wheel racing at the end of 1979 when the Ron Dennis/John Barnard Project Four company merged with McLaren in the UK and elected to focus on Formula 1. The terrible shock of Bruce McLaren’s death came just a few days after the Indy 500 debut. However, the real prize was Indy. Later he won at Michigan and Phoenix, and took a string of second places. He had another frustrating Indy 500 in 1978, and was classified only 13th after a troubled race. Against expectations he ended up as USAC series champion with a design that was essentially now two years old. The McLaren of today has about as much in common with that of 1979 as “IndyCar” has with USAC in which a McLaren team last competed. Indeed in 1973 McCluskey finished third in a dramatic Indy 500 in his M16A, later winning at Michigan and taking three other second places. More information on the build is … His race ended after nine laps due to a terminal oil leak. The M16 series was clearly still competitive, and thus, as with the M23, for the time being McLaren saw no reason for a radical overhaul. The winning M16 during the 1976 Indianapolis 500. After two relatively unsuccessful years of Formula One competition, the M7A was used to score McLaren's first win at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix.. So for 1975 the team produced yet another variation on the theme, dubbed the M16E. Donohue’s parked machine was badly damaged when struck by a crashing car later on, and a new chassis had to be built and shipped to the USA. Indeed, as late as 1981 – a decade after the type’s debut and long after the works team had given up on America – the car still figured on CART grids. Although new to oval racing, the team was already well known in the USA through its Can-Am involvement. The McLaren M16Bs were more numerous - a pair for Penske and a pair for McLaren Cars - but could not quite match the speed of new Eagles. That winter McLaren’s Indy talisman Peter Revson left the team to join Shadow for F1, and Penske for Indycars. But Donohue and Revson were again on the front row, in second and third. He added successes at Trenton and Texas as – for the third time in a row – he was runner-up in the championship, losing out to Gordon Johncock. McLaren maintains an impressive collection of historic racing cars, representing all eras of the company’s history. COLT/FORD DRIVEN BY AL UNSER McLaren withdrew from U.S. open-wheel racing at the end of 1979 when the Ron Dennis/John Barnard Project Four company merged with McLaren in the UK and elected to focus on Formula 1. In the race itself, replacements Peter Revson and Carl Williams were out of luck, although the latter finished ninth. The latest addition to the fold is a very special one. By now everyone had big wings, and the McLarens were beaten to pole. The McLaren M15 was born out of the frustrations that Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme experienced during the 1968 Indy 500, (Bruce’s one and only race) in which Bruce had been originally scheduled to compete in the stillborn Shelby American turbine Indy Car project… Accept, We have noticed that you are using the English version of our web site. The 33 cars from the 1971 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race — #1 JOHNNY LIGHTNING P.J. There was disappointment for the works outfit as both Revson and his team mate Gordon Johncock retired, while Bettenhausen also failed to finish in the other Penske entry. Mario Andretti took time out from his Lotus F1 commitments to drive Penske’s M16C/D at Indy, where he set the fastest qualifying time, albeit on the second weekend, so it didn’t count for pole. In various guises the McLaren M16 saw frontline service as a works entry in Indycar racing for five seasons, in effect mirroring the long career of the M23, the F1 car that was a born a couple of years later. This site uses cookies. The M16 (or M16A as later versions caused it to be known) borrowed its wedge shape from the Lotus 72 which had proved so successful in Grand Prix racing in 1970, taking Jochen Rindt to a posthumous World Championship title. The works team only contested the big 500-mile races, and was also out of luck, although Johncock led at Pocono. Not long afterwards Donohue was injured while testing the team’s Can-Am Porsche 917, while later Bettenhausen was hurt in a sprint car crash. Penske had abandoned plans to run a Lola and had instead become McLaren’s first Indycar customer entrant. Nevertheless, McLaren had made its mark. McLaren updated its existing design to the new rules, and called it the M16C/D. The 1979 SCCA/CART Indy Car Series was the inaugural season for the CART Indy car … He added successes at Trenton and Texas as – for the third time in a row – he was runner-up in the championship, losing out to Johncock. Accept, We have noticed that you are using the English version of our web site. Suspension was moved inboard, which helped with aerodynamic efficiency. Rutherford got off to a great start with the M24 in ‘77, winning its second race at Phoenix, and leading at Trenton. The Race Of Two Worlds brought F1 and Indy Cars together for the first time back in 1957, The three-time Indy 500 winner will be McLaren-Honda-Andretti's official ambassador, First look at our 2017 Indy 500 challenger. It’s a model that means a lot to him. He duly won at Pocono and Michigan and led at Ontario, only to retire from the latter when he ran out of fuel after a signalling mix-up. Rutherford had a disappointing Indy 500 in 1973, but he won events at Ontario and Michigan with the M16C, and placed third in the championship. Just a week later he won again at Milwaukee. The front of the car produced a lot of downforce, which was balanced by a rear wing that was neatly incorporated into the engine cover, and which thus cleverly skirted the rules of the time. And it then gave everybody the confidence to do the M23, which won two World Championships.”, A timeline of our relationship with that special colour, The Race Of Two Worlds brought F1 and Indy Cars together for the first time back in 1957, Watch as we reveal our striking McLaren MCL33. Designed by Robin Herd and Gordon Coppuck, the M7A was the first McLaren to be powered … The car was still competitive, but just as the M23 was about to be replaced by the M26, so the M16 series was coming to the end of its competitive life. The M16A was undoubtedly the class of the field, and both Penske and McLaren now had their eyes fixed firmly on unfinished business at Indy in 1972. The 1974 McLaren M16C Indy Car was an Offenhauser-powered open-wheeled racer that won the 1974 Indy 500 – the car and its driver, Johnny Rutherford, would lead for 59 of the last 60 laps before taking their historic win at the Brickyard.. Penske opted to stick with its proven C/Ds, which the team itself had updated, so only the works outfit had the new cars. The team was already well known in the USA through its Can-Am involvement, and while the cars were admired for … The McLaren M7A and its M7B, M7C and M7D variants were Formula One racing cars, built by McLaren and used in the world championship between 1968 and 1971. Now it really began to look like the M23, with a similar, shorter nose and a chunky rear wing mounted on a centre pylon rather than the earlier strut arrangement. Chris Amon was not an oval fan and eventually decided not to compete, while Denny Hulme was injured in a fire in practice. When founder Bruce McLaren died in June 1970, his team could have folded. The car was clearly still competitive, but just as the M23 was ready to be replaced by the M26, so the M16 series had come to the end of its competitive life. Then the manufacturer was done, back to England with a focus on Formula One and no time for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." When practice for the 500 started in May, Donohue and Revson set the pace, and left rivals scratching their heads. That winter Peter Revson left the team to join Shadow for F1 – and Penske for Indycars – although sadly he was killed at Kyalami in March. McLaren made the Indianapolis 500 its personal playground in the 1970s with three victories in 10 appearances. The car helped to kick start an era of huge wings at Indy, which led to a massive increase in lap speeds. The nose was shorter, which meant that the rear wing could hang further back and keep the car within the maximum overall length. His only race victory came at Phoenix, but he again finished second in the championship, this time to AJ Foyt. Bruce was so charismatic you always felt that somehow or other he would attract attention. Partnering with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Chevrolet from 2020 McLaren Racing announced today it will return to full-time IndyCar competition from 2020 in a strategic partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (Arrow SPM) and Chevrolet. McLaren first entered the Indy 500 in 1970 with Gordon Coppuck’s curvy M15. Nevertheless, McLaren had made its mark. USAC loses two IndyCar races in one week. Coppuck felt that the 72’s sleek lines would be ideal for Indycar racing, although the M16 was very much a McLaren design. In 1970 Bruce’s team entered the 500 mile race with the M15, the first McLaren Indy car. The car was in effect to kick-start an era of huge wings in Indycars, which led to a massive increase in lap speeds. Facing a lack of sponsorship, and with the F1 team struggling and needing the management’s full attention, McLaren did not compete in Indycars in 1980. Meanwhile Roger Penske abandoned plans to run a Lola and had instead become McLaren’s first Indycar customer entrant, with Mark Donohue heading the team’s efforts, “It meant that the build got a bit more sensible in terms of costs,” says Coppuck. Meanwhile Briton David Hobbs finished fifth at Indy in the second McLaren works entry, which ran in Carling Black Label colours. It was to be Penske’s only Indycar win that year. In the end the race proved somewhat disappointing, with Revson managing only a low-key second behind the Colt of Al Unser, Donohue stopping with gearbox problems, and Hulme spinning early on before having engine trouble. By now rule makers USAC had basically said that anything went as far as wings were concerned. As was standard in those days, it used a 2.6-litre Offenhauser engine, mated to a Hewland gearbox, but with three speeds instead of the two usually favoured at Indy – the idea being to provide better acceleration out of pit stops. The M16A was undoubtedly the class of the field, and both Penske and McLaren now had their eyes fixed firmly on unfinished business at Indy in 1972. Despite this tragedy, the team that bears his name survived. See more ideas about indy cars, indy car racing, indy 500. But this was the first time that we’d really started to upset the applecart. Now it really began to look like the sister M23, with a similar, shorter nose and a chunky rear wing mounted on a centre pylon rather than the earlier strut arrangement. When practice for the 500 started in May Donohue and Revson set the pace, and left rivals scratching their heads. The period saw 29 Eagle victories, 26 for McLaren, 19 for AJ Foyt's Coyotes, 15 for Parnelli, eight for the Patrick Racing Wildcats and three for Chaparral Racing's 1978 Lola T500. Mario Andretti took time out from his Lotus commitments to drive Penske’s M16C/D at Indy, where he set the fastest qualifying time, albeit on the second weekend. They certainly helped, but it all came a little bit at a time. 1970 was … That first chapter of our IndyCar story ended in 1979, but our core values of racing in elite competition didn’t. “There were many features unique to the car.”. Another victory at Pocono helped him to second in the USAC championship, although he lost the title to Bobby Unser. Not long afterwards Donohue was injured testing the team’s CanAm Porsche 917, while Bettenhausen was later hurt in a sprint car crash. The team was already well known in the USA through its Can-Am involvement, and while the cars were admired for their design and construction, results were modest. Running a conservative strategy which was easy on the engine Donohue survived what turned into a race of attrition. Indeed in 1973 McCluskey finished third at Indy in his M16A, later winning at Michigan and taking three second places. Coppuck embarked on a brand new design for 1971. The front of the car produced a lot of downforce, which was balanced by a rear wing that was neatly incorporated into the engine cover, and which cleverly skirted the rules of the time. In that respect, during the early 1970s he would become a leading light in the works McLaren Indycar squad – bagging pole for the ’71 Indianapolis 500 at a record speed of just over 176mph. He led the final 13 laps to give both McLaren and the Penske team their first Indy 500 victories, while earning a $218,000 first prize. Rutherford had a disappointing Indy 500 in 1973, but he won events at Ontario and Michigan, and placed third in the championship. McLaren last competed full-time in … In the spring of 1970, Bruce McLaren was the victim of a fatal crash on the Goodwood Circuit during trials of one of his prototypes. “We didn’t really understand the place a lot to begin with,” recalled former McLaren Indy team boss Tyler Alexander, “And it was a huge struggle. However, while the cars were admired for their design and construction, even winning an award, the results were modest. By now rule makers USAC had basically said that anything goes as far as wings were concerned. McLaren was killed in … By the end of that season Barnard found himself back at McLaren – this time designing a new F1 car…. Johnny Rutherford stops for tyres and fuel on his way to victory in 1974. With three cars at the front, a debut win for the M16A seemed assured. Indeed Revson ultimately took pole at a record speed, with Donohue earning second place and Hulme – never a fan of ovals – in fourth. Rutherford duly won Indy for a second time, as rain cut the race distance to just 255 miles. Close, We have noticed that you are using the English version of our web site. Close. Through the 1970s, McLaren built a strong legacy in Indy car racing, both as a works outfit, and through other teams – notably Penske – running McLaren chassis. Meanwhile, McLaren built six revised M16Cs for 1973, for works and Penske use, and the team’s withdrawal from Can-Am ensured that the Indycar programme was the main focus of the US operation. The team subsequently regrouped under Teddy Mayer, and gained more oval experience later that year competing in the other big 500-mile events at Ontario and Pocono. Through the 1970s, McLaren built a strong legacy in Indy car racing, both as a works outfit, and through other teams – notably Penske – running McLaren chassis. But after the first year there we felt amongst ourselves that if we could get the goddamn thing to finish, we could win the race.”, Gordon Coppuck & Peter Revson pose with the M16. Running a conservative strategy which was easy on the engine Donohue survived what turned into a race of attrition. The only parallel is, I guess, a mutual sponsor, Arrow, perhaps fulfilling the role Marlboro played with the original McLaren & Ron’s Project 4 “merger”. Peter Revson and designer Gordon Coppuck pose with the McLaren M16. The 1966 car was the M2B designed by Robin Herd, but the programme was hampered by a poor choice of engines: a 3.0-litre version of Ford's Indianapolis 500 engine and a Serenissima V8 were used, the latter scoring the team's first point in Britain, but both were underpowered and unreliable. The car with which Johnny Rutherford won the 1974 Indianapolis 500 has returned after spending years in private ownership, including a spell on display at the Speedway’s famous museum. 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