Of course usac would have banned it. It was a threat to the offy at the time (no offence meant to offy) and in 94 the banned the Mercedes pushrod engine because it was penske who built it. Had it been menard or someone else, usac would've been patting themselves on the back
AT 1:OO THERE IS A CAMERA TO RECORD PARNELLI'S HAND GOING UP (GRANATELLI HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH OFFICIALS "NOT NOTICING" THE WAVE TO START TIMIMG) I WANT TO SEE THAT FILM!!!!!!WHERE IS THAT FILM?
Twice, the STP Turbine Car came to within a few laps of winning. Imagine what would have happened if Parnelli Jones had won in 1967 or Joe Leonard had won in 1968.
forward duct is a naca...question: was trans bearing changed out that night after red flag - was work in alley permitted, i think so - otherwise: would bearing have failed 30 May had race continued - or did cooling and re-stress 31 may start-up do those dear Granatellis in?
I've met Joe Lenoard several times, he also drove one of those cars in the mid '60's at indy. What I heard was he was doing well but had a flameout, and his crew didn't want a restart until they could check it out,putting him out of the race.Too bad really, it would have been nice to have even 1 of those remarkable cars win just once.
@MotorsportLegends placed on corner scales with the engine off, idling, and then at full throttle would be the only way to know for sure, but I am pretty sure the numbers would change. Of course there would be centrifugal forces at work too. Someone call up the Speedway museum and get this experiment arrainged
Not only does the exhaust provide downforce, but you'll notice that the turbine is on the left side of the car shifting the left/right weight distribution largely to the left. That's a big advantage on an oval track especially compared to the other cars.
@Annook12 - the rules for 1970 banned four-wheel-drive and any turbine engine not developed specifically for automotive use. It would need someone to develop an engine from scratch and put it in a car, rather than just grab one from an aviation supplier as the Granatellis did.
Beautiful car. Turbines are so gloriously simple and thermally efficient.
dauer962roadcar 2 months ago
Love how they kept broke down cars on the infield next to the walls instead of removing them
ShortTrackNews 2 months ago
What do we learn from this 1967 American "formula one"?.... stay out of crashes and win the shit :P
Summitshow 5 months ago
Of course usac would have banned it. It was a threat to the offy at the time (no offence meant to offy) and in 94 the banned the Mercedes pushrod engine because it was penske who built it. Had it been menard or someone else, usac would've been patting themselves on the back
jamie24cfc 5 months ago
AT 1:OO THERE IS A CAMERA TO RECORD PARNELLI'S HAND GOING UP (GRANATELLI HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH OFFICIALS "NOT NOTICING" THE WAVE TO START TIMIMG) I WANT TO SEE THAT FILM!!!!!!WHERE IS THAT FILM?
MrAnsonHunter 6 months ago
Twice, the STP Turbine Car came to within a few laps of winning. Imagine what would have happened if Parnelli Jones had won in 1967 or Joe Leonard had won in 1968.
altfactor 8 months ago
forward duct is a naca...question: was trans bearing changed out that night after red flag - was work in alley permitted, i think so - otherwise: would bearing have failed 30 May had race continued - or did cooling and re-stress 31 may start-up do those dear Granatellis in?
newsmanbluesman 8 months ago
I've met Joe Lenoard several times, he also drove one of those cars in the mid '60's at indy. What I heard was he was doing well but had a flameout, and his crew didn't want a restart until they could check it out,putting him out of the race.Too bad really, it would have been nice to have even 1 of those remarkable cars win just once.
Oldbmwr100rs 9 months ago
The location and positioning of the engine's exhaust had nothing whatsoever to do with providing down-force.
That just happened to be how the engine was designed by the manufacturer - the car had to be built to accommodate its shape.
hcrun 10 months ago
@hcrun built into the design or not the exhaust gasflow definitely had to affect the car's balance and grip
MotorsportLegends 10 months ago
@MotorsportLegends placed on corner scales with the engine off, idling, and then at full throttle would be the only way to know for sure, but I am pretty sure the numbers would change. Of course there would be centrifugal forces at work too. Someone call up the Speedway museum and get this experiment arrainged
MotorsportLegends 10 months ago
I wish we still had innovation like this at the Speedway.
ryanro24 10 months ago
What a raw deal that race was . I used to cheer for stp car as a kid.
deathofisrael 11 months ago
why not just grab an aviation turbine then relabel it for auto use??? today's turbines would make this performance seem wea & pathetic
circusboy90210 1 year ago
Not only does the exhaust provide downforce, but you'll notice that the turbine is on the left side of the car shifting the left/right weight distribution largely to the left. That's a big advantage on an oval track especially compared to the other cars.
JasonWW2000 1 year ago
I would love to see another turbine in the Indianapolis 500.
Annook12 1 year ago 2
@Annook12 - the rules for 1970 banned four-wheel-drive and any turbine engine not developed specifically for automotive use. It would need someone to develop an engine from scratch and put it in a car, rather than just grab one from an aviation supplier as the Granatellis did.
JBofBrisbane 1 year ago
Does anyone else notice the turbine exhaust is directed to provide downforce?
MotorsportLegends 1 year ago
@MotorsportLegends
lesnake001 1 year ago