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1965 Lotus Type 38 news, pictures, and information

Roadster
 
This is one of the seminal cars in American racing history. In the early 1960s, legendary road racer Dan Gurney concluded that the proper application of European Formula One technology could capture the Indianapolis 500. He brought Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Ford Motor Company together and the result was a lightweight Lotus chassis powered by a specially designed Ford V8 engine.

This Lotus ran the 1965 Indianapolis 500 mile race with driver Bobby Johns finishing 7th and again ran the Indianapolis 500 with driver Jimmy Clark (who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1965) finishing 2nd. The car qualified for the 1966 race at 164.114 mph.

The Lotus 38 was the first mid-engine car to win at Indianapolis, as well as the first British car to win. The mid-engine designed Lotus 38 changed the style of Indianapolis racing and set the new standards that put an end to the roadster era. The Lotus 38 set the Indianapolis Straightaway Speed Record that stood for over two decades.
Roadster
Chassis Num: 38/1
 
The Lotus Team's first victory at a US circuit was at the US Grand Prix in 1961. Thereafter, Lotus owner Colin Chapman set his sights on winning at Indianapolis. He entered his first rear-engined Lotus in 1963 when Jim Clark drove the Ford-powered Lotus 29 to an amazing second place. The front engined boys took notice. In 1964 the much revised Lotus 34 with new Ford V8 appeared at the Brickyard but due to tire wear the suspension collapsed and the team withdrew its cars. No expense was spared at Lotus for the 1965 evolution of their Indy racer, the Lotus 38. Its design was sleeker than the previous cars and the chassis was slightly modified. Jim Clark once again dominated the race in this Lotus 38/1 against a grid of mixed front- and rear-engined cars. It was a historic victory; the first for a mid-engined car, the first for a British car and the first for a Ford engine.
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