1999 Swift 010.c Indycar Single Seater

This 1999 Swift/Ford-Cosworth Single-Seater Racing 10.c Indycar was driven by Michael Andretti for all twenty races of the 1999 season. It won at the sixth round at St. Louis's Gateway Motorsports Park, the first time that season a race had not been won by a Reynard chassis. A Reynard chassis would win the remainder of the races of the season except for the 10th round when Michael Andretti won the Texaco/Havoline 200. The Swift chassis was very quick, but it was plagued throughout the season due to a number of minor issues. Overall, the Swift chassis would help the team earn five podium finishes and, for Andretti, a fourth in the 1999 driver's championship.

The Swift 010.c chassis was powered by a Ford-Cosworth turbocharged V8 engine, an engine the Newman/Haas team was very familiar with, as they had been a primary development partner with the engine supplier since 1992. The XD iteration was introduced in 1996 and helped power Andretti to five victories in the Lola and earned Newman/Haas cars to the podium in 16 of the 48 races it was used. For the 1999 season, the engine was improved to reduce high-speed friction, and received a revised valvetrain design to accommodate a higher 14,500 rpm redline. The fuel management was enhanced for top-end power and increased drivability.

After chassis number 008 was retired from CART racing, it was campaigned in Europe's 2004 BOSS SuperCup Series by American Mike Biangardi. It was driven to podium finishes on two occasions before it was put into protective storage by its current owner. Currently, the car is powered by a 2,650cc DOHC Ford/Cosworth V8 engine fitted with a Cosworth fuel injection system and developing 829 horsepower. There is a Hewland 6-speed transmission, coil-over-shock suspension, and disc brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2019