1964 Watson Sheraton-Thompson Special

1964 WATSON 'SHERATON-THOMPSON' SPECIAL

One year after Parenlli Jones' controversial victory at Indianapolis, rear-engine automobiles were about to take over at the venerable Brickyard. However, 1964 would prove to be the last hurrah for front-engine racers, and an incredible year for a then-growing racing legend.

The Watson-built Sheraton-Thompson Special #32 had finished 14th in the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Ebb Rose was the last driver to complete the '63 Indy 500 in the #32, finishing a full 17 minutes behind winner Parnelli Jones. That was the last time the Sheraton-Thompson Special would lose a race in the next 16 months.

In the winter of 1964, the Sheraton-Thompson was re-worked by mechanic George Bignotti. Known as the 'master mechanic of Indy-car racing,' Bignotti's drivers won the Indianapolis 500 seven times and season championships six times. An air scoop was added to the nose and the cockpit of the Sheraton-Thompson was enlarged to aid the driver's comfort.

But his success wasn't simply limited to Indy cars. He won five of 13 NASCAR races he ran that year too and won the Firecracker 400 at Daytona.

Although Foyt would not dominate at Indianapolis as he did earlier at other races, he did lead for most of the day, pulling to the front at lap 55 and not relinquishing the top spot from that point forward. Foyt's win was the last for front-engine cars. In 1965, 27 rear-engine cars would start the race at Indy, and the world of automobile racing would change forever.