Granatelli Indy 500 and STP :)

[shanneba]

In 1947 the late Andy Granatelli came to town (Indy) with a seriously time-honored car for a little-known rookie, a Serbian-American immigrant named Pete Romcevich, who ran Midgets.

Folks began to take pay attention, however, when Romcevich rocketed from the 17th starting position to 7th spot in some 20 laps.

Soon afterwards, however, he was pit-side - no oil pressure.

Ever the free-thinker, Granatelli filled the crankcase with water, knowing it was illegal to add oil.
Amazingly, the motor banged on until lap 168 when it finally gave up the ghost.
Attrition was high, though, and the team ended up with 12th-place money.

 

[HangFire]

Interesting!

If it was a dry sump, the water would have buoyed up any remaining oil in the side tank. In the crankcase, it would have been a mess.

 

[gman2304]

Even more amazing was Granatellis turbine Indy cars of the late sixties. They were banned after the 1968 race.

 

[Langanobob]

First time I've heard that water story. Thanks.

 

[shanneba]

Originally Posted by gman2304
Even more amazing was Granatellis turbine Indy cars of the late sixties. They were banned after the 1968 race.


Not really. There was a turbine entered in 1969. It was not fast enough to qualify.

In less than a month after the 1967 Indianapolis 500, USAC cut the allowable turbine air intake area from 23.999 to 15.999 square inches and imposed the ruling immediately.

https://autoweek.com/article/indycar/historic-turbines-return-indianapolis-motor-speedway

https://petrolicious.com/articles/this-man-collects-turbine-powered-indycars

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted by shanneba
Originally Posted by gman2304
Even more amazing was Granatellis turbine Indy cars of the late sixties. They were banned after the 1968 race.


Not really. There was a turbine entered in 1969. It was not fast enough to qualify.

In less than a month after the 1967 Indianapolis 500, USAC cut the allowable turbine air intake area from 23.999 to 15.999 square inches and imposed the ruling immediately.

https://autoweek.com/article/indycar/historic-turbines-return-indianapolis-motor-speedway

https://petrolicious.com/articles/this-man-collects-turbine-powered-indycars


Not USAC; more like USUC! They had a few tough years in the sixties, what with Colin Chapman invading with his rear-engine car in '64, and Graham Hill winning in the Lotus-Ford in '65. USUC must have been feeling set upon now that Watson roadsters with Offy engines were no longer guaranteed to win.

 

[shanneba]

Originally Posted by A_Harman
[

Not USAC; more like USUC! They had a few tough years in the sixties, what with Colin Chapman invading with his rear-engine car in '64, and Graham Hill winning in the Lotus-Ford in '65. USUC must have been feeling set upon now that Watson roadsters with Offy engines were no longer guaranteed to win.


The first rear-engine car at Indy was in 1937. It did not make the field.
The first rear-engine car to qualify was in 1939.

Micky Thompson entered a rear-engine car in 1962.

Jim Clark won in 1965, Graham Hill won in 1966.