Nov 29, 2023
Jim Clark (Lotus 49 Ford-Cosworth) le futur vainqueur et Pedro Rodriguez (BRM P126) Grand Prix d'Afrique du Sud - Kyalami 1968. © LAT / Motorsport. - source Carros e Pilotos.
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Jim Clark (Lotus 49 Ford-Cosworth) le futur vainqueur et Pedro Rodriguez (BRM P126) Grand Prix d'Afrique du Sud - Kyalami 1968. © LAT / Motorsport. - source Carros e Pilotos.
It all started at a NASCAR race at Darlington, when Ford approached Glen Wood and asked him if he’d help out with the effort in the 500. Wood was taken aback by a request from Ford Motor Company to have the team from the remote Virginia foothills, with no open-wheel racing experience, be a part of the Indianapolis 500. Glen said his initial response: “Are you kidding?”
Leaving no stone unturned and recognizing the opportunity to use lightning-quick pit stops to their advantage, the Ford folks weren’t kidding, and being as loyal to the Blue Oval as they were, Glen and Leonard were off to Indy. After building a relationship with a group of racers they’d never met, the Woods set to work on the fueling system they’d use on race day. Working with Ford engineers the race team had developed a fuel tank that had a giant venturi inside. The principle was simple, and time-proven. It’s the same device that allows fuel and air to flow quickly through a carburetor and makes airplanes fly. The Woods knew it would work.
The Woods also prepared for tire changes during the race, sanding and filing on the wheels and hubs and practicing tire swaps. But that tire work turned out to be unnecessary, as Clark ran the entire 500 on the same set of tires -- an impressive feat in and of itself. Nevertheless, the lasting contribution of the team from the remote Virginia foothills that Ford invited to Indianapolis is the art of today’s seconds-long pit stops and the tactical advantage they provide.
Rindt and G. Hill, 1969
Jim Clark, Lotus-Ford 38 le vainqueur suivi de près par AJ. Foyt et Parnelli Jones lors des premiers tours de course des 500 miles d'Indianapolis 1965. - source UK Racing History.
Jim Clark - Lotus-Ford 49 - Grand Prix d'Italie - Monza 1967. - source Giorgio Gioli.
Jim Clark (Lotus 49 Ford-Cosworth) vainqueur du Grand Prix de Grande-Bretagne - Silverstone 1967 © Ruddell. - source Carros e Pilotos.
Graham Hill (Lotus 59B Ford) Gold Cup - Oulton Park 1969. © LAT / Motorsport. - source Carros e Pilotos.
Jim Clark (Lotus 49 Ford-Cosworth) vainqueur du Grand Prix des Pays-Bas - Zandvoort 1967. - source Carros e Pilotos.