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  Eagle 7200 Offenhauser      

  Article Image gallery (47) Chassis (4) Specifications  
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Country of origin:United States
Produced in:1972
Numbers built:28
Internal name:7200
Designed by:Roman Slobodynskyj for All American Racers
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:January 19, 2018
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Click here to download printer friendly versionIn 1971, McLaren raised the bar with the introduction of the very quick M16 Indy racer. Designer Gordon Coppuck had found a way around the restrictions on wings and Peter Revson promptly broke the three-year old lap record at the 1971 Indy 500. This prompted governing body USAC to relax the regulations for the 1972 season and allow proper front and rear wings. To explore all the new opportunities, the All American Racers team set out to design and construct a brand new car.

Responsible for the design of the all-new Eagle 7200 was a team led by hugely talented aerodynamicist Roman Slobodynskyj, who had been lured away by Dan Gurney from Rockwell Aerospace a few years earlier. Undoubtedly inspired by the McLaren M16 and developed with the help of the wind-tunnel, the new design featured a chisel nose with wings on either side and a separate rear wing mounted behind the gearbox. A distinct difference was the use of a chin spoiler underneath the nose.

The rolling chassis incorporated the lessons learned with the earlier Eagles. It consisted of a sheet aluminium monocoque with steel bulkheads and a separate rear subframe that supported the partly stressed engine. This was the latest evolution of the venerable Offenhauser, four-cylinder engine built to custom order by Drake Engineering. Fitted with a massive turbo, it produced around 750 bhp. The engine did require considerable cooling, so sizeable radiators were fitted in the left and right side-pods. The suspension was conventional with lower wishbones and rockers at the front and a multi-link layout at the rear.

By December of 1971, the first prototype was ready for testing at the Ontario Motor Speedway. Bobby Unser was the designated driver and immediately shattered the lap record on what was, for all intents and purposes, a shakedown run. It was the start of a very successful career, which saw Unser win four races and the All American Racers team sell more customer cars than ever before. Unser also set the fastest single lap and four-lap times at Indy, breaking the record by a staggering 17 mph, to claim pole. Unfortunately, as was often the case that year, poor reliability hampered Unser in the race.

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  Article Image gallery (47) Chassis (4) Specifications