<< Prev Page 3 of 3 No new cars were built for 1974 but instead the existing M16s were updated to M16C/D spec with an even smoother cockpit surround, shorter nose and larger rear wing. Despite qualifying in a lowly 25th due to problems, Rutherford clinched his first victory at the 'Brickyard'. David Hobbs was fifth in the other works car. Rutherford would go on to take three more USAC victories in the M16C/D that year.
McLaren deemed that there was life left in the M16 and had a young John Barnard prepare yet another evolution. 'His' M16E featured a longer wheelbase and revised rear suspension. Seasoned USAC racer Lloyd Ruby joined Rutherford as a works entry. The race was called early due to heavy rain. At that time Bobby Unser was leading in his Eagle and Rutherford was second. Ruby was already out of the race on lap seven with a burnt piston.
The M16E was brought again in 1976 for Rutherford and he managed to clinch pole ahead of an earlier Penske entered M16 driven by Tom Sneva. Mario Andretti had actually set the fastest time in another Penske M16 but at the wrong time and he had to settle for 18th on the grid. Rutherford in the mean time continued the M16's even streak by scoring the type's third Indy 500 victory, six years after its spectacular debut.
After six seasons and five evolutions, McLaren finally had to develop a new car. This was mainly due to the quick rise to the top of the Cosworth DFX V8 engine. Dubbed the M24, the new McLaren Indy racer was clearly a development of the M23 F1 car, which in turn was closely related to the M16. The M24 was also immediately competitive, scoring several victories but not at Indy.
With three victories in six years, the McLaren M16 ranks as one of the all time great Indy racers. It dominated in one of the sport's most competitive eras and was driven by some of the all-time great racers. Unfortunately McLaren was not able to repeat the same success with the later M24s and the British squad left USAC racing to focus solely on F1 in 1980. M16s were run at Indy by privateers as late as the early 1980s. << Prev Page 3 of 3
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No new cars were built for 1974 but instead the existing M16s were updated to M16C/D spec with an even smoother cockpit surround, shorter nose and larger rear wing. Despite qualifying in a lowly 25th due to problems, Rutherford clinched his first victory at the 'Brickyard'. David Hobbs was fifth in the other works car. Rutherford would go on to take three more USAC victories in the M16C/D that year.