<< Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >> Like its predecessors, the 38 incorporated an off-set suspension to suit the specific needs of racing on an oval. The car's track was increased slightly and larger ventilated disc brakes were fitted. The car featured three fuel tanks; one on each side of the driver and the third between the cockpit and engine. New-for-1965 regulations stipulated that the tanks could only be filled using gravity. Terry addressed this by creating a fast-flow funnel in the fueling rig that enabled the fuel to get in the tank through both the fill and vent pipes. This cut refueling time by as much as a third.
Ford supplied the latest version of the quad-cam V8 developed specifically for the Indy campaign. The compact unit was constructed completely from aluminium and was surprisingly light. It sported two gear-driven overhead camshafts per bank, actuating four valves per cylinder. The intake ports were fitted between the camshafts and the 'spaghetti' exhaust pipes emerged from inside the engine's 'V'. A fuel injection system was used that had Hilborn origins but was heavily modified by Ford's engineers. Running on alcohol, the mighty V8 developed a hefty 500 bhp with a 9000 rpm red line. It was mated to a sturdy ZF two-speed gearbox.
Finished in Lotus' familiar livery of green and yellow (including the spectacular spaghetti exhausts), the 38 was set to debut at Trenton in April. Driver Roger McCluskey, however, destroyed one car when his throttle stuck open and Lotus decided to withdraw from the race. A new car was hastily constructed for the team's two-car assault on Indy (Clark and local Bobby Johns). The race was so important for Chapman that he opted to skip the Monaco Grand Prix and have his team spent the entire month of May in the Sates. Gurney received his promised 38 while AJ Foyt and Parnelli Jones used earlier 34s. << Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >>
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Like its predecessors, the 38 incorporated an off-set suspension to suit the specific needs of racing on an oval. The car's track was increased slightly and larger ventilated disc brakes were fitted. The car featured three fuel tanks; one on each side of the driver and the third between the cockpit and engine. New-for-1965 regulations stipulated that the tanks could only be filled using gravity. Terry addressed this by creating a fast-flow funnel in the fueling rig that enabled the fuel to get in the tank through both the fill and vent pipes. This cut refueling time by as much as a third.