Two years after Jim Clark’s epic win at the Indianapolis 500 in 1965, Team Lotus was caught off balance when they returned in ‘67. Sponsored once again by Andy Granatelli’s STP organization, Lotus originally planned to use BRM’s H16 engine in a Type 42 chassis. However, despite many promises and for the second year in a row, the complicated engine was not ready in time. Team Lotus brought out two Type 38 chassis with Ford V8 engines for Jim Clark and teammate Graham Hill. Both had difficulties throughout the month, and Clark qualified an uncharacteristic 16th. Hill could not get up to speed in his Type 38, so a Type 42 was cobbled up to take the longer Ford V8. He qualified 31st despite actually posting a faster average speed than Clark, due to having qualified on the second weekend. Both cars suffered burned pistons during the race. Hill on lap 31, finishing 32nd, and Clark on lap 35, finishing 31st. The race was won by AJ Foyt after the STP Turbine car driven by Parnelli Jones failed after leading much of the race only 10 miles from the finish.
50 Years Ago…
