I'm watching the replay of the '74 Indy 500 and had totally forgotten about the number of cars that failed in the first five laps including leader Wally Dallenbach, Gary Bettenhausen in a Penske car, and Mario Andretti. They referenced a large turbocharger but I don't recall the situation at all.
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Originally posted by Truth Detector View PostI'm watching the replay of the '74 Indy 500 and had totally forgotten about the number of cars that failed in the first five laps including leader Wally Dallenbach, Gary Bettenhausen in a Penske car, and Mario Andretti. They referenced a large turbocharger but I don't recall the situation at all.
Big turbo or not, for all of the nostalgia about them, Offenhausers were very unreliable. It was common for 3-5 cars to be out of the race before ten laps were run. It was accepted as a given.The Ayn Rand of Indycar
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Crapping all over threads since 2000.
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I've heard several racers of the time infer that Dallenbach was Dr. Nitrous.
When I watch pit stops from that era, I always notice how much the driver is trying to talk to his crew. For the guys that had radios, communication was spotty at best.I live my life 4.048 miles at a time.
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Also interesting that Jackie Stewart didn't like the opposite lane in the pits the year after Armando Teran was killed by a fire truck going the opposite direction in the pits.Center Grove Trojans
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Originally posted by dalz View PostI've heard several racers of the time infer that Dallenbach was Dr. Nitrous.
"Versions of a story that are more tidy, compact, and camera-ready should generally be viewed as historically suspect." - Jackson Landers
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Originally posted by DaveL View Post
The Patrick team had a turbocharger unit that was larger than what everyone else was using. The whispers were that it would blow more than the allowable 80" but there was never any proof. Johncock's car ran all day.
Big turbo or not, for all of the nostalgia about them, Offenhausers were very unreliable. It was common for 3-5 cars to be out of the race before ten laps were run. It was accepted as a given.
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There was a story that the huge blower was to get around the pop-off valve limits, it would blow so much air in that the USAC-mandated pop-off valve could not cope with it all, and so there would be more air forced in than for "legal" cars. Bignotti knew it would be too much stress for the engine so planned to take it off. But USAC stopped him. Cars had to race in the same configuration with which they had qualified."An emphasis was placed on drivers with road racing backgrounds which meant drivers from open wheel, oval track racing were at a disadvantage. That led Tony George to create the IRL." -Indy Review 1996
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Like Dave said, it was normal for a few cars to fall out right off the bat.
On the ‘74 radio broadcast Freddie Agabashian also comments on how critical getting the fuel mix right was and the way atmospheric changes affected it.
IIRC he says there was enough difference in the weather between Carb Day and Race Day that could cause a mix that worked Thursday to be lean on Race Day, exacerbating the problem and leading to burnt pistons and dropped valves.“With the help of God and true friends, I come to realize
I still got two strong legs, even wings to fly
I ain’t wastin’ time no more...”
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Originally posted by DaveL View Post
Big turbo or not, for all of the nostalgia about them, Offenhausers were very unreliable. It was common for 3-5 cars to be out of the race before ten laps were run. It was accepted as a given.
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Originally posted by JThur1 View PostI think it might have been Autoweek that reported on Dallenbach's car being torn down at Ontario that year, with many expecting to find nitrous. Nothing was found. They waggishly wrote something along the lines of: "Turns out the nitrous was hooked to Wally, not the car."
Were there turbo boost limits imposed by then, with the unloved pop-off valves? Or just fuel limits? If not, how did they reduce qualifying speeds from the previous year? Did a smaller wing make that much of a difference?I live my life 4.048 miles at a time.
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Originally posted by dalz View Post
Thanks for a solid nugget of evidence on the matter.
Were there turbo boost limits imposed by then, with the unloved pop-off valves? Or just fuel limits? If not, how did they reduce qualifying speeds from the previous year? Did a smaller wing make that much of a difference?The Ayn Rand of Indycar
No one had to badge the Offy.
Crapping all over threads since 2000.
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Originally posted by Truth Detector View PostAlso interesting that Jackie Stewart didn't like the opposite lane in the pits the year after Armando Teran was killed by a fire truck going the opposite direction in the pits.
I wasn't there. Was there a weird vibe in the air in 1974 because the previous year was such a disaster?Live like Dave
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Originally posted by KevMcNJ View Post
I imagine in 1974 everyone just wanted to get a couple safe quiet weekends in and then 200 uneventful laps just to get rid of the dirty aftertaste of the previous year
I wasn't there. Was there a weird vibe in the air in 1974 because the previous year was such a disaster?
"I hope," Rutherford said, "this race eases some people's minds, that we're not a bunch of idiots trying to rub out a lot of people."
"We needed a race like this." a relieved Speedway official told newspaperman Ray Marquette. "My God, how we needed one like this."I live my life 4.048 miles at a time.
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