The car’s space frame is made of an experimental aluminum alloy. Wallace then worked with Vince Granatelli and Joseph Granatelli to build a practical working vehicle. He spent a total of three years working on the project, initially as a design consultant and later as chief engineer. The Granatellis chose Kenneth Wallace as designer and engineer because of his vast experience as an aeronautical engineer and his connections to the aviation industry. Turbine engine shown in place on the frame of the STP Turbocar. However, by 1969 racing regulations rendered Turbocars noncompetitive. The 1968 Champ Car season saw several turbine racers brought by STP, Lotus, and Shelby. At the time, racing regulations did not specify that only piston engines could compete, and in 1967 there were no limitations specific to turbines. Many people welcomed Turbocars, while others wanted them banned from competition. The STP Turbocar launched a brief period of turbine Ind圜ars marked by intense debate and controversy. The era of front-engine roadsters gave way to rear-engine designs powered by dual overhead cam V8 engines. Engineers and mechanics were tinkering with aerodynamics, car design, and new engines. The decade of the 1960s was a transitional and experimental era for Ind圜ar racing. Andy Granatelli promoted his racer as the world’s first truly Space Age car. The car featured four-wheel drive, a centrally located fuel tank, and a side-by-side design that placed the driver beside the mid-mounted engine. During practice, spectators dubbed the quiet vehicle the Whooshmobile, mimicking the whooshing sound that it made in motion. Foyt took the first-place victory.Ī Pratt & Whitney turbine engine, typically used in helicopters, propelled the car. With only three and one half laps remaining, a transmission bearing failed, and Jones coasted into the pits while A. Driving legend Parnelli Jones dominated the race, taking a first lap lead and leading 171 laps. Vince Granatelli and Joseph Granatelli built the car in total secrecy but within all racing regulations. The 1967 STP Turbocar was the first turbine-powered racer to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
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