I'll never forget how sad it was to hear of Jim Clark's passing while racing in Germany. Yes, others won more races but there was something captivating about Clark that no one had during his era. The Flying Scot was an icon and even today, in 2017, I mountain his loss. George Edward Brown
As an 11 yr old kid, I got to visit Indy in the summer of '66. In the museum, I found Clark's Lotus. I just stood and stared. When I was sure no one was looking, I reached out over the velvet ropes and touched a tire! Goosebumps! Never told anybody.
Unfortunately today that would be classed as "Molestation" and probably some 'Smart Ass Lawyer' (Harvard) would seek damages of an 'undisclosed sum' - Probably the reason you had 'GooseBumps' although unaware at the time. I am feeling 'rather anxious' now as at Donington Park UK, I also touched (very lightly) the cars driven by Nuvolari, Mansell, Prost, & Stirling Moss. I have not been 'summons' yet, but not a day passes that I don't feel some relief after the Postman Calls.
Dario drove a Lotus 38 at the Goodwood festival of speed 2011 and I was fortunate enough to push him into his paddock place. I shook hands with him after he got out, even though my hands were dirty from the tyres. He smiled and was genuinely kind and polite. A fitting man to give tribute to Jim Clark, the greatest ever, IMO.
JIM CLARK - By far the greatest driver ever - no doubt. He is and was the Best of the Best. No driver in history until today was so superior as Clark. This man is the Olymp of driving - the Michelangelo of racing - a dynamic art at the highest level. So smooth, so precise, so fast....simply out of this world. One, who won in Spa by 5 minutes (!) in monsoon rain...One, who takes back a complete lap in Monza and back into the lead... One, who took pole on the original 22,8 km Nürburgring track by 9 (!) seconds and more....One who won Indy by 2 whole (!) laps...For eternity and by lightyears unmatched in the sport. That`s just four examples of his unique genius...
Great stuff seeing two of the greatest open wheel racing cars ever made, the Lotus 38 and Lotus 49 are together on the same track, To me, personally, Jim Clark remains the greatest driver of his generation and possibly the best of all time. I was lucky enough to be at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix which Jim won in the maiden outing of the Lotus 49. I still remember that day ...
You just told me what I would've given body parts to do as a 14 year old boy in 1967. That day changed F1 forever. I did get to visit Zandvordt in 1970. Took the train from Amsterdam in the middle of the week and just wondered around the track watching this little modified Fiat, or maybe it was a Renault, run around the track.
I was lucky enough to see Jim Clark racing in the Tasman Series in Sydney in the mid 1960s. He was a joy to watch. He just made it look so easy. One of the greats, if not the greatest.
Jimmy was such a special person. So incredibly talented behind the wheel of a race car and such a humble gentleman out of the car. He a Colin Chapman forged a remarkable relationship and they both pushed the other to greater achievements. I’ll never forget the day Jimmy died, I just didn’t think it was possible, a terrible day for Motorsport. It has to be quite a thrill to drive one of his cars, Dario is a very lucky guy! Shame he didn’t drive the 49, that would have been awesome.
It's not just you! I was born in 1963. Christmas 1968 my parents bought me a Scalextric set and it had one lotus and one Ferrari from that era. To me that is what a racing car looks like.
i have seen this car many times at the museum and for me this is the greatest indy car ever how cool to hear and see it run again i appreciate darios reverance for its history great story
All Clark's fellow drivers liked and respected him. The same cannot be said about Mr. Senna. I agree that Mr. Franchitti is not only a fine driver but a wonderful ambassador for the sport.
The #83 Lotus 38 was Jimmy's teammates car, Nascar veteran Booby Johns. He finished 7th in 1965. Anyone notice the leather gloves Dario took off at the end of the run? They were genuine Jim Clark driving gloves. He marketed them thru a source that advertised them for sale to the public thru ads in Road & Track magazine.
Jimmy Clark was possibly the greatest natural talent F1 ever saw. Dan Gurney was the only contemporary driver that Clark considered his equal. In this of course Clark meant raw talent vs raw talent, and in recognition of both drivers' abilities to control and husband a car that was fragile, is a tremendous compliment. Gurney was a master, but Clark had the titles and the mastery as well
I'm sorry that Dario had to retire. Seeing him drive Jimmy Clark's winning Indy car was really nice. I happened to be watching the 1965 Indy 500 live via closed circuit television. With A.J. Foyt dropping out with mechanical problems, Clark definitely ran away with the win. Wanting to give him a bit of an advantage, the Lotus team hired the best pit crew of the time, which happened to be the Woods Brothers of Stuart, VA. And a record setting 17 second pit stop was the result.
I was 12 in 1965, my Dad took my brother and me to the Portland (Or) auto show . Actually we begged him to take us. Anyway, Jim Clark was supposed to be there with this car after his Indy 500 win. (late summer) We got in a group of people looking at the car and a guy who was with the car asked if the kids wanted to get closer. Someone in the crowd, pushed me forward, and the next thing I realized, I was lifted into the car. I wish I still had the picture my Dad took. I think I'm getting misty
My Dad was a Ford guy having grown up on a farm in the 30's, 40's and 50's and we always had fords, then in '65 he bought a new Mustang with the 289 when I was an 8 year old, so when Lotus won Indy with a Ford powered car in '65 (which I thought was the most beautiful car I had ever seen) it cemented me as a Ford guy myself going forward....I still have a Ford sitting in the driveway to this day (though I must confess I also have a BMW 550i which is my baby and wifey drives a Land Rover, but my knock around car is a Ford).
Awesome sight to see. Am still shocked and saddened that his doctors urged him to retire. He's definitely one of Scotland's greatest. If a Scot asked me to name a few great Scottish drivers, I'd definitely say Jim, Jackie, Dario and Colin (McRae).
@@largol33t1 Jimmy was out of this World, versitile driver, driving fast anything on 4 wheels. Once Chapman ordered technicians to upset car settings, almost the opposite to what was suppose to be without telling Jimmy. Suprisingly he drove perfect laps, being told about only afterwards.
I'm shocked as well to see that you didn't include "David Coulthard" that although he never won a World Championship was runner up in 2001 to Michael Schumacher.
Thank you Road & Track for this video. As a kid growing up in the 60's the rear engine revolution was fun to witness. There were a lot of old timers that hated that car but all us kids loved the rear engine layout. Being a Ford fan growing up didn't hurt either. There wasn't a motorsport division anywhere in the world that they didn't race and win at. Including Indianapolis, where Ford(not Chevy, they've never built an Indy engine)became the only American car manufacturer to power an Indy 500 winning car with an engine they built themselves since WWII. 6 times. 7 if you count A.J. Foyt's naming his Ford after himself. We all know it was a Ford, AJ.
Foxtrot Oscar I'm well aware of Ford of Britains contributions as well as Ford of Germany and Ford of Australia, etc.... But you see, a Ford is a Ford everywhere. It's not Opel or Vauxhall or Holden. It's all a part of the parent company in Dearborn. So I root for any Ford division world wide. Whether it be in Argentina, Germany, England, or Australia. You are very wrong also about the U.S. division not doing much on the European stage. The GT40's were designed with the help of Eric Broadley who created Lola cars. But ultimately the parent company designed and built their own car in the revolutionary GT40 Mark IV which outright won LeMans in 1967(to this day the only American Marque to do so). Also in 1963, 64, & 65 a Ford Falcon(American)Sprint won the Monte Carlo Rally. Big stock cars and Mustangs were brought over to race in the 60's, mostly in England. Carol Shelby took the Cobra to another level when American Peter Brock designed the Cobra Daytona Coupe that trounced Ferrari and became only the third manufacturer since 1953, other than Ferrari, to win the World Sports Car Championship, in 1965. As far as World stage goes, there are only three major races in the world. The Monaco GP, the Lemans 24hrs. and the Indianapolis 500. As I stated in my previous post, Ford built those engines by themselves in America without any help from Cosworth or anyone else to win the 500 not once, not twice, but 7 times. And if you count Ford's bankrolling of the DFV(which I do) they have won those three races more times than all the other American manufacturers combined. In fact no other American marque(are there any other than Ford?)has ever won Indy, Lemans(outright) or Monaco building their own engine or car. So, nice try but Ford of America(for sake of argument)put America on the European map in International Prototype, GT sports cars, and Grand Prix racing in the sixties. Just because some of their success was from the European branches of their Empire means nothing to me and everything to me. Because it's all the same company.
+Foxtrot Oscar Everything you stated is completely false. The FORD (NOT Lotus-Ford!) Indy Quad Cam was 100% designed, engineered, developed and built by Ford USA, Dearborn, Michigan. No one at Ford UK or Cosworth (or any other Ford division or outside contractor) had anything to do with it. When Ford pulled out of racing in 1970, they selected American racer A.J. Foyt and his engine builder Howard Gilbert to further develop a turbocharged version of the engine. It's very easy to do the research and verify those facts.
Miatacrosser British and European Fords, until very, very, very recently, were completely different vehicles. You couldnt get US Fords here and vice versa. The difference was so great that just before, and during the early days of WWII, Ford USA was funding Adolf Hitler. (as were many others in awe of his radical and miraculous revitalisation of Germany) This was happening while Ford UK was building Spitfires ready to go out and fight Hitler. When Mustangs met Cortinas in touring car races across Europe, they were as fierce opponents as you could get, not teammates. The Daytona Coupé, and the Mk4 GT40 are famous for winning, what, one race each? Their fame comes from the rarity of their deed, not the technical impressiveness of it. The Jaguar D type, for instance, is famous (but nowhere near as famous) for three Le Mans wins, including 1,2,3 victories. The Daytona Coupé being based on a British car, the Mk4 GT40 being a somewhat sketchy _evolution_ of the British chassis. (designed and built) I hate to break it to you, but the 1963 Montecarlo Rally was won by a Saab 96 with a Citroën ID in 2nd and a Mini Cooper in 3rd. Minis then took 1st in '64,'65,'66 and '67 (although the French organisers had the '66 victory disqualified for 'the wrong headlamp filaments' so that a Citroën (French) could take 1st. The only mention of a Falcon is a 2nd place in 1964. So, in 1964, a 4.9 litre V8 Coupé came 2nd to a 998cc (not quite 1 litre) I4, 4 seat family economy car. The Indy 500 is a pretty exclusively American event. Most people this side of the Atlantic don't even know it exists. 7 times winner of a race no one knows or cares about. In fact, it's rarely even counted in Lotus history, let alone Ford history in Europe. The Cosworth designed DFV is a wholly British venture. It was already designed when Ford were approached to assist with the manufacturing costs.... Ford of Dagenham, not Dearborn. Ford made a _marketing_ hit... But not really a manufacturing one. Clever move, obviously, as it's fooled a lot of people. That's the true American skill, marketing. Look at Apple and Microsoft. Look at Starbucks and McDonald's. Largely shit, but highly successful and 'must have' thanks to marketing.
Foxtrot Oscar You are arguing apples and oranges. Like I originally said, a Ford is a Ford to me. I don't care what branch of Ford did what. You seem to though. And not knowing about the history of the Indianapolis 500(or caring about it) shows that you were born less than twenty years ago(Lotus just had a huge celebration of the 50th anniversary of winning the 500!!) So all you got is what you read from jealous Holden fans(or whatever you call the GM abortions over there) PS. They were called Lotus-Fords(not Cosworths). Just as they were called McLaren-Fords and Tyrell-Fords and Brabham-Fords, and Cooper-Fords, and Matra-Fords, and Shadow-Fords, and Williams-Ford, and Wolf-Fords, and Penske-Fords(and a whole bunch more). Also, there were F-1 engines used in the sixties that were designed and built by Ford themselves. Cosworth gave up the right to call it a Cosworth when they accepted the financing from Ford to build the DFV. Henry II to be exact, you know the American who brought Colin Chapman, Keith Duckworth, and Mike Costin together to change the face of F-1 forever. . .
+Foxtrot Oscar This was YOUR "damn" original statement that I replied to: "The Lotus-Ford quad cam had very little to do with Ford of Mustang fame, rather Ford UK, of Capri, Escort, Cortina, Sierra and Focus fame". Which of course is exactly as I stated...patently false in every way. First of all, your statement says "The Lotus-Ford quad cam", not Lotus-Ford followed by it's numeric designation, i.e. - Lotus-Ford 38. Which would denote you were speaking of the engine only vs the complete car. Secondly, as I already stated, the engine that was used in that car (and that would subsequently power other race winning designs) was not just American in "origin", it was 100% designed, engineered, developed and built by Ford USA, Dearborn, Michigan. Very different than say the Cosworth DFV which was paid for and shepherded along by Ford USA, including engineering analysis and development, but in the main, was designed and engineered by Cosworth. Without American engineer Harley Copp (who worked for Ford), who led the engineering team overseeing the Cosworth DFV, it likely would never exist. Harley Copp also oversaw the GT40 program which was initially based on an Eric Broadley (Lola) chassis and body design that Ford USA bought (MKI-III cars). Those cars included all engine design and all structural and aerodynamic engineering analysis done by Ford USA. Development and construction was mainly done by Shelby-American, Kar Kraft, and Ford Advanced Vehicles (USA). After the initial MKI-III cars, the MKIV was an entirely Ford USA designed and engineered vehicle that in 1967 won both races it was entered in (24 hours of Le Mans and 12 hours of Sebring). Those are the easily verifiable facts (from actual literature from people who were there, NOT wikipedia entries written by revisionists) my jingoistic friend.
I still marvel at Clark's ability to recover a spinning car......much like I actually saw him do from the infield stands out of turn 4 in '66. He recovered the first spin then as he headed towards the infield wall, spun the car again to head up the track, and clutch the car as it rolled to restart the engine. The innate ability to feel the car and do such things simply amaze me as I get older.
Many thanks to Road&Track for this video. Anyone notice Jim Clark's 1965 team-mate Bobbie John's #83 car in the background as Dario was pulling away near the beginning of the video? I'm old enough to remember vividly the 1965 Indy 500. About the only thing missing from this video was the old wooden garages from Gasoline Alley.
It is good that Dario was overwhelmed with respect and awe for a bygone era and a great driver, I like him more all the time. He's even wise enough to marry him a Kentucky gal who loves to watch her Wildcats play ball. Dario is living my dream.
I thought Mario's Brawner/Hawk in '65 looked a bit better. Based on a Brabham chassis the body they designed turned out to be the first ground effects open wheel race car(even though they didn't know it at the time). I've heard that when viewing the car, Colin Chapman started to think of reverse wing chassis ground effects that he later grew into the monster known as the Lotus 78
I've watched this many times and it's great to see Dario so in awe of Jim. I don't like the GOAT tag as I believe it is impossible to compare Jim, Senna, Schumacher and Fangio. But certainly Jimmy was the best of a great generation, better than Big Jack, Wee Jackie, Mr Monaco Hill and don't forget John Surtees. And in 65 Jimmy did something that will never be done again, he won Indy 500 and the World Championship with maximum available points. Only 6 races counted and he won races 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. DNS in race 2, Monaco, winning Indy in the featured 38. A true gent, as is Dario, unlike a couple of current WDCs I could think of.
Nice to hear Dario describe the car comparing it to today's cars. Very interesting on how cars have changed. Much safer. It was funny how he said he got hit with a few rocks the lap car threw up. Ouch!
@heelandtoe33 There are NO spares for this car, least of all engines. Ford hold no quad-cam V8s at all. Just to get this car returned to running condition was a major (and costly) task. Therefore they have to treat it with respect and care - in the same way that historic aircraft that are restored to flying condition are only ever flown and performed at less than 100%. Just be thankful that this car is at least running rather than sitting gathering dust in the corner of a museum.
To my eyes, these cars are so much better looking that today's cars. No wings or tabs, just a powered dagger flying down the track. Once Lotus and Ford joined forces, the end of the then existing Indy cars was in sight. The traditionalist moaned and said the rear engine cars couldn't compete in the 500 but they knew. Only refusing to blackflag Parnelli Jones kept Jimmy Clark from winning on his first try. My love for racing decline sharply when my hero, Jimmy Clark, died.
be under no illusions that senna was also a genius! i know little about clark apart from all his peers thought he was probably the best ever senna (and mansell) were the greats when i was growing up they both had superhuman car control and huge balls! the lotus 49 is the most beautiful f1 car ever and 1 of the best looking machines ever made (mk9 spitfire takes top spot for me)
I see a lot of people arguing about Clark vs. Senna vs. Schumacher vs. Prost about who was the best. The answer is simple. Prost is so-so. Schumi was mostly in the car. Clark was naturally gifted and extremely talented, but it's hard to say just how good, and this also somewhat applies to Senna, since their careers were so unfortunately cut short. But the best? Go back to your history books, folks, and learn about a man named Fangio.
Forget the books, just watch Fangio drive the 250F and make up the lost time from that botched Maserati pit stop near the end of the 1958 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring-breaking 9 lap records in 10 laps, to win. If that's not superhuman, I don't know what is…
After watching the Texas race where they reduced downforce, I am convinced that the best way to resurrect open wheel racing is to eliminate restrictions on RPM/HP and eliminate wings. That would be a boon for open wheel.
In my preteen years I remember Jim Clark doing battle in a very revolutionary way with front engined Offy roadsters at Indy. The Lotus 38's time came and went. In a few short years, mechanicals would be replaced by electornics, turbochargers, wings and pods. I got to see this racer at Dearborn a few years ago.Mr. Franchitti is right. It is visually "stunning". Drivers did not get into to these cars they wore them like fine clothes.
schumacher? he's a mechanic robot. sure senna might be considered aggressive but that comes with passion. the man breathed the sport. and no one can take that away from him. maybe he didnt have the best sportsmanship but he felt it far more than prost or shumacher. but clark was indeed a master gentleman. and so was senna.
Cars from this era were better than what they’re driving today. It was all seat of the pants feel,not a transporter full of engineers and millions of dollars spent.
can anyone tell me how the cars in the Indy/Champ Car races differed from Formula 1 cars of that era? or was there any like there is now? I can find info on differences in modern era Indy vs F1 cars but not the cars from back then in the 60's such as the cars Clark drove in Indy vs F1.
Somehow I liked the look of Indy cars a bit better than F1 (definitely in 90ies) and, you know, in the sixties as well. It is Lotus from F1 world, but engine is covered and somehow it is better looking than bare engines in the grand prix world circuit. Also liveries in USAC championship were more "alive" with a lot of stickers, and paintschemes...
Prost, born Feb. 24, 1955, was only 13 when Clark died and could bot have been a competitor. He could only dislike him because Clark was Senna's hero and he didn't like anything Senna. I actually remember the day Prost was born; it was my seventh birthday.
I'll never forget how sad it was to hear of Jim Clark's passing while racing in Germany. Yes, others won more races but there was something captivating about Clark that no one had during his era. The Flying Scot was an icon and even today, in 2017, I mountain his loss.
George Edward Brown
As an 11 yr old kid, I got to visit Indy in the summer of '66. In the museum, I found Clark's Lotus. I just stood and stared. When I was sure no one was looking, I reached out over the velvet ropes and touched a tire! Goosebumps! Never told anybody.
+dubyaup2 Me too!
Nice! Although, now that you have said that, I'm sure they won't let you into the museum anymore.
Unfortunately today that would be classed as "Molestation" and probably some 'Smart Ass Lawyer' (Harvard) would seek damages of an 'undisclosed sum' - Probably the reason you had 'GooseBumps' although unaware at the time.
I am feeling 'rather anxious' now as at Donington Park UK, I also touched (very lightly) the cars driven by Nuvolari, Mansell, Prost, & Stirling Moss. I have not been 'summons' yet, but not a day passes that I don't feel some relief after the Postman Calls.
I hugged and kissed a main landing gear strut the first time I saw an SR - 71 Blackbird!
Try explaining that to a woman. LOL
Jim Clark is the greatest car racer of all time ... end of
Definitely. At 4.32 it's on opposite lock when it's parked 😀
Dario Franchitti and Jimmy Clark.....two of the most beautiful gentlemen EVER!
Dario drove a Lotus 38 at the Goodwood festival of speed 2011 and I was fortunate enough to push him into his paddock place. I shook hands with him after he got out, even though my hands were dirty from the tyres.
He smiled and was genuinely kind and polite.
A fitting man to give tribute to Jim Clark, the greatest ever, IMO.
It was an honor for a fellow Scotsman to drive this remarkable car driven by the late Jim Clark. I can't quite describe the feeling.
JIM CLARK - By far the greatest driver ever - no doubt. He is and was the Best of the Best. No driver in history until today was so superior as Clark.
This man is the Olymp of driving - the Michelangelo of racing - a dynamic art at the highest level. So smooth, so precise, so fast....simply out of this world. One, who won in Spa by 5 minutes (!) in monsoon rain...One, who takes back a complete lap in Monza and back into the lead... One, who took pole on the original 22,8 km Nürburgring track by 9 (!) seconds and more....One who won Indy by 2 whole (!) laps...For eternity and by lightyears unmatched in the sport. That`s just four examples of his unique genius...
Living in the Detroit area, it's wonderful to be able to see these cars just about any time you want, and it is a truly beautiful car.
Great stuff seeing two of the greatest open wheel racing cars ever made, the Lotus 38 and Lotus 49 are together on the same track, To me, personally, Jim Clark remains the greatest driver of his generation and possibly the best of all time. I was lucky enough to be at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix which Jim won in the maiden outing of the Lotus 49. I still remember that day ...
You just told me what I would've given body parts to do as a 14 year old boy in 1967. That day changed F1 forever. I did get to visit Zandvordt in 1970. Took the train from Amsterdam in the middle of the week and just wondered around the track watching this little modified Fiat, or maybe it was a Renault, run around the track.
I was lucky enough to see Jim Clark racing in the Tasman Series in Sydney in the mid 1960s. He was a joy to watch. He just made it look so easy. One of the greats, if not the greatest.
The 2nd Lotus 38, #83 was there also...driven by Bobby Johns in the 65 Indy 500 which finished 7th. In the video at the 4:05 mark.
Jimmy was such a special person. So incredibly talented behind the wheel of a race car and such a humble gentleman out of the car. He a Colin Chapman forged a remarkable relationship and they both pushed the other to greater achievements. I’ll never forget the day Jimmy died, I just didn’t think it was possible, a terrible day for Motorsport. It has to be quite a thrill to drive one of his cars, Dario is a very lucky guy! Shame he didn’t drive the 49, that would have been awesome.
Is it me, or is it a subjective thing, but weren't all Jim Clark's cars absolutely beautiful?!
It's not just you! I was born in 1963. Christmas 1968 my parents bought me a Scalextric set and it had one lotus and one Ferrari from that era. To me that is what a racing car looks like.
one of the prettiest car ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow - I sure envy Dario getting the opportunity to drive this legendary car originally driven by probably the greatest racing driver of all time.
Dario is always such a nice guy.
+Stev Rex lol
@Stev Rex Your claim is kind of contradicted by the fact they're still on good terms and she's the godmother of his child by his new wife.
Stev Rex Where’s the evidence for that?
i have seen this car many times at the museum and for me this is the greatest indy car ever how cool to hear and see it run again i appreciate darios reverance for its history great story
Love it. My father passed his rookie test at INDY in 1963.🤠
My father was not a racing fan in any way but he was a huge fan of Jim Clark. To see someone drive one of Jim Clark's cars is always a treat.
I saw Jim Clark race twice in the 1967 and 1968 New Zealand Grand Prix. They were amazing days of motor sport.
All Clark's fellow drivers liked and respected him. The same cannot be said about Mr. Senna. I agree that Mr. Franchitti is not only a fine driver but a wonderful ambassador for the sport.
The #83 Lotus 38 was Jimmy's teammates car, Nascar veteran Booby Johns. He finished 7th in 1965. Anyone notice the leather gloves Dario took off at the end of the run? They were genuine Jim Clark driving gloves. He marketed them thru a source that advertised them for sale to the public thru ads in Road & Track magazine.
I remember this car well from when I was a kid. Pure beauty in motion...........
I saw that car at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. What a treat that was to see it & take some pictures of it.
Still is one of the most gorgeous racer cars ever
Thanks for sharing and to Ford for enabling such an opportunity.
Jimmy Clark was possibly the greatest natural talent F1 ever saw. Dan Gurney was the only contemporary driver that Clark considered his equal. In this of course Clark meant raw talent vs raw talent, and in recognition of both drivers' abilities to control and husband a car that was fragile, is a tremendous compliment. Gurney was a master, but Clark had the titles and the mastery as well
And as I revisit this video, Dan Gurney is dead now as well. It is cruel that our Heroes are mortals like the rest of us.
Jim Clark is my all-time hero in F1.
Lovely comments from Dario...a legend himself..must have been a great thrill for him..the car sounds a monster...great vid thanks...
You just never tire, listening to a real race car.
Mike
I'm sorry that Dario had to retire. Seeing him drive Jimmy Clark's winning Indy car was really nice. I happened to be watching the 1965 Indy 500 live via closed circuit television. With A.J. Foyt dropping out with mechanical problems, Clark definitely ran away with the win. Wanting to give him a bit of an advantage, the Lotus team hired the best pit crew of the time, which happened to be the Woods Brothers of Stuart, VA. And a record setting 17 second pit stop was the result.
I was 12 in 1965, my Dad took my brother and me to the Portland (Or) auto show . Actually we begged him to take us. Anyway, Jim Clark was supposed to be there with this car after his Indy 500 win. (late summer) We got in a group of people looking at the car and a guy who was with the car asked if the kids wanted to get closer. Someone in the crowd, pushed me forward, and the next thing I realized, I was lifted into the car. I wish I still had the picture my Dad took. I think I'm getting misty
I wanted to see/hear the 49 run!
Just the same, it was awesome to see the 38.
What a scary car!
Jim Clark was really a wizard!
love the Jimmy Clark Driving Gloves! Nice touch.
My Dad was a Ford guy having grown up on a farm in the 30's, 40's and 50's and we always had fords, then in '65 he bought a new Mustang with the 289 when I was an 8 year old, so when Lotus won Indy with a Ford powered car in '65 (which I thought was the most beautiful car I had ever seen) it cemented me as a Ford guy myself going forward....I still have a Ford sitting in the driveway to this day (though I must confess I also have a BMW 550i which is my baby and wifey drives a Land Rover, but my knock around car is a Ford).
Awesome sight to see. Am still shocked and saddened that his doctors urged him to retire. He's definitely one of Scotland's greatest. If a Scot asked me to name a few great Scottish drivers, I'd definitely say Jim, Jackie, Dario and Colin (McRae).
Have to agree with you man but I would also add McNish in that list.
ScuderiaFan
True. He's a VERY good driver. I was just listing any Scots who immediately popped into my head in a split second!
largol33t1 Could not resist commenting for my favourite driver in Le Mans since I first saw him race, Scotland has been blessed with driving geniuses.
@@largol33t1 Jimmy was out of this World, versitile driver, driving fast anything on 4 wheels. Once Chapman ordered technicians to upset car settings, almost the opposite to what was suppose to be without telling Jimmy. Suprisingly he drove perfect laps, being told about only afterwards.
I'm shocked as well to see that you didn't include "David Coulthard" that although he never won a World Championship was runner up in 2001 to Michael Schumacher.
Thank you Road & Track for this video. As a kid growing up in the 60's the rear engine revolution was fun to witness. There were a lot of old timers that hated that car but all us kids loved the rear engine layout. Being a Ford fan growing up didn't hurt either. There wasn't a motorsport division anywhere in the world that they didn't race and win at. Including Indianapolis, where Ford(not Chevy, they've never built an Indy engine)became the only American car manufacturer to power an Indy 500 winning car with an engine they built themselves since WWII. 6 times. 7 if you count A.J. Foyt's naming his Ford after himself. We all know it was a Ford, AJ.
Foxtrot Oscar
I'm well aware of Ford of Britains contributions as well as Ford of Germany and Ford of Australia, etc.... But you see, a Ford is a Ford everywhere. It's not Opel or Vauxhall or Holden. It's all a part of the parent company in Dearborn. So I root for any Ford division world wide. Whether it be in Argentina, Germany, England, or Australia.
You are very wrong also about the U.S. division not doing much on the European stage. The GT40's were designed with the help of Eric Broadley who created Lola cars. But ultimately the parent company designed and built their own car in the revolutionary GT40 Mark IV which outright won LeMans in 1967(to this day the only American Marque to do so). Also in 1963, 64, & 65 a Ford Falcon(American)Sprint won the Monte Carlo Rally. Big stock cars and Mustangs were brought over to race in the 60's, mostly in England. Carol Shelby took the Cobra to another level when American Peter Brock designed the Cobra Daytona Coupe that trounced Ferrari and became only the third manufacturer since 1953, other than Ferrari, to win the World Sports Car Championship, in 1965.
As far as World stage goes, there are only three major races in the world. The Monaco GP, the Lemans 24hrs. and the Indianapolis 500. As I stated in my previous post, Ford built those engines by themselves in America without any help from Cosworth or anyone else to win the 500 not once, not twice, but 7 times. And if you count Ford's bankrolling of the DFV(which I do) they have won those three races more times than all the other American manufacturers combined. In fact no other American marque(are there any other than Ford?)has ever won Indy, Lemans(outright) or Monaco building their own engine or car.
So, nice try but Ford of America(for sake of argument)put America on the European map in International Prototype, GT sports cars, and Grand Prix racing in the sixties. Just because some of their success was from the European branches of their Empire means nothing to me and everything to me. Because it's all the same company.
+Foxtrot Oscar Everything you stated is completely false. The FORD (NOT Lotus-Ford!) Indy Quad Cam was 100% designed, engineered, developed and built by Ford USA, Dearborn, Michigan. No one at Ford UK or Cosworth (or any other Ford division or outside contractor) had anything to do with it.
When Ford pulled out of racing in 1970, they selected American racer A.J. Foyt and his engine builder Howard Gilbert to further develop a turbocharged version of the engine.
It's very easy to do the research and verify those facts.
Miatacrosser British and European Fords, until very, very, very recently, were completely different vehicles. You couldnt get US Fords here and vice versa.
The difference was so great that just before, and during the early days of WWII, Ford USA was funding Adolf Hitler. (as were many others in awe of his radical and miraculous revitalisation of Germany) This was happening while Ford UK was building Spitfires ready to go out and fight Hitler.
When Mustangs met Cortinas in touring car races across Europe, they were as fierce opponents as you could get, not teammates.
The Daytona Coupé, and the Mk4 GT40 are famous for winning, what, one race each? Their fame comes from the rarity of their deed, not the technical impressiveness of it.
The Jaguar D type, for instance, is famous (but nowhere near as famous) for three Le Mans wins, including 1,2,3 victories.
The Daytona Coupé being based on a British car, the Mk4 GT40 being a somewhat sketchy _evolution_ of the British chassis. (designed and built)
I hate to break it to you, but the 1963 Montecarlo Rally was won by a Saab 96 with a Citroën ID in 2nd and a Mini Cooper in 3rd.
Minis then took 1st in '64,'65,'66 and '67 (although the French organisers had the '66 victory disqualified for 'the wrong headlamp filaments' so that a Citroën (French) could take 1st.
The only mention of a Falcon is a 2nd place in 1964.
So, in 1964, a 4.9 litre V8 Coupé came 2nd to a 998cc (not quite 1 litre) I4, 4 seat family economy car.
The Indy 500 is a pretty exclusively American event. Most people this side of the Atlantic don't even know it exists.
7 times winner of a race no one knows or cares about. In fact, it's rarely even counted in Lotus history, let alone Ford history in Europe.
The Cosworth designed DFV is a wholly British venture. It was already designed when Ford were approached to assist with the manufacturing costs.... Ford of Dagenham, not Dearborn.
Ford made a _marketing_ hit... But not really a manufacturing one.
Clever move, obviously, as it's fooled a lot of people. That's the true American skill, marketing. Look at Apple and Microsoft. Look at Starbucks and McDonald's. Largely shit, but highly successful and 'must have' thanks to marketing.
Foxtrot Oscar
You are arguing apples and oranges. Like I originally said, a Ford is a Ford to me. I don't care what branch of Ford did what. You seem to though. And not knowing about the history of the Indianapolis 500(or caring about it) shows that you were born less than twenty years ago(Lotus just had a huge celebration of the 50th anniversary of winning the 500!!) So all you got is what you read from jealous Holden fans(or whatever you call the GM abortions over there)
PS. They were called Lotus-Fords(not Cosworths). Just as they were called McLaren-Fords and Tyrell-Fords and Brabham-Fords, and Cooper-Fords, and Matra-Fords, and Shadow-Fords, and Williams-Ford, and Wolf-Fords, and Penske-Fords(and a whole bunch more). Also, there were F-1 engines used in the sixties that were designed and built by Ford themselves. Cosworth gave up the right to call it a Cosworth when they accepted the financing from Ford to build the DFV. Henry II to be exact, you know the American who brought Colin Chapman, Keith Duckworth, and Mike Costin together to change the face of F-1 forever. . .
+Foxtrot Oscar This was YOUR "damn" original statement that I replied to: "The Lotus-Ford quad cam had very little to do with Ford of Mustang fame, rather Ford UK, of Capri, Escort, Cortina, Sierra and Focus fame".
Which of course is exactly as I stated...patently false in every way. First of all, your statement says "The Lotus-Ford quad cam", not Lotus-Ford followed by it's numeric designation, i.e. - Lotus-Ford 38. Which would denote you were speaking of the engine only vs the complete car. Secondly, as I already stated, the engine that was used in that car (and that would subsequently power other race winning designs) was not just American in "origin", it was 100% designed, engineered, developed and built by Ford USA, Dearborn, Michigan. Very different than say the Cosworth DFV which was paid for and shepherded along by Ford USA, including engineering analysis and development, but in the main, was designed and engineered by Cosworth.
Without American engineer Harley Copp (who worked for Ford), who led the engineering team overseeing the Cosworth DFV, it likely would never exist.
Harley Copp also oversaw the GT40 program which was initially based on an Eric Broadley (Lola) chassis and body design that Ford USA bought (MKI-III cars). Those cars included all engine design and all structural and aerodynamic engineering analysis done by Ford USA. Development and construction was mainly done by Shelby-American, Kar Kraft, and Ford Advanced Vehicles (USA). After the initial MKI-III cars, the MKIV was an entirely Ford USA designed and engineered vehicle that in 1967 won both races it was entered in (24 hours of Le Mans and 12 hours of Sebring).
Those are the easily verifiable facts (from actual literature from people who were there, NOT wikipedia entries written by revisionists) my jingoistic friend.
fantastic is the resemblance of Dario and Jim Clarks
Beautiful .still got all the original signed prints of the drivers from that year. You will never beat adrenaline it cures the pain
Fangio said Clark was the greatest he had seen. So you gotta argue then the Clark was prob best of his generation and one of the best of all time.
Great documentary. Congrats to all involved with giving this beautiful car its full due. Thanks.
I still marvel at Clark's ability to recover a spinning car......much like I actually saw him do from the infield stands out of turn 4 in '66. He recovered the first spin then as he headed towards the infield wall, spun the car again to head up the track, and clutch the car as it rolled to restart the engine. The innate ability to feel the car and do such things simply amaze me as I get older.
Excellent presentation. Many thanks for the time and effort.
Met Jimmy once great man
As a jim Clark and Senna fan I'm sure I heard senna speaking about how highly he rated jim two of the best
Have a look at this - I think it confirms AS was a fan
www.scotsman.com/sport/life-at-loretto-ignited-clark-s-passion-for-racing-1-1162262
Many thanks to Road&Track for this video. Anyone notice Jim Clark's 1965 team-mate Bobbie John's #83 car in the background as Dario was pulling away near the beginning of the video? I'm old enough to remember vividly the 1965 Indy 500. About the only thing missing from this video was the old wooden garages from Gasoline Alley.
It is good that Dario was overwhelmed with respect and awe for a bygone era and a great driver, I like him more all the time. He's even wise enough to marry him a Kentucky gal who loves to watch her Wildcats play ball. Dario is living my dream.
the lotus 38 was about the best looking open wheel race car of all time
Right behind the '67 Gurney-Weslake F1 Eagle
I thought Mario's Brawner/Hawk in '65 looked a bit better. Based on a Brabham chassis the body they designed turned out to be the first ground effects open wheel race car(even though they didn't know it at the time). I've heard that when viewing the car, Colin Chapman started to think of reverse wing chassis ground effects that he later grew into the monster known as the Lotus 78
Now that is a damn race car...
I've watched this many times and it's great to see Dario so in awe of Jim.
I don't like the GOAT tag as I believe it is impossible to compare Jim, Senna, Schumacher and Fangio. But certainly Jimmy was the best of a great generation, better than Big Jack, Wee Jackie, Mr Monaco Hill and don't forget John Surtees.
And in 65 Jimmy did something that will never be done again, he won Indy 500 and the World Championship with maximum available points. Only 6 races counted and he won races 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. DNS in race 2, Monaco, winning Indy in the featured 38.
A true gent, as is Dario, unlike a couple of current WDCs I could think of.
Nice to hear Dario describe the car comparing it to today's cars. Very interesting on how cars have changed. Much safer. It was funny how he said he got hit with a few rocks the lap car threw up. Ouch!
Excellent. I just wish we'd seen the 49 in action.
maybe the most beautiful race car ever!
They let Franchitti drive this priceless vehicle...lucky it didn't flip! :)
I just drove this car on Project Cars.
Its amazing!
Yea... too bad there isn't any ovals. Fucking idiots.
@@Synystr7 in the end they just lacked the budget to secure any more agreements with circuits.
It actually generates slight lift.
Loved the story, thanks.
God Speed Dario!
That had to be the best prize!
One of the first modern rear engined indycars, changed everything for the indy 500 after Clark won.
They really laid back in those cars.Wow.
@heelandtoe33
There are NO spares for this car, least of all engines. Ford hold no quad-cam V8s at all.
Just to get this car returned to running condition was a major (and costly) task.
Therefore they have to treat it with respect and care - in the same way that historic aircraft that are restored to flying condition are only ever flown and performed at less than 100%.
Just be thankful that this car is at least running rather than sitting gathering dust in the corner of a museum.
For me this is ones of the most beautifull F1 cars of ali time
:) You're confusing this car with the Lotus 33. This is the Lotus 38, and it never raced F1. It's an Indy 500 car.
LOTUS forever!
Clark was a gentleman and a genius...Senna was a reckless driver with a little luck that left him alone at the end...
To my eyes, these cars are so much better looking that today's cars. No wings or tabs, just a powered dagger flying down the track.
Once Lotus and Ford joined forces, the end of the then existing Indy cars was in sight. The traditionalist moaned and said the rear engine cars couldn't compete in the 500 but they knew. Only refusing to blackflag Parnelli Jones kept Jimmy Clark from winning on his first try.
My love for racing decline sharply when my hero, Jimmy Clark, died.
i know they used the lotus 49 in F1 at the old 22 mile spa course back in the mid 60's they were topping 190-210 mph dowm the straights
You do know the Lotus 38 was designed specifically to run on a oval, and specifically designed for the Indy 500. The Lotus 49 was the F1 car.
Looks like Graham Hill without the moustache, the car and the overalls help.
Deveria ter feito uma volta rápida no carro pra gente ver,gostei de ver esse carro antigo de Jim Clark ainda funcionando,espetáculo de verdade
be under no illusions that senna was also a genius!
i know little about clark apart from all his peers thought he was probably the best ever senna (and mansell) were the greats when i was growing up they both had superhuman car control and huge balls!
the lotus 49 is the most beautiful f1 car ever and 1 of the best looking machines ever made (mk9 spitfire takes top spot for me)
I see a lot of people arguing about Clark vs. Senna vs. Schumacher vs. Prost about who was the best. The answer is simple. Prost is so-so. Schumi was mostly in the car. Clark was naturally gifted and extremely talented, but it's hard to say just how good, and this also somewhat applies to Senna, since their careers were so unfortunately cut short.
But the best? Go back to your history books, folks, and learn about a man named Fangio.
Forget the books, just watch Fangio drive the 250F and make up the lost time from that botched Maserati pit stop near the end of the 1958 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring-breaking 9 lap records in 10 laps, to win. If that's not superhuman, I don't know what is…
After watching the Texas race where they reduced downforce, I am convinced that the best way to resurrect open wheel racing is to eliminate restrictions on RPM/HP and eliminate wings. That would be a boon for open wheel.
That's pretty cool, thanks for the info!
@b00mYou There were two cars in the video. One did run the Indy 500, the other was the F1 Lotus.
At 1:30 Dario looks just like Graham Hill. Draw a mustache on him and he's all set.
Lotus had the most beautiful looking cars,Clark’s Lotus and Senna’s black Lotus.
Jellybeantiger Don’t forget Lotus 78/79 the F1 champion driving by Mario Andretti Also Lotus 72 F1 champion driving by Emerson Fittipaldi
Yes Jim Clark known as the flying Scotsman
He looks a bit like Clark, Im sure it was touching for the old mechanics to see a Clark like shape drivin the car, brings tears to your eyes.
In my preteen years I remember Jim Clark doing battle in a very revolutionary way with front engined Offy roadsters at Indy. The Lotus 38's time came and went. In a few short years, mechanicals would be replaced by electornics, turbochargers, wings and pods. I got to see this racer at Dearborn a few years ago.Mr. Franchitti is right. It is visually "stunning". Drivers did not get into to these cars they wore them like fine clothes.
I do love it so much !? , How long will you have to production for the movie 30-60 min ??
Better title would be "Dario Franchitti talking about the Lotus 38
schumacher? he's a mechanic robot. sure senna might be considered aggressive but that comes with passion. the man breathed the sport. and no one can take that away from him. maybe he didnt have the best sportsmanship but he felt it far more than prost or shumacher. but clark was indeed a master gentleman. and so was senna.
Cars from this era were better than what they’re driving today. It was all seat of the pants feel,not a transporter full of engineers and millions of dollars spent.
I would kill for a drive in one of these cars
Very, very nice but Dan Gurneys Eagle racer version in blue with the velocity stacks showing, and the silver exhaust was prettier.
my grandfather helped build that and he passed away a couple years back im looking for a picture of the pistons of this car can anybody help me out
I'm related to Jim Clark and I haven't been to the museum yet
when they did this event, they brought both the 49 and the 38....dario drove the 38, but they brought the 49 to display it
How cool is that?
can anyone tell me how the cars in the Indy/Champ Car races differed from Formula 1 cars of that era? or was there any like there is now? I can find info on differences in modern era Indy vs F1 cars but not the cars from back then in the 60's such as the cars Clark drove in Indy vs F1.
2:37 - Is that another Clark car?
Somehow I liked the look of Indy cars a bit better than F1 (definitely in 90ies) and, you know, in the sixties as well. It is Lotus from F1 world, but engine is covered and somehow it is better looking than bare engines in the grand prix world circuit. Also liveries in USAC championship were more "alive" with a lot of stickers, and paintschemes...
If you're going to talk about how great the engine note is, at least let us hear it without someone talking over it.
It's a climax V8, plenty of videos of them
lotus chassis, ford engine, with Jim Clark driving. what can be better than this?
@yaroukh But the whole story is worth listening to.
Prost, born Feb. 24, 1955, was only 13 when Clark died and could bot have been a competitor. He could only dislike him because Clark was Senna's hero and he didn't like anything Senna. I actually remember the day Prost was born; it was my seventh birthday.
Have a look at "Martin Brundle drives a Lotus 49" to see and hear the DFV engined car in action
i believe they still use that motor today
and alonso today. i love senna but i dont think he had many friends in f1, except berger,boutsen ,mansell perhaps
my great uncle was best friends with Jim Clark
Proper racing car all mechanical with no stupid electronics