Team Lotus: The Indianapolis Years [Hardcover]

Andrew Ferguson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1996

This is an account of how the small British Team Lotus took the mighty Indianapolis establishment, from the initial European participation in 1961-2 through to 1969. The book gives an insider's account of the dramatic era, and details case histories of each of the 25 cars built.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Team Lotus took the Indianapolis 500 race by storm between 1963 and 1969. In a race previously dominated by home-grown American cars and drivers, double Formula 1 World Champion Jim Clark scored a stunning victory in 1965, and twice finished second in his Lotus cars powered by Ford engines. Here is the definitive inside story of how – encouraged by the great Dan Gurney – the tiny British Lotus team, headed by Colin Chapman, took aim at an icon of American sporting life and rewrote motor racing history.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

In the 1980s and early 1990s Andrew Ferguson ran Club Team Lotus, the factory’s own organization, producing a magazine for Lotus race fans worldwide and also acting as team archivist. Tragically he died just after completing this book.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing; First Edition edition (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852604913
• ISBN-13: 978-1852604912
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,092,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Documents the Inside Stories of Lotus at Indy "500" race, November 5, 1997

By 

Mick Brown - See all my reviews

This review is from: Team Lotus: The Indianapolis Years (Hardcover)

Many fans of motor racing and of the Indy "500" in particular are always on the lookout for more inside stories and details about the men who race and the teams behind them. This book gives the inside story of Lotus' involvement at Indianapolis in great heaping handfuls. Unlike many motor racing books which focus primarily on facts and statistics, Ferguson adds a great deal of his personal perspective into the book. There is even an account about the author and Colin Chapman competing for the attention of the same woman! Even though the book focuses on Lotus, it is a valuable reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the big bucks and politics involved with racing at "The Speedway" in the 1960's. Packed with great B&W as well as color photographs.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Team Lotus: The Indianapolis Years, November 27, 2002

By 

Darrell Nungester (Floyds Knobs, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Team Lotus: The Indianapolis Years (Hardcover)

As a big fan of Jim Clark and the Indianapolis 500, I had to have this book for my very large Indianapolis 500 memorabilia collection. Although Lotus wasn't the first rear-engine race car in Indianapolis 500 (Jack Brabham did it in 1961 with a Cooper-Climax), the Lotus was the most successful of the mid-1960's marques. Jim Clark won the the 1965 Indianapolis 500 and the Lotus he drove was the first rear-engine race car to win the race. The "Old Guard" was upset that they got beat by a Green car but soon everyone either had a Lotus or a Lotus clone. In addition to winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1965, Jim Clark finished 2nd in the 1963 and 1966 races.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Written and Produced Book, January 28, 2012

By 

Bruce Boertje (Pella, IA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Team Lotus: The Indianapolis Years (Hardcover)

I had heard very good things about this book and had high expectations when I purchased it. Sometimes high expectations can be a recipe for disappointment, but this book blew me away. It is awesome. Andrew Ferguson - who died after having written, but before publication of, the book - was in a perfect position to cover this amazing period. The book covers the 1963 - 1969 time frame, and delves into every area of Lotus. It mainly deals with Indy, but also covers F1 and Lotus' road car production as well. While this book may not be for the casual fan due to its in-depth coverage, it will leave virtually no question unanswered for the die-hard enthusiast.

Ferguson knew Colin Chapman intimately, and dealt with all the drivers and mechanics on a daily basis. He has obtained stories and details from nearly all the principles involved in the Indy program. Every chassis is detailed and chronicled for each race (Lotus often ran at Milwaukee and Trenton as well during those years), as well as test dates and final disposition of each car. All the drivers are covered in good detail - and they are a virtual who's who of the sixties. You will get to know Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Art Pollard, Joe Leonard, AJ Foyt, Jackie Stewart and Mike Spence. Andy Granatelli is also written about extensively. There are copious photos as well - mostly B&W, but a color section is also included.

If you are a fan of Indy, rear engined cars, Formula 1, Lotus, or sixties auto racing, you will not be disappointed with this book. The book is getting a little harder to find, but relatively inexpensive ($30 - 40) copies are still available, and well worth the effort to track down. This is one of the best racing books I have read.