This is exciting, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is coming to Project Cars 2. Not only will we will be getting the current crop of Indy Cars namely the Dallara DW12′ s so you can “have a go” at the Indy 500 yourself. But you can turn the clock back to 1965, when racing was “spectacular” and “dangerous”, racing drivers were hero’s and you can find yourself driving a USAC Roadster nicked named “OL’ CALHOUN” Now when we mention USAC, you can get this picture out of your head….. the Roadster we are talking about is below:
Jim Clarke won at the 1965 Indy 500, and yes you can drive the Lotus 38 around the 2.5 mile banked oval to try and re-create history.
Interestingly this was the first win by a rear-engine car as the 33 car field was make up of mostly front engine cars, history in the making and we have a pioneer and great team manger/owner “Colin Chapman” to thank for this innovation. Sadly the great talent of this most likeable and unassuming “Scot” Jim Clark was killed in a crash at the Hockenheim circuit in 1968, robbing the racing world of a true champion. Many race teams followed in these footsteps (rear engine race cars) soon after and this is where we are today. The Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500 for short is a gruelling 500 mile endurance race, 100’s and 1000’s of fans flock to see this great race. Over the years there have been many rivalries, flat-out side by side racing, inches from the concrete. Speeds in excess of 200mph, danger around the corner (4 to be exact). There is no doubt in my mind how spectacular this event is, hence why it is named “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”
This year 2017 is a great year for the Indy 500 as we have current F1 superstar Fernando Alonso racing with McLaren Honda. He is trying to compete for a first time win out on the ovals, and man has he picked a beast of an oval. The “triple crown” in motorsport is for the taking. An unofficial name for winning the Monaco GP, Indy 500 and Le Mans 24hr, Graham Hill the only driver to accomplish this feat, we shall wish him luck. He starts from an amazing 5th place this Sunday.
The “Ol’ CALHOUN” is probably one of the most recognisable racing cars from the mid 1960’s USAC era racing at the Indy 500. These racing cars weighed in at around 730KGs and had a 4-cylinder Offenhauser motor capable of about 470hp using a fairly combustible nitro-methanol fuel mix, this “explosive” burns invisibly and is suffocated by water. As you can imagine fire was the biggest threat in those days and it was everyone’s biggest fear as it couldn’t be seen! You only feel the intense heat, and by that time you could be seriously burnt.
This will be a very spectacular addition to the roster of already impressive cars that will be available for Project Cars 2, we can’t wait!
Check out other Project Cars 2 announcements: here, here, here and here.