This week the first practice sessions of the upcoming Indy 500 are held, starting with the Rookie test over the weekend. For quite some time now the legendary race has been disputed by identical cars but for a very long time designers could really make a difference at Indy. That was certainly the case thirty years ago when Johnny Rutherford won at the 'Brickyard' with the ingenious Chaparral 2K. This was the only Indycar built by the American racing car manufacturer, which is of course best known for its unusual Can-Am cars. The Cosworth engined 2K was penned by John Barnard and was the first 'ground effect' Indycar. In addition to the Indy victory, Rutherford also managed to win the 1980 CART title in the Pennzoil liveried Chaparral.
Ten years earlier another successful Can-Am manufacturer, McLaren, ventured into Indy racing. Dubbed the M15 and powered by an Offenhauser engine, it struggled through what was McLaren's most difficult season. While it did not win anything, it did introduce the company to this very specific type of racing and McLaren would return to score three Indy victories with the subsequent M16.
During the last month we have been on the road almost constantly and we have tried to keep you up to date with the latest releases as good as we could. Unfortunately some new cars slipped through, which have been added today.
In the Chinese capitol Beijing, German luxury manufacturer Maybach unveiled a face-lifted versions of all cars in their range. Visually the biggest change is the more prominent grille, which helps to distinguish the Maybachs even more from their Mercedes-Benz cousins. The cars still come with two types of the twin-turbo V12 engine; the 550 bhp 62 and the 630 bhp 62 S.
Meanwhile at the other side of the world Volvo and their competition partner Polestar celebrated their fifteenth year of cooperation at the Gothenburg show in great style with the C30 Polestar Concept. This very high performance machine features a 405 bhp version of the T5 engine and a Haldex four-wheel drive system. We don't know if the very hot C30 will become available for customers but it would almost a crime if it did not.
Enjoy the links:
1979 - 1981 Chaparral 2K Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information
2010 Maybach 62 - Images, Specifications and Information
2010 Maybach 62 S - Images, Specifications and Information
1970 McLaren M15 Offenhauser - Images, Specifications and Information
2010 Volvo C30 Polestar Concept - Images, Specifications and Information
Reply With Quote
