Racing-engine Change

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 23

Racing-engine Change

A quiet revolution in the use of racing-car engines in the United States has taken place in the last few months, and it may influence the outcome of the Indianapolis 500-mile race on May 30. A growing number of racing teams are switching to “stock block” engines, based

on production V 8 units. They are less costly to build than special racing engines, are easier to repair and tune, and give better fuel consumption figures. They are, however, heavier and less powerful than true racing engines. To a large extent, however, this is made up in increased reliability. Last year the American driver Dan Gurney showed the potential of stockblock engines when he finished second at Indianapolis to Bobby Unser. The race was the fastest Indianapolis event ever run.

Gurney has entered for this year’s race with another stock-block engine powering

his Eagle, and the Granatelli ; team is preparing two cars with stock-block Plymouth engines. The Penske team is building a car with a stockblock Chevrolet unit. It is not expected that the Offenbauser engine, for one, will give up its long record of success at Indianapolis without a struggle. Nearly half last year's Indianapolis field was Offenhauser-powered, and a similar number of Offen-! hauser-powered cars are ex-; pected to qualify for grid positions this year.