'Indy' winner

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 13

'Indy' winner

Special arrangements have been made for the 700-horsepower STPHawk racing car which won the 1969 Indianapolis 500-mile race to appear in the Christchurch International Motor Show at Canterbury Court. This car is fitted with Firestone Indy tyres and will be the centrepiece on the Firestone stand at the show. The STP-Hawk is the car which carried Mario Andretti to victory in the gruelling 500-mile classic after a practice crash in another car almost put paid to his chances. The car is sponsored by the oil additive firm of STP. STP boss, Andy Granatelli, tried unsuccessfully for almost 20 years to win the Indy 500 both as a driver and a car owner. The sleek red racing car on show is currently on a

world tour and will be returning to the United States shortly after its New Zealand visit. One of the most interesting features from a technical point of view is that the Ford V 8 engine used in the car is turbocharged. This means that the air is forced into the engine by means of an exhaust driven supercharger. This unit sits on top of the engine at the rear. Visitors to the International Motor Show will be able to examine the car closely and note the tiny driver’s cockpit. Mario Andretti is one of the smallest drivers in big-time motor racing standing not much over five feet and of very slim build. The cockpit of the car was tailored to his size. The STP-Hawk is very similar in construction to the Brabham racing cars and has a top speed of approximately 200 miles an hour. The fastest lap of the 2J-mile Indianapolis circuit by this car was just a fraction under 170 miles an hour average.