Can-Am cars Vs F1
Discussion
Following on from the other two threads, I seem to recall that Mark Donoghue's 917 Can-Am racer qualified for a race with a time which would have put him SECOND on the grid at the F1 race on the same track.
I think it was either Watkins Glen or Mosport, etc, back in around 1972 I think. Mind you, he did have the benefit of a 1500bhp for qualifying...
I think it was either Watkins Glen or Mosport, etc, back in around 1972 I think. Mind you, he did have the benefit of a 1500bhp for qualifying...
ccharlie6 said:
yeah that would be the 917/30 some 1300bhp in qually trim, does it still hold the closed course speed record of 200 odd mph???
Dunno if it still does hold the record, I think Mario Andretti did an AVERAGE speed of 231mph in qualifying for an IndyCar race, about 10 years ago.
The 917 recorded over 220mph at Taladega, about 1974/5 I think.
ccharlie6 - I see you're at Cov uni. Spent many a wasted day in T-Block. If Trevor Pye or Ian Dunn are still around, give them a shout from me (Garrett Mac Donnell, I graduated in 1997)
Hardly surprising - Can-Am cars were of unlimited capacity and size, meaning huge amounts of aerodynamic surfaces, world sports cars in the early 70's were 5 litre capacity, again with pretty big aero surfaces - at the same time F1 cars were 3 litres with limitations on body height and in many cases without even having bodywork that cleaned up airflow over the engine - or to the rear wing. Game set and match to the big boys!
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