Can-Am cars Vs F1

[GarrettMacD]

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...

[Eric Mc]

Was that the 1973 Sunoco Porsche 917?

It was the most powerful racing car in the world at the time - with twin turbos.

[ccharlie6]

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???

[dilbert]

For me it's Can - Am everytime.

[GarrettMacD]

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)

[ccharlie6]

lol will do pretty sure dunn is still around. just got home last week from end of 1st year

[jpt]

If memory serves, the gulf 917's were faster around SPA in 1970 than F1 the same year - could have been Rodrigues but I believe it was Brian Redman.

While on the Can-Am thread, Brands 23/24th July Supersports - M8's, Lola's etc - on the old GP track !!

V8 Heaven

[Jasper Gilder]

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!