TILBAKE
LOTUS
TYPE 38
The one that revolutionised the Indy 500
WRITING AMERICAN HISTORY
LOTUS TYPE 38 - THE MID-ENGINED LOTUS THAT CONQUERED THE INDY 500
Lotus’ association with the Indianapolis 500 dates back to 1963 following a conversation between Colin Chapman and Dan Gurney. Chapman was convinced by the American racer to participate.
He firmly believed no one had yet proved that a lightweight mid-engined Indy car could compete with the traditional front-engined Indy monsters. With the added bonus of taking home the prize money – a very substantial $150,000.
The Lotus Type 38 did more than compete. It conquered the Indianapolis 500 in 1965, delivering Jim Clark a dominant victory and changing the course of American open-wheel racing.
EVOLVED MONOCOQUE
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Designed by Len Terry, under the technical leadership of Colin Chapman, whilst Chapman attended the Tasman Championship. The Lotus monocoque chassis of the Type 38 introduced a much stiffer chassis, offering more crash protection without adding weight compared to the earlier Indy 500 designs from Lotus, the Type 29 (1963) and Type 34 (1964).
THE ENGINEERING
LOTUS TYPE 38 AND THE MID-ENGINE REVOLUTION
Controversy and a lack of luck had kept Lotus and Jim Clark from winning at Indianapolis in ‘63 and ‘64. With the Type 38, Lotus took its Indy ambitions to a new level. And wrote Lotus Indianapolis history.
Rigidity reigns
It was the first Lotus to feature a full stressed-skin tube monocoque at Indianapolis. The new Lotus monocoque chassis weighed only 59 kg and was far stiffer than anything Lotus had engineered before.
This rigidity improved both handling precision and safety, giving the driver greater protection against the unforgiving wall at Indy.
Smart storage
Fuel storage was rethought entirely. A rear-mounted reservoir tank fed three separate inner diaphragm bays — two running the full length on either side of the driver and one behind the seat.
Cleaner. Longer. Sleeker.
Aerodynamically, the Lotus Type 38 was a cleaner design than its predecessors — the 1963 Type 29 and 1964 Type 34. There were no abrupt changes in section, and a 15cm longer nose gave a sleeker profile.
To the left
The track was slightly wider than the 1963 and 1964 cars at 60 inches, and the monocoque remained offset to the left-hand side to suit the track’s left hand turns. Underneath, the running gear saw the introduction of larger ventilated disc brakes and modified suspension geometry for improved stopping power and stability.
Smart package
Power came from the alcohol-fuelled Ford quad-cam V8 Indy. Allowing cooler running temperatures and a smaller radiator, reducing drag. The engine was paired with a ZF 2DS20 2-speed transmission, all packaged into a car weighing just 612 kg.
Mid-engine revolution
The significance of Chapman’s trans-Atlantic trips to the Indy shouldn’t be underestimated. When Clark returned in 1966 and almost won – he came in second – many of his rivals had copied Lotus' mid-engined Indy car concept. In fact, after Clark’s win in 1965, no front-engined race car ever won the Indy 500 again.
“It was finished on time, and once we got to Indy there was nothing to do. We’d just push it out each day, Jimmy would go faster yet, and we’d put it away again.”
~ Dave Lazenby
THE RACING YEARS
JIM CLARK’S 1965 INDIANAPOLIS 500 WIN
The Type 38 debuted at Trenton in April 1965. In practice, American driver Roger McCluskey completely destroyed one car in testing when its throttle jammed open. Team Lotus decided to drop Trenton and headed straight for Indy.
The fact that Colin Chapman favoured a 3rd trip to ‘The Brickyard’ over the Monaco GP as well, showed how much the Indy 500 meant to him and Team Lotus.
1965 Indy 500 - Qualification
Dan Gurney was not with the team that year, so Chapman got stock car veteran Bobby Johns to accompany Jim Clark.
Qualifying was a sheer display of domination with Lotus cars taking the first five places on the grid. Clark and Gurney started from the front row, alongside the seasoned AJ Foyt on pole.
1965 Indy 500 – The Race
Jim Clark, driving the 1965 Indianapolis 500 Lotus – Type 38/1 – took the lead after the opening laps and never looked back, only surrendering the lead briefly to Foyt for a mere 9 laps.
The rest of the race was a demonstration of his unmatched skill and the car’s groundbreaking capabilities. When Clark crossed the finish line he was greeted by a standing ovation from 350,000 spectators. His average speed of 150.686 mph set a new race record.
A lasting legacy
The Type 38 continued to race into 1966 and 1967, though with less dominance as rivals adopted similar mid-engined designs. Type 38’s impact on American racing was profound, as its construction principles became the norm at Indianapolis. And Jim Clark’s Indy 500 win became a tale for the ages.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
HOW LOTUS CHANGED THE INDY 500 FOREVER
The 1965 Indianapolis 500 Lotus victory was the Type 38’s crowning glory. Not just because of Jim Clark’s greatest victory, but because of the way in which it was done. It was the first time a mid-engined car had won at Indy in the hands of a European constructor. And it marked a historical shift away from traditional front-engined roadsters.
Jim Clark’s 1965 Season: The Best of All Time
That season was one of the most extraordinary in motorsport history. In addition to his Indy win, Clark claimed the Formula One World Championship, the Tasman Cup, the British and French F2 Championship, and victories in numerous saloon and sports car events.
When it comes to the Lotus Type 38, it will forever be the car in which a Scottish driver captured the hearts of American fans. And reshaped the American racing scene.
THE DRIVERS
JIM CLARK AND THE LOTUS 38 LEGACY
Type 38 is forever linked to the legacy of Jim Clark, and part of Lotus Indianapolis history. His dominant 1965 Indy 500 win remains one of his career-defining performances. He raced the car again in 1966 and 1967, narrowly missing another victory.
Other notable drivers of the Lotus 38 Indy 500 are Dan Gurney, who played a pivotal role in bringing Lotus to the ‘500’, AJ Foyt, Bobby Johns and Mario Andretti, whose sponsors bought a customer Type 38.
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