15 replies to this topic

[MG Brown]

From the bygone days when there was innovation in North American open wheel racing.

 

 

 

 

[MG Brown]

Mike Mosely 1981

 

 

 

 

Danny Ongais 1981

 

[chaparrAL]

Was the Interscope car an Eagle?
l do know they tested a Porsche engine and when it did well USAC did what they do well, changed the rules.

[Cap Henry]

What time period is this? Never saw these before

[TSR]

The black car is not an Eagle but a chassis originally built to fit the stillborn Porsche turbo engine. It was called the interscope IP1 and Danny Ongais lost it at the '81 Indy 500 and crashed spectacularly, effectively putting an end to his driving career.

The others are all John Ward-designed Eagles with Cosworth DFX or Gurney-massaged "Chevy" Donovan "stock" blocks. The Pepsi car sat in the middle of the front row in '81, but the engine had been damaged when some debris had blocked a radiator during practice, causing the engine to overheat. There was no spare as money was truly tight. It was the race's first retirement. Later that year, it came from dead-last to win the Milwaukee race and would have also easily won at Riverside but a rear wheel got stuck on its axle during the second pit stop, and no effort could get it loose.

The other '81-'82 Eagle cars driven by Steve Chassey, Chip Mead, Dennis Firestone and others were never successful in these cars but Al Unser Jr. helped his dad win its 4th "500" by slowing down others in hot pursuit by race's end in the Roman Wheels Eagle.

All used a new ground-effect technology called BLAT, and they were remarkable, great American cars, only needing more money to run properly. The money was simply not there. When they became too competitive, Pat Patrick and other team owners made enough noise to get CART to effectively outlaw them in favor of more conventional British chassis.

it is good to see several running again.

 

[chaparrAL]

I witnessed that crash by Ongias. We were sitting on top a Van inside turn 3 and he hit with an awful thud. Then as he passed from right to left the car was torn in half and his legs were completlely exposed.. Happened so fast I fail to get a picture. I am glad he was fortunate to survive that! He is a legendary Hot Rodder

[MG Brown]

Chicago born Ted Field bankrolled the Interscope 81 chassis (actually built in late 1980) intended for the Porsche Indy engine. Supposedly 4 chassis were originally built paying much homage to the design of the BLAT Eagle and Lotus 79 but differing in certain details.

 

The early development of the Porsche Indy turbo 6 was done in a Parnelli chassis which has recently been restored by Gunnar Racing. The Parnelli was distinctive by being mostly white in colour instead of Interscope Racing's usual black.

 

The Interscope team never ran the above illustrated chassis with the Porsche engine- using a Cosworth in the 1981 Indy "500" instead. Indeed the Porsche turbo 6 project was abandoned by Porsche due supposedly to politics and other priorities.

[MG Brown]

Mike Mosely 1982





Pete Halsmer 1982

[MG Brown]

Al Unser Jr. 1983 (Rookie Start)

 

 

 

Dick Simon 1983

 

Steve Chassey 1983 (Rookie Start)

 

 

 

 

 

[MG Brown]

Chet Fillip 1983
 

[MG Brown]

Greg Leffler 1983

[MG Brown]

Mike Mosley 1980

[MG Brown]

Michael Chandler 1982



Dennis Firestone 1982



Chet Fillip 1982

[MG Brown]

We are happy to report that on a fact-finding mission this past January in South Carolina, we came across a tired relic that was on-pace with the best at the 1985 Indianapolis 500 - Tom Sneva's 1985 All American Racers Eagle #85GC001, aka 'The Skoal Bandit Eagle.'

It still had the post-Indy repairs to the tub which also helped determine its heritage, along with some 'Sneva-only' mods that were adapted to fit his needs in adjusting the car's handling mid-race.

With that said, #85GC001, along with another '85 chassis have joined the UMW squadron for restoration and preservation.

About AAR Eagle 85GC001: AAR's John Ward and Hiro Fujimori designed the 85GC (Gurney Curb) to answer the 1985 March and Lola contingent, which were the only other two major manufacturers in the business. The '85 Eagle sported a fully aluminum honeycomb chassis with a carbon composite body shell. After the 1984 Pontiac stock block experiment, AAR returned to Cosworth DFX power, which was coupled to a Hewland DG-B gearbox.

Chassis #85GC001 was Tom Sneva's car at Indianapolis, where 'Gas Man' was running second on lap 123 when he encountered Rich Vogler and Howdy Holmes spinning in turn one. The result was Sneva hitting the brakes, which caused the car to also enter a spin.

Seconds later, the rear of #85GC001 was crumpled. Sneva was classified 20th. Teammate Ed Pimm would finish eighth. The 85GC series would be the final Eagles to make the grid at Indianapolis, and Sneva's run during the '85 race would mark the final time a car from Santa Ana would streak over the yard of bricks in a charge towards the front.

Within a year, AAR was out of CART/Indy car competition, not to return for another decade.

More details on this car as they arrive.

[TSR]

The other '85 Eagle chassis, driven by Ed Pimm, is on display at the Riverside museum, without an engine.

It appears that there will be an Eagle reunion at the 2015 Indy 500. There could be as many as 50 Eagle cars there, built in Santa Ana from 1966 through 1999.

I know that I will likely bring mine and since it is a (very good) runner, will do quick laps with the other vintage Indy cars.

Looking forward to that...

[MG Brown]

Here is the official speedway photo of Ed's Eagle in case anyone out there is interested.
 

 
This is the Jamieson Racing crew after their qualifying run with All American Racers Indy Eagle #8101 for the 1982 Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately the car was bumped from the field and did not make the race.