Join Donald Davidson of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum as he tells the story of the last roadster to win the Indy 500, AJ Foyt’s Watson-Offy.
If you’re a fan of the Indy 500, you’re familiar with Donald Davidson, the Speedway’s own national treasure. Nobody on earth knows more about the Indiana race track and its incredible history, which now spans more than a century, than he does. His daily radio show, The Talk of Gasoline Alley, has been a beloved tradition for racing people spending the month of May at Indy, and his public lectures are like an advanced graduate program in American motorsports lore.
In this video, one national treasure sits down for a visit with another national treasure, if you will: the Watson-Offy in which AJ Foyt won the 1964 Indy 500, the last Indy roadster to win the classic event. (The car was actually built for the 1963 season, as Mr. Davidson explains.) Thanks to some fortunate foresight, the car has been in the possession of the Speedway Museum since shortly after its historic victory, and is in totally authentic and original condition—an extreme rarity for a winning race car of the era. How that came to pass, and more fascinating secrets about the roadster, are revealed here. Video below.
Interesting. in effect an oversize midget with cross bar suspension and an [big] Offy.
And still a pretty car.
Though were did they move the oil tank too? AFAIK Offys were designed to use dry sump oiling only?
Though that tank is hardly ideal in shape. As we all know these days a tall round thing about 9″ in diameter.
Exactly. Watson’s idea was to build a lighter, simpler version of the Kurtis. Not sure but I believe the inboard tank was in front of the engine. Obviously, they were trying to make the external tank aerodynamic.