Lotus 34

The Lotus 34 is an open-wheel race car built by Team Lotus for the 1964 Indianapolis 500. Driven by Jim Clark, who qualified on pole, and Dan Gurney, tyre failure led to Clark retiring and Gurney being withdrawn.

Lotus 34
CategoryUSAC IndyCar
Designer(s)Colin Chapman
Len Terry
PredecessorLotus 29
SuccessorLotus 38
Technical specifications[1]
Chassisaluminum monocoque
Suspension (front)lower wishbones, top rockers, in-board coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)reversed lower wishbones, single top links, twin radius arms, coil springs over shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Length3,810 mm (150 in)
Width1,651 mm (65 in)
Height787 mm (31 in)
Axle trackFront: 1,422 mm (56 in)
Rear: 1,422 mm (56 in)
Wheelbase2,438 mm (96 in)
EngineFord 4,195 cc (256.0 cu in) OHV 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid-engine longitudinal
TransmissionZF 2DS-20 2-speed manual gearbox.
Power425 bhp (317 kW)
Weight543 kg (1,197 lb)
TyresDunlop
Competition history
Notable entrantsTeam Lotus
Notable driversUnited Kingdom Jim Clark
United States Dan Gurney
United States A. J. Foyt
United States Parnelli Jones
Debut1964 Indianapolis 500
WinsPoles
42
Lotus 34 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 2022.

Development history

The Lotus 34 was a very similar car to the 29. It differed principally in featuring a four-cam 4195 cc (255ci) DOHC Ford V8 with Hilborn fuel injection, producing 425 bhp (317 kW), through a ZF 2DS20 gearbox.

Race history

At Indianapolis, Jim Clark qualified on pole, with Dan Gurney qualifying sixth.[2] The Dunlop tyres failed during the race, leading to Clark crashing and Dan Gurney being withdrawn, much to Ford's displeasure.[3] Later that year Parnelli Jones won twice in a Lotus 43 at Milwaukee and Trenton.

In 1965 A.J. Foyt won three USAC races in a Lotus 34 on his way to second in that years championship, while Parnelli Jones finished second at Indianapolis behind Jim Clark's Lotus 38.[4]

References
  1. "1964 Lotus 34 Ford Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. Setright, L.J.K. "Lotus: The Golden Mean", in Northey, Tom, ed. The World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 11, p.1232.
  3. Setright, p.1232.
  4. "Race Results - Indianapolis 500 - 1965". indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.

Further reading
  • Andrew Ferguson, Lotus: The Indianapolis Years (Patrick Stephens, 1996) ISBN 1-85260-491-3
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