Pete05
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- Melbourne, Australia
Brabham cars competed at the Indianapolis 500 from the mid 1960's to the early 1970's.
After an abortive project in 1962, MRD (Motor Racing Developments), was commissioned in 1964 to build an Indycar chassis powered by an American engine.
This one-off was commissioned by John Zink and entered in the 1964 Indianapolis 500 as a "John Zink Track Burner Special" with a 4.2 litre Offenhauser engine and Hewland DG300 gearbox. It retired with a fuel tank problem.
The car subsequently won four Championship races in the hands of Jim McElreath (once using a Ford V8).
Clint Brawner was permitted to copy the BT12, his version being called a Hawk, though entered as the "Dean Van Lines Special".
Mario Andretti won the 1965 Indycar Championship with this car which was further developed and although still essentially a Brabham, was commonly referred to as the "Brawner" or the "Brawner-Hawk".
This car was entered again in 1966, taking a 3rd place for McElreath.
From 1968-1970, Brabham returned to Indianapolis, at first with a 4.2 litre version of the Recpco V8 the team used in Formula One ( Peter Revson 5th in 1969) before reverting to the Offenhauser engine for 1970.
The Brabham-Offenhauser combination was entered again in 1971 by J.C.Agajanian, finishing fifth in the hands of Bill Vukovich II
