Its A New Track Record! - Rick Schaffer

Indianapolis track announcer Tom Carnegie used to whip the crowds into frenziedexcitement during qualification runs for the famous 500, especially when he intonedhis trademark exclamation “It’s… A… New Track Record!”. That occurred quite often during the period 1962–1972with its unprecedented explosion in speed. Parnelli Jones became the first manto break the 150-mph barrier with a lap at 150.370 mph in 1962, then just 10years later Bobby Unser’s 196.678 mph was not far short of the 200-mph mark. Thishappened because the “decade” brought extraordinary advances in car, engine andtire design, including takeover by the rear-engine configuration and theemergence of aerodynamic wings, wide slick tires and unrestricted turbochargedengines that ultimately produced over 1,000 horsepower. Foremost Indianapolis500 historian Rick Shaffer tells the entire story with authority and style inthis captivating book.  Key content• Year-by-year coverage includes the technicaldevelopments behind rising speeds in a period that saw Formula One-inspiredrear-engine chassis depose Indy’s traditional front-engine roadsters. • Following his 150-mph qualifyinglandmark in 1962, when Rodger Ward won the race, Parnelli Jones claimed victoryin 1963 after holding off an unexpected challenge from rookie Jim Clark. • The 1964 Indy 500 saw A.J. Foyt—writerof this book’s foreword—achieve the last win fo
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