Lotus 34

Category	USAC IndyCar
Designer(s)	Colin Chapman Len Terry
Predecessor	Lotus 29
Successor	Lotus 38
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis	aluminum 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
Length	3,810 mm (150 in)
Width	1,651 mm (65 in)
Height	787 mm (31 in)
Axle track	Front: 1,422 mm (56 in) Rear: 1,422 mm (56 in)
Wheelbase	2,438 mm (96 in)
Engine	Ford 4,195 cc (256.0 cu in) OHV 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid-engine longitudinal
Transmission	ZF 2DS-20 2-speed manual gearbox.
Power	425 bhp (317 kW)
Weight	543 kg (1,197 lb)
Tyres	Dunlop
Competition history
Notable entrants	Team Lotus
Notable drivers	Jim Clark Dan Gurney A. J. Foyt Parnelli Jones
Debut	1964 Indianapolis 500
Wins Poles 4 2

Lotus 34 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in 2022.

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 Driven by Jim Clark, who qualified on pole, and Dan Gurney, tyre failure led to Clark retiring and Gurney being withdrawn.

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Gurney qualifying sixth.^[2] The Dunlop tyres failed during the race, leading to Clark crashing and Dan Gurney being withdrawn, much to Ford's displeasure.^[3] Later that year Parnelli Jones won twice in a Lotus 43 at Milwaukee and Trenton.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

Further reading

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