Bobby Johns in Lotus Ford Racer #83 with Pit Crew at the Indianapolis 500 Race, 1965

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Artifact Overview

Team Lotus and Ford brought in NASCAR driver Bobby Johns to pilot the #83 Ford-powered Lotus car in the 1965 Indianapolis 500, alongside Jim Clark's #82 car. Johns finished seventh. He made seven attempts to qualify for Indy during his career, also succeeding in 1969. Johns finished the 1969 race in tenth place.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

May 1965

Collection Title

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2009.158.12

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in
Width: 10 in

Inscriptions

Printed label with handwriting in categories adhered to back of image reads: Must Credit / The Dave Friedman Photo Collection / [address] Driver: Bobby Johns / Machine: Lotus Ford / Date and event: Indy 500 5-65 / This photograph is the copyright of Dave Friedman and must / not be reproduced without the expressed consent of the / photographer. Handwritten small label on upper right corner of label reads: 5-20 / P.85
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    Jim Clark and the 1965 Indianapolis 500

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    Scotsman Jim Clark won the Indianapolis 500 with this rear-engine car in 1965. After his victory, a traditional front-engine car never won that race again. The Lotus-Ford combined a European Formula One-inspired lightweight chassis with a big Ford V-8 engine. The Lotus-Ford's success effectively killed the traditional Indy roadster and established a new design for American race cars.