Lotus 34

Lotus 34

Category	USAC IndyCar
[[automotive design|DesignerTemplate:Pluralize from text]]	Colin Chapman Len Terry
Predecessor	Lotus 29
Successor	Lotus 38
Technical specifications
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	Template:Flagicon Jim Clark Template:Flagicon Dan Gurney Template:Flagicon A. J. Foyt Template:Flagicon 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 Driven by Jim Clark, who qualified on pole, and Dan Gurney, tyre failure led to Clark retiring and Gurney being withdrawn.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. The Dunlop tyres failed during the race, leading to Clark crashing and Dan Gurney being withdrawn, much to Ford's displeasure. 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.

Further reading

• Andrew Ferguson, Lotus: The Indianapolis Years (Patrick Stephens, 1996) Template:ISBN

Type	1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Owner	Colin Chapman																																	David Wickins			General Motors							Romano Artioli			Proton Holdings
Sports racer					VIII	IX	Eleven		15	17	19		23		30	40		47		62																					105	106					114	115
			Mark VI					Seven
Roadster													Elan																											Elan							Elise
Coupé									Elite							Elan
																		Europa									Esprit												Esprit						Esprit
Grand tourer																		Elan +2							Elite
																									Eclat									Excel
Saloon														Cortina				Cortina																							Carlton

Racing cars	Mark I Mark II Mark III Mark IV Mark V 12 16 18 20 21 22 24 25 27 29 31 32 33 34 35 38 39 41 42 43 44 48 49 51 55 56 59 61 63 64 67 68 69 70 72 73 74 F2 76 77 78 79 80 81 86 87 88 91 92 93T 94T 95T 96T 97T 98T 99T 100T 101 102 107 109 112
Related cars	Caterham Seven Ford Cortina Lotus Talbot Sunbeam Lotus DeLorean Westfield Sport Isuzu Piazza Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 Opel Lotus Omega/Vauxhall Lotus Carlton Kia Elan
Concept cars	Emotion Esprit M70 Etna M250 M90
Key figures	Colin Chapman Tony Rudd Romano Artioli Dany Bahar Len Terry
Group Lotus	Official website Lotus Cars Lotus Engineering Team Lotus Lotus F1