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Indianapolis 500®
veteran David Hobbs returned for 1974 with a situation that has
not been matched since, namely driving for a single top team (McLaren)
both at the Brickyard® and in Formula 1. Although Team
McLaren efforts were focussed on teammate Johnny
Rutherford, Hobbs had essentially the same equipment.
Under team manager Tyler Alexander, Hywel "Hughie"
Absolom was chief mechanic on the #73 McLaren. Hobbs set the ninth
fastest time on the first day, at 184.833 mph, as sprinkles began.
In the race, Hobbs discovered that his tire setup had an incorrect
stagger, so he was forced to drive with massive oversteer. Hobbs
had the misfortune to have the first caution occur as he was
leaving the pits on his first pit stop, so he quickly dropped a
lap behind the leaders. Fuel management was somewhat hit or miss
in 1974, and Hobbs' boost and fuel settings turned out to be too
conservative. He finished the race with 25 gallons unused from the
285 gallon allotment. In hindsight, Hobbs felt that he should have
used more boost and pushed harder to perhaps finish a couple of
places higher. He finished four laps behind the winner, in fifth
place. Team McLaren not only won the 1974 Indianapolis 500® with
Johnny Rutherford at an average speed of 158.589 mph, they also
won the 1974 Formula 1 World Championship with Emerson Fittipaldi,
equaling Team Lotus' 1965 accomplishment.
started 9
finished 5
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