Parnelli VPJ4

Last updated
Parnelli VPJ4
Parnelli VPJ4B
Category Formula One
Constructor Parnelli
Designer(s) Maurice Philippe
Technical specifications [1] [2]
Chassis Aluminium monocoque.
Suspension (front) Double wishbone, with inboard coilover shock absorbers.
Suspension (rear) Double wishbone.
Axle track Front: 1,499 mm (59.0 in)
Rear: 1,549 mm (61.0 in)
Wheelbase 2,540 mm (100 in)
Engine Ford-Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted.
Transmission Hewland FG 400 5-speed manual gearbox.
Weight 578 kg (1,274 lb)
Fuel 1974-1975: Valvoline
1976: Castrol
Tyres 1974-1975: Firestone
1975-1976: Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing
Notable drivers Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti
Debut 1974 Canadian Grand Prix
RacesWins Poles F.Laps
16001
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Parnelli VPJ4 was a Formula One racing car designed by Maurice Philippe, and used by Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing during the 1974, 1975 and 1976 Formula One seasons.

Formula One is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and owned by the Formula One Group. The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one of the premier forms of racing around the world since its inaugural season in 1950. The word "formula" in the name refers to the set of rules to which all participants' cars must conform. A Formula One season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, which take place worldwide on purpose-built circuits and on public roads.

Maurice Philippe, also known as Maurice Phillippe, was a British aircraft and Formula One car designer.

Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing, commonly referred to simply as Parnelli or VPJ, was a motor racing constructor and team from the United States. The team was formed in 1969 by former USAC racer Parnelli Jones and his business partner Velko "Vel" Miletich. Parnelli was initially solely concerned with USAC racing, where success came quickly; their driver Al Unser won the Indianapolis 500 race in 1970, driving a VPJ Colt, after leading 190 of the 200 racing laps. Unser went on to win the USAC championship. Unser repeated the Indy 500 win in 1971 with a nearly identical Colt, ending the season in fourth place in the USAC drivers points while teammate Joe Leonard won the championship.

Contents

Development

Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing was formed in 1969 by former USAC racer Parnelli Jones and his business partner Velko "Vel" Miletich. Parnelli was initially solely concerned with USAC racing, Parnelli secured the services of ex Team Lotus designer Maurice Philippe and driver Mario Andretti for USAC racing in the early 1970s and in 1974 decided to move into Formula One racing, with financial support from tire manufacturer Firestone. However, Firestone's decision to quit racing at the end of 1974 meant that a major partner was lost. The Parnelli VPJ4 car owed much to Philippe's Lotus 72 design.

Parnelli Jones American racecar driver and team owner

Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones is an American former professional racing driver and racing team owner. He is notable for his accomplishments while competing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Baja 1000 desert race. In 1962, he became the first driver to qualify over 150 mph. He won the race in 1963, then famously broke down while leading the 1967 race with three laps to go in a turbine car. During his career as an owner, he won the Indy 500 in 1970–1971 with driver Al Unser, Sr.

Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series, including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar, and sports car racing. More than ten years after its last race, Team Lotus remained one of the most successful racing teams of all time, winning seven Formula One Constructors' titles, six Drivers' Championships, and the Indianapolis 500 in the United States between 1962 and 1978. Under the direction of founder and chief designer Colin Chapman, Lotus was responsible for many innovative and experimental developments in critical motorsport, in both technical and commercial arenas.

Mario Andretti Italian-American racing driver

Mario Gabriele Andretti is an Italian-born American former racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR. He also won races in midget cars, and sprint cars. During his career, Andretti won the 1978 Formula One World Championship, four IndyCar titles, and IROC VI. To date, he remains the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 (1969), Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula One World Championship, and, along with Juan Pablo Montoya, the only driver to have won a race in the NASCAR Cup Series, Formula One, and an Indianapolis 500. No American has won a Formula One race since Andretti's victory at the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix. Andretti had 109 career wins on major circuits.

Racing history

1974

The VPJ4 made its debut at the 1974 Canadian Grand Prix with Andretti and finished seventh. [3] At the United States, the American's car developed an ignition fault on the parade lap, and the start was delayed 25 minutes while the crew attempted to solve the problem. Finally, Andretti took his place on the grid, but when starter Tex Hopkins dropped the green flag, the Parnelli car did not move and the field had to scramble to avoid the American. The Parnelli mechanics eventually got the car push started two laps late, but Andretti was black-flagged for receiving outside assistance. [4]

1974 Canadian Grand Prix Formula One motor race held in 1974

The 1974 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Mosport Park on 22 September 1974. It was race 14 of 15 in both the 1974 World Championship of Drivers and the 1974 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

1974 United States Grand Prix Formula One motor race held in 1974

The 1974 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on October 6, 1974, at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. It was race 15 of 15 in both the 1974 World Championship of Drivers and the 1974 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The Parnelli team scored no World Championship points during the year.

1975

The first race of 1975 was the 1975 Argentine Grand Prix when Andretti retired with transmission failure. [5] Before Brazil Parnelli changed their tyre supplier to Goodyear after Firestone's decision to quit racing but the American finished seventh. [6] Andretti finished 17th at the South African Grand Prix but stopped the car with eight laps to go with transmission failure. [7] At Spain Vittorio Brambilla (March) tangled with the American; Andretti's car hit the back of Niki Lauda (Ferrari), sending him into Lauda's teammate Clay Regazzoni. Lauda was out immediately, while Regazzoni took his car to the garage and was sent back out. After the first corner confusion resolved, James Hunt (Hesketh) was shown as the leader. Andretti had managed to keep going, and was running in second. He took the lead when Hunt crashed but the American retired with broken suspension. [8] The Monaco Grand Prix saw Andretti retire when he entered the pits with his car on fire, caused by an oil Leak. [9] The team skipped Belgium because Andretti and the Parnelli team were racing at the Indianapolis 500. The American finished fourth at Sweden. [10] The team skipped the Dutch Grand Prix because Andretti and the Parnelli team were racing in the United States again. The American finished fifth at France. [11] Andretti finished 12th at the British Grand Prix. [12] The American finished tenth at Germany. [13] Andretti retired from the final three races, spinning off at Austria, [14] Crashing at Italy and with broken suspension at the United States. [15] [16]

1975 Argentine Grand Prix 251th Formula 1 Championship Grand Prix

The 1975 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Buenos Aires on 12 January 1975. It was race 1 of 14 in both the 1975 World Championship of Drivers and the 1975 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. It was the twelfth Argentine Grand Prix and only the second to be held on the lengthened six kilometre version of the race track that runs out towards Curvon Salotto around the lake which lies to the north-east of the circuit.

1975 Brazilian Grand Prix Formula One motor race held at Interlagos

The 1975 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Interlagos on 26 January 1975. It was race 2 of 14 in both the 1975 World Championship of Drivers and the 1975 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. It was the fourth Brazilian Grand Prix since its introduction in 1972. The race was won by São Paulo native Carlos Pace driving a Brabham BT44B. It was the only win of Pace's career; he was killed in an aircraft accident two years later. The circuit now holds his name. It would be eight years before another Brazilian would win the Grand Prix. Fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi finished second in his McLaren M23 with his German teammate Jochen Mass finishing third.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American multinational tire manufacturing company founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling and based in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery. It also produced bicycle tires from its founding until 1976. As of 2017, Goodyear is one of the top four tire manufacturers along with Bridgestone (Japan), Michelin (France) and Continental (Germany).

The Parnelli team scored five World Championship points, earning them tenth place in the Constructors' Championship.

1976

The Parnelli team skipped the Brazilian Grand Prix but entered the 1976 South African Grand Prix with the VPJ4B and Andretti finished sixth. [17] Before the United States Grand Prix West Andretti only learned of the Parnelli team leaving Formula One from journalist Chris Economaki, as he sat in the car on the grid but the American retired from the race with a water leak. [18] This led to some bad feeling between Andretti and Jones, Andretti returned to Lotus for the remainder of the 1976 season.

1976 Brazilian Grand Prix Formula One motor race held at Interlagos

The 1976 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil on 25 January 1976. It was the opening round of the 1976 Formula One season. The race was the fifth Brazilian Grand Prix and the fourth to be held for the World Drivers' Championship. The race was held over 40 laps of the 7.87-kilometre circuit for a total race distance of 315 kilometres.

1976 South African Grand Prix Formula One motor race held in 1976

The 1976 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 6 March 1976 at Kyalami in Transvaal Province, South Africa. It was the second round of the 1976 Formula One season. The race was the 22nd South African Grand Prix and the tenth to be held at Kyalami. The race was held over 78 laps of the 4.104-kilometre circuit for a total race distance of 320 kilometres.

1976 United States Grand Prix West

The 1976 United States Grand Prix West was a Formula One motor race held on March 28, 1976, in Long Beach, California. The race was the third round of the 1976 Formula One season and the first new race to be added to the calendar since the Brazilian and Swedish Grand Prix were added in 1973. It was the second Formula One race held in California, the first being the 1960 United States Grand Prix at Riverside, only 50 miles away. The race was held over 80 laps of the 3.251-kilometre street circuit for a total race distance of 260 kilometres.

The Parnelli team had scored one World Championship point, earning them thirteenth place in the Constructors' Championship.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)(results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1974 Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing VPJ4 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA 0-
Mario Andretti 7 DSQ
1975 Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing VPJ4 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F
G 		ARG BRA RSA ESP MON BEL SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA USA 510th
Mario Andretti Ret 7 17Ret Ret 4 5 12 10 Ret Ret Ret
1976 Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing VPJ4B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN 113th
Mario Andretti 6 Ret

Non-Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Driver Tyres 1 2 3
1975 Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ROC INT SUI
Mario Andretti 3

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References

  1. ↑ "Parnelli VPJ4". f1technical.net. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Parnelli VPJ4B". f1technical.net. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Canadian GP 1974". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Grand Prix results, United States GP 1974". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Argentine GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Brazilian GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Grand Prix results, South African GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Spanish GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Monaco GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Swedish GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Grand Prix results, French GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "Grand Prix results, British GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Grand Prix results, German GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Austrian GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Grand Prix results, Italian GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "Grand Prix results, United States GP 1975". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Grand Prix results, South African GP 1976". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "Grand Prix results, United States GP West 1976". grandprix.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
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