Ferrari's Indy Car that Never Was

[NewGen33]

Back in the 80's Ferrari debuted a Indy car showing their rumored intention on leaving F1 if certain engine regulations were not changed within the FIA.

In late 1986 Gustav Brunner designed a Ferrari chassis to house a brand new 2.65 litre V8 turbo Ferrari engine - built to CART regulations - and the press was invited to inspect. Most journalists came away impressed; the engine held some unusual features including upward mounted exhausts, and it made the new 1.5 litre turbo V6 Formula One engine, displayed at the same time, look a little plain.

There were rumours that Ferrari would be attacking the 1987 season, then the 1988 season. Rumours were placing Andrea de Cesaris in the car for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 But the car never raced. One rumour circulating was that the car was built to put pressure on the FIA. The new engine regulations for 1989 onwards were being finalised for 3.5 litre V8 engines. Ferrari however wanted to build a V12. So they put pressure on the FIA by building an Indycar. The FIA changed the regs and V12's were allowed - and Ferrari (and Lamborghini) built their Formula One V12's. This would also allow Honda and Renault and now everyone to build V10's. The Indycar was locked away in FIAT's vault.

Come 1987 and Alfa Romeo, one of Ferrari's sibling in the FIAT empire, wanted to get back into serious motorsport competition. After having a look at the newly formed World Touring Car Championship, Alfa Romeo was gearing up for an attack on CART as part of marketing Alfa Romeo, and the rest of the FIAT range, in the US.

Again journalists were invited to view the new Italian creation, some time in 1989. An all new Alfa Romeo 2.65 V8 turbo, bearing no relation to the Ferrari unit of three years previous, was unveiled connected to a March chassis. Over in the back of workshop Doug Nye spotted an all white chassis that was clearly not a March and had an Alfa Romeo logo painted on it that nobody from Alfa Romeo were prepared to talk about. It was too big to be any of the smaller formulae running in Europe and America, and the circular indentations for refuelling caps gave it away as being an Indycar chassis.

It was the old Ferrari Indycar, finding a use after all - perhaps as a test mule running in secret at Fiorano where many a strange occurrence happens.

http://atlasf1.autosport.com/99/bra/preview/faq.html

[EJ25RUN]

Ferrari 637

Here's some better pics of it at the Galleria Ferrari.






But Ferrari raced at the Indy 500 in the 1950s when it was a round of the F1 Championship.

Alberto Ascari Ferrari 375

[green91]

Wow i couldn't imagine having that much power in such a small car. Its really need how the exhaust ports are toward the valley, and the manifold easily flows the turbo, unlike 100% of today's v8s. Just shows Ferrari has been flexing their influence on the sport for a long time to have their way.

[EJ25RUN]

Wow i couldn't imagine having that much power in such a small car. Its really need how the exhaust ports are toward the valley, and the manifold easily flows the turbo, unlike 100% of today's v8s. Just shows Ferrari has been flexing their influence on the sport for a long time to have their way.

Funny enough i think Honda's 3.0L V12 was one of the first engines to use that setup. This engine was the base for the Lamborghini's V12.

[2turbo4u]

I wonder what would of happened if they did enter the series? Lay the smack down and then march over to Asscar and rip that crap to thread.

[Z0_o6]

Amazing design, especially considering it's age. I don't follow any of that stuff, but it is definitely cool to see some of those 'innovative new ideas' that are showing up in current concept cars back in the 1980's as race tech.