after the USA GP ?? in October 1962 ??
Yes. OK I'll give you the point for that. I know it was a strange question, but I had to ask something because the car and driver were so easy. The US GP was held on 7.10.62 and the Indy test was on 11.10.62. Dan Gurney had suggested to Colin Chapman that a light rear-engined car could be successful at the annual "500", and the project was already under way, but because Lotus were in the USA for the GP, it was thought a good idea to have a look at the place.
Jim Clark drove the car of Trevor Taylor, and had to wear the compulsory Rookie stripes. I guess the Lotus had the gearing which had been used at Watkins Glen, but even so Clark managed a best lap of 143mph, at a time when the lap record was 150mph. This was in a 1.5-litre car with no special oval tweaks, like offset suspension, and the regular Indy roadsters had 4.2-litre Offenhauser engines. I suspect that if it had been fitted with gearing for somewhere like Monza or Spa, it would have lapped even faster. It was a real shock for the local track officials.
One more point to you!
