At 44-years-old, not many drivers risk their lives on the banks of Indianapolis, but Sir Jack Brabham was of the minority.
Brabham was about to retire from the Formula 1 circus at the end of the 1970 season and had decided to debut the new BT32 designed for IndyCar competition.
It was the last hurrah for Brabham in IndyCar competition as a chassis manufacturer, but it shared many areas with the BT25 driven in 1969, which retired due to an ignition fault.
Returning for one last tilt was Brabham, with the BT32 using an engine based on the dominant turbocharged Offenhauser engine as every rival had surpassed Repco’s quad-cam V8 by the turn of the 1970s.
The lead up was less than ideal due to a truckers strike preventing the BT32 from qualifying on the first weekend and after 48 hours of rapid work, it was tested by Brabham to much delight.
Brabham qualified 26th as an ignition problem was the only drama leading up to the race, though this was cured prior to the event.
Significantly, Brabham was the only international to take part of the field and despite never threatening the leaders, the BT32 did lead a lap during one of the pit stop sequences.
A spin halted Brabham’s run slightly, but it completed ended when the engine seized 25-laps from the end scoring 13th.
It was Brabham’s second best Indy 500 result from four starts after he scored ninth in his maiden appearance in 1961.
Brabham was set to contest the California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, but it clashed with the Italian Grand Prix and stock car driver Lee Roy Yarbrough took the reins.
Qualifying ninth, Yarbrough was in the lead during the closing stages, but the Offenhauser engine cried enough with just four laps to go.
The Brabham BT32 was sold to Patrick Petroleum and it experienced mixed results in the hands of legend Johnny Rutherford.
Currently, the BT32 is owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum undergoing restoration.