30 Days in May: No. 5, Lloyd Ruby, 1972 Wynn’s Atlanta/Foyt

 

Penske Entertainment/Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Lloyd Ruby started 11th and finished sixth in the 1972 Indianapolis 500.

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the Indianapolis 500!

The Atlanta car was so named because it was built there in a facility adjoining Gene White Racing. The men behind the effort included two former Team McLaren employees, and the McLaren influence is apparent. Early on, they were dubbed “Scarlett O’Hara McLarens.”

A total of three Atlantas were built for 1972 – two going to the Gene White team for Lloyd Ruby and Cale Yarborough, with the other intended for A.J. Foyt.

Ruby practiced in both the Atlanta and a Lola, which eventually was qualified by Sam Sessions.

The 1972 race ended up being one of the better results for “Hard-Luck Lloyd” as he finished sixth, two spots behind Sessions. Yarborough was 10^th to cap a very successful day for the Gene White team.

The Atlantas soldiered on for a few more seasons. Jim McElreath practiced in the Foyt Atlanta in 1973, which was qualified by George Snider for the 1974 Indianapolis 500. This Atlanta was distinguished by its flat nose that was similar to the 1972 Lola.

According to oldracingcars.com, this particular Atlanta eventually morphed into the Boyd-Robeson entry that several drivers tried unsuccessfully to qualify for the 1977 500.

Eldon Rasmussen bought at least one Atlanta for the 1973 season and reworked it into his Ras-Car, which he continuously updated and campaigned for several years.

Larry McCoy also drove a Ras-Car/Atlanta at the Speedway. He and Rasmussen made their Indy debuts in the 1975 500.

The Atlanta was one of 12 marques in the 1972 Indianapolis 500, which seems rather mind-boggling today. Perhaps even more unbelievable is that eight of those chassis were brand-new.

So thanks to Mike Underwood, Eamon Fullalove and Graeme Bartils for bringing us the Atlanta during a time when innovation ruled the Speedway.

 

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