Quote:
Originally posted by ghinzani
Oh another thing... look at this one:
http://www.hemmings.com/index.cfm/fu...TOKEN=47663524
A copy of a Penske. What was it about Indy and copies? It always seemed like someone would be driving a Watson built copy of a Lightening or a Kingfisher copy of a Wildcat - were plans of Indycars freely available to buy then?
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I cannot say for sure but as one cannot patent a tube or monocoque frame, or almost any I imagine, they were probably interpretive copies, not identical but the frame basics were close.
Remember this was pre-ground effects days, so they all approached aerodynamics in a similar manner.
The smaller builders did not have the funds for major research. And if you check out some of the designs of the mid-seventies, that was probably a good thing. Some "computer designs" were disasters.
Many builders did not hesitate to help others in those days, it was more a much a boys club than a way to get rich.
Jack Brahbams designs were often copied and he did not seem to mind.(Andretti won his only 500 in a basic copy)
Bob