Lola Heritage - Lola T92

The 1967 T92 was also known as the T90 Mkll, it had detail changes and a different cockpit surround and engine cover but was substantially the same car as the previous year's T90. Lola used the T92 type number but when the car was presented for the 1967 Indianapolis 500 the USAC officials they felt the car was not sufficiently different from the T90 to warrant the T92 designation so as a compromise the new car was called the T90 MkII. Full details of the T90 can be found HERE.

Team sponsor A. F. Rezloff, team owner John Mecom and legendary Indy crew chief George Bignotti stand beside Al Unser seated in the T92.
(The John Mecom Collection)

Jackie Stewart in action on race day in the T92, after starting twenty ninth on the grid an engine failure late in the race saw the Scot retiring.
(The John Mecom Collection)

The Mecom Team had a strong driver lineup with Al Unser and Jackie Stewart although Jackie’s qualifying went awry when he initially failed to make the grid. Using a spare car he was later able to ensure his place at the start although a mystery remains as to which car was actually used in the race. The 1967 race was in fact run over two days as rain caused Saturday’s race to be halted after just 18 laps. The next day Parnelli Jones driving the STP turbine car resumed his place at the front and continued to lead until just three laps from the end the transmission failed and the race was lost. AJ Foyt took the win and by dint of sheer determination Al Unser, who had quietly picked off place by place brought the Mecom Lola home second. Stewart did not finish following an engine failure on lap 168 leaving him in 18th position in the final standings.

Al Unser and Eric Broadley share a joke.
(The John Mecom Collection)

The T92 is readied for the track by the Mecom team.
(The John Mecom Collection)

Mecom Racing Team had in fact undertaken a season of USAC events competing in all the paved circuit races. (At that time the full USAC season included a number of races run on dirt ovals and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb for which the Lola was unsuitable).

Al Unser’s ‘Retzloff Chemicals Special’ finished all but one event and usually in the top half of the results sheet. Six top three finishes earned Unser fifth place in the Championship but that first win remained elusive.

At the final race of the year, The inaugural running of the Rex Mays 300 at Riverside, John Surtees took part in the only USAC race of his career driving the Bowes Seal Fast #24 car. Surtees retired on lap 31 with magneto failure.

A USAC official checks the T92 while Al Unser
and George Bignotti look on.
(The John Mecom Collection)

John Mecom and Al Unser exchange a few final
words before the start of the Indy 500.
(The John Mecom Collection)

A few last minute checks to the T92.
(The John Mecom Collection)

Al Unser waits for the start.
(The John Mecom Collection)

John Surtees in his only USAC race, the Rex Mays 300 at Riverside.
(MediaFord.com)

The T92 is now owned by Lola Chairman Martin Birrane and sits in the Lola factory reception area.
(The Lola Archive)

A 33 year gap, the 1967 T92 sits next to a 2000 B2K/10 in the Lola reception.
(The Lola Archive)