Gallery: The Turbine-Powered Lotus That Was So Good It Got Banned
Classic Team Lotus01Lotus Type 56
The Type 56 was built by Lotus for STP, an oil additive manufacturer, for entry in the 1968 Indianapolis 500.
Classic Team Lotus02Lotus Type 56
The car ran on a turbine engine built by Pratt & Whitney, an aerospace manufacturer.
Classic Team Lotus03Lotus Type 56
The Type 56 also had a state-of-the-art four-wheel drive system that kept it grippy though corners.
Classic Team Lotus04Lotus Type 56
The chimney behind the driver's seat was for exhaust from the engine.
Classic Team Lotus05Lotus Type 56
The car hit a 1968 speed record of 171 mph on the Indy 500 track.
Classic Team Lotus06Lotus Type 56
None of the three 1968 Type 56es finished the race. Two broke down, and the other crashed.
Classic Team Lotus07Lotus Type 56
This Type 56 was owned by Richard Petty and has been restored to original working order, hopefully for vintage racing.
