1972 AAR Eagle Indy Car Graham McRae 1973 Rookie of the Year Indy Car

The 1972 AAR Eagle is arguably the most sought after and technically superior Indy car of its era in Speedway history. Speeds had jumped in 1971 but for 1972 the new Eagle shattered all previous notions about potential race speed. Bobby Unser qualified the AAR team car at Indy at 195.94 MPH, which was 17 MPH faster than the year before. The new Roman Slobodinski-designed Eagle had taken advantage of new aerodynamic rules, and the birth of gigantic rear wings meant unheard-of cornering speeds. With Bobby Unser driving, the Dan Gurney-owned team picked up 7 pole positions in 9 races that season. The car was available for customer purchase and in 1972 and 1973 a total of 29 cars were completed at Gurney’s All American Racers’ Santa Ana headquarters.

In 1973 the Patrick Racing team, sponsored by Andy Granatelli’s STP brand, entered 3 cars with lead driver and eventual winner Gordon Johncock on the front row. Graham McRae from New Zealand was given the seat in Johncock’s reserve car once he had qualified safely and in a remarkable show of skill McRae qualified after just 10 laps of practice in fewer than 8 minutes on the track. His time was 192 MPH, just a fraction slower than Johncock, who had practiced all month. Bad weather and a series of tragic accidents delayed the final running of the 500 until Wednesday, May 30, when the race was declared official after 133 laps, after which McRae was announced Rookie of the Year.

Wally Dallenbach took over the car for the remainder of the season, winning from pole position at Wisconsin and again in the California 500 at Ontario. The car was sold to Dick Beith and became the Kid’s Racer for 1974, driven by Bill Simpson. George Follmer also drove the car, which was last driven by Billy Scott before it was retired after the 1978 season.

The car stayed in its final as-raced condition until the current owner completed a full restoration that included rebuilding the turbocharged 800 HP Offy engine. Andy Granatelli himself was impressed with the quality of the restoration and asked if the car could be placed in his museum.

Festooned in the iconic Day-Glo Red STP livery made famous in the 1960s and 70s, the car retains the original chassis tag and is in virtually flawless condition after a demonstration run at Indianapolis this year. Full photographic records of the restoration performed by Walter Goodwin of Indianapolis are available.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Chassis 7219
- STP sponsored Gurney Eagle
- Rookie of the Year Graham McRae's 1973 Indy 500 car
- Wally Dallenbach drove car for the remainder of the season winning 3 races including the California 500
- Bill Simpson Kid's Racer in 1974
- Also driven by George Follmer and Billy Scott
- Retired from racing in 1978












Information found on the website is presented as advance information for the auction lot. Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Mecum Auction does not verify, warrant or guarantee this information. The lot and information presented at auction on the auction block supersedes any previous descriptions or information. Mecum is not responsible for information that may be changed or updated prior to the auction. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the lot at the auction site prior to the auction.