Lotus 44

The Lotus 44 was a single-seater, open-wheel racing car designed and built by Lotus for competition in USAC Championship Car racing (which later became IndyCar) during the 1967 and 1968 seasons. It was designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Phillippe, representing an evolution of Lotus's earlier Indy car designs.

The car featured a lightweight monocoque chassis constructed from aluminum. It was primarily designed to accommodate the Ford V8 engine, which was the dominant engine choice in USAC racing at the time. The suspension typically used inboard springs and dampers, a feature common on Lotus racing cars of the period.

The Lotus 44 achieved considerable success in its relatively short racing career. A.J. Foyt drove a Lotus 44 to victory in the 1967 Indianapolis 500, marking a significant win for Lotus and Ford. The car proved competitive on both oval and road courses.

While successful, the Lotus 44, like many Lotus designs, faced challenges with reliability. The pressures of racing at high speeds and on demanding circuits often pushed the limits of the car's engineering. Despite these issues, the Lotus 44 remains a notable car in the history of IndyCar racing and a testament to Lotus's innovative engineering approach.