1987 Lola Mario Andretti IndyCar

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This ex-Mario Andretti Indy car is nearly race ready with a fresh Buick engine or the parts required to install the Chevrolet engine needed to restore it to the Newman-Haas Racing configuration of 1987. 

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• Serial number (#1) 1987 Lola for Carl Haas, exclusive Lola North American importer.

• Campaigned in 1987 by Paul Newman-Carl Haas race team for Mario Andretti.

• Most comprehensive set of spare parts available anywhere.

• Vintage racing ready.

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The significance of this 1987 Lola is greatly enhanced by the fact that 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1978 Formula One World Champion Mario Andretti campaigned it during the 1987 season. Andretti drove this (serial number 1) Lola for Newman-Haas Racing in the red and yellow livery of sponsor Hanna Car Wash and Rainx. Current owner Kent Baker purchased the car directly from Carl Haas at his offices in Lincolnshire, Illinois in January 1989. Haas, the official North American importer of Lola racecars, provided his assurance that Andretti won two races with the car. Andretti won the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Road America 200 during the 1987 season.

Baker originally purchased the car not as a collector but to actively campaign it in the Indy car series for 1989. The team installed a Buick engine legal only for the Indianapolis 500. The driver was Steve Chassey and the chief mechanic was Billy Bignotti, the son of seven-time Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winning chief mechanic George Bignotti. 

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The team returned in 1990 with driver Stan Fox to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on the ninth row. This was in an ultra-competitive era when 14 drivers failed to make the race primarily due to being bumped from the field with speeds too slow to place them among the 33 starters. The car is race prepared with a fresh Buick engine ready for installation – just as it was for the 1990 Indianapolis 500 except that it will require new springs and an inspection. The current livery is as it was when Fox drove it in that race.

In addition to the car, Buick engine and parts required to install a Chevy engine to original Newman-Haas specs, this lot includes:

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• An extra set of wheels
• A second engine cover
• Three additional tunnels
• Two extra sidepods
• Road racing rear and front wings

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An extensive inventory of additional parts – a larger supply for a 1987 Lola Indy car than can be found in one collection elsewhere – is available at additional cost. This includes suspension pieces, brake rotors, shocks and more. This Lola Indy car has everything necessary to embark on a vintage racing program today.