The Challenge of Indy

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the greatest motorsport events, providing a unique challenge for driver, machine and team on the high-speed banked oval at the world-famous Brickyard. This DVD features two action-packed archive films charting races which are etched into the memories of US motorsport fans – although for very different reasons.

We open with the 1964 Indy 500, following practice, qualifying and the race as the established American stars battle to hold off a European invasion led by Formula One star Jim Clark and his Ford-powered, Colin Chapman-designed Lotus. The rear-engined Lotus was on the verge of revolutionising American motorsport forever, with Clark nudging the track record up towards 160mph. This would be the final year of domination for the front-engined machines of US greats like A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones, and what a last year! The thrilling action footage captures the slides, crashes, spins and wheel-to-wheel dicing as Foyt laps the entire field in his Sheraton Thompson Special. It was a moment of motorsport history, but as this classic film shows, it was also a full-throttle race.

Fast forward almost a decade for our second film, Going to Extremes. This is the story of the bizarre 1973 Indianapolis 500, which took three days to run and even then didn’t go the full distance. Once again we are treated to practice and the gripping drama of making the cut in qualifying before turning our attention to race day. Among the stars lining up are legends like Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser and Bobby Unser – and with the first 200mph lap in sight, there is the prospect of a great Indy 500. However, what should have been a great race turned into three frustrating days of waiting before the fans were able to enjoy a single green flag lap. When the racing did get under way, it was breathtaking, and out superb archive footage brings you all the action.

There’s also a chance to enjoy another classic American motorsport event, the 12 Hours of Sebring. The film 12 Hour Grind takes us back to the rain-hit 1965 running of this classic sports car race, which sees Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Paddy Hopkirk, Ritchie Ginther and many more stars doing battle in a variety of roaring racing machines, including Ford GT40s, AC Cobras and stunning Chaparrals.

"This DVD captures the best footage from two of the greatest races ever held at the famed Brickyard, plus bonus footage from the 1965 12 hours of Sebring. the 1964 Indy 500 was the last year a front-engined car won the race, and the bizarre 1973 Indy 500 took three days to run and didn't even go the full distance. Watch the full story, from practice to the chequered flag, of these spectacular events" - Autocar

"With colour films of practice for the '64 and '73 500 miles, and bonus material covering the run-up to the '65 Sebring 12 Hours, there's plenty to enjoy here. We loved the footage of Pole Day at the Brickyard in '64, where 'James Clark Jr' took the fight to the roadsters. Great to see Smokey Yunick's Hurst Floor Shift Special, too" - Octane