Lotus 56 race day livery questions

[expatriate00]

I keep seeing subtle differences in the livery of the Lotus 56.
Do I have this straight? 
1. The Graham Hill #70 Qualified in all STP red, but ran the race with a white nose?
2. The Joe Leonard #60 ran a race day Flourescent yellow nose and a Yellow wall left front wheel and Tire? 

I have seen pics of the #70 Graham Hill car in all red and with a white nose, which is Race day correct?

[illeagle10]

Hi JD,
Yes what you are saying is most likely true. Many teams change their schemes from qualifying day to race day, there are a couple of factors for this. One reason could be the addition or deletion of sponsors. Another reason maybe due to a mishap. In the case that you are seeing this is mainly for identification purposes for the team, because of the speeds they are traveling at.  Especially teams that have multiple cars that have the same paint schemes. If you have ever been at an Indy car race and are close to the track, it is very hard to watch multiple cars if they are somewhat in close relation to each other, especially if they are the same color. I know with the Newman Haas cars in the 90s Mario's roll bar and numbers were actually a fluorescent orange compared to his teammates that were red. In 1973 the Patrick STP Eagles also ran different wing colors.

There are many examples of teams having slightly different colors. If you want a race day car you have to look for race day pictures, which is sometimes very tricky! I have been fooled many times myself. Also, just because someone did a restoration on the car is not always a good reference for race day cars, again I've learned my lesson time and again with that one!

One final note, Art Pollard's STP Lotus 56b Turbine had a black nose on race day, even though there are many pictures of Art's cart all Flo Red including his qualifying picture.

Jim

[illeagle10]

Joe Leonard:


Graham Hill:


Art Pollard:

Jim

[MGBrown]

As often happens during the "Month of May" race car liveries changed from practice to qualifying to race. Sometimes there were changes between carb day and the race!

I have seen pix of Leonard's car "race day version" (black on white numbers) with the access hatch on the tail painted floro yellow also.



While we are discussing the 56, THANK YOU to Indycals for making the markings for the late, great Mike Spence #30 car.