1987 Chrysler Lebaron
Chrysler redesigned its popular LeBaron convertible for a spring 1987 introduction, using new styling touches that included hidden headlamps, a long hood/ short deck profile, and "Coke-bottle" shape. With front-wheel drive and a 135-cid (2.2-liter) 4-cylinder engine, on the surface the LeBaron didn’t sound like pace car material. However, the four-cylinder was turbocharged and intercooled to produce an impressive 174-horsepower. Called the Turbo II by Chrysler, it was borrowed from the high-performance Dodge Daytona Shelby Z for pace car duty and teamed with a five speed manual transmission. Street versions of the LeBaron convertible carne with a 146-horsepower Turbo 1 version of the four-cylinder.
Other pieces borrowed from the Daytona Shelby Z—which was built on a similar front-drive chassis—include four-wheel disc brakes, stiffer springs and shock absorbers, and Goodyear 225/50VR15 tires (rated for 149 mph).
The standard air conditioning was removed from the three cars selected for pace car service to save weight, and the necessary safety equipment for track duty was added. Otherwise, the LeBaron was the same as street versions.
Speciflcations
Body
style: 2-door convertible
Engine: 135-cid ohc 4-cylinder turbo
Bore X stroke (in.): 3.44 x 3.62
Horsepower: 174 (SAE net)
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Driver: Carroll Shelby
The Driver: Carroll Shelby was certainly no stranger to racing, but this was his first appearance at the Brickyard. He won three national road-racing championships in the fifties and the 24 hours of LeMans in 1959. Shelby retired from racing in 1960 because
4 a heart ailment, yet he achieved even greater fame for developing the legendary Shelby AC Cobra, mating American V-8 muscle with a lightweight British sports car. Shelby became a consultant to Chrysler Corporation in 1982 and helped the Dodge division develop several high-performance front-wheel-drive models.
The Race: Mario Andretti qualified on the pole in a Chevrolet-powered Lola and led 70 of the first 174 laps. When Andretti was sidelined by ignition problems, Roberto guerrero took over and appeared to have victory in the bag until his engine stalled twice during his final pitstop. Before Guerrero could get back up to speed, Al Unser, Jr., came from nearly a lap down in a Cosworth-powered March to grab the lead and lost his fourth win at Indy tying A.J. Foyt.
The senior Unser didn’t have a ride at the beginning of May He was hired by Team Penske to fill in for Danny Ongais, who was injured in a practice run.
Winner
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