Ray Harroun allegedly employed the first rear-view mirror in the 1911 Indianapolis 500. Fast forward 57 years to 1968, when Colin "Simplicate and Add AWD and Pratt & Whitney" Chapman entered three outrageous Lotus 56 turbine cars. Although they crashed and crapped out, they were enough of a threat that USAC legislated them out of existence, which to us was the beginning of the end of innovation at Indy. Pictured is Parnelli's #60 56, which totally kicks the crap out of the Marmon Wasp and the Dallara without even trying.
Lotus 56 [Ultimatecarpage]
Related:
Turbos of the Past's Future: The Rover Jet-1 [Internal]