Despite the massive popularity of Dan Gurney and so many fans willing him and his All-American Racing team on in Indy (Champ) Car, following their return to the series after domination of IMSA with the Eagle MkIII built by AAR in 1991 to GTP specifications, the Indy Car program would have an uphill battle as they pioneered Toyota’s foray into Indy Cars and also developed an Eagle chassis.

The 1996 season had been a major disappointment and the team underwent substantial changes in equipment and personnel. Part of improving the team’s odds for this massive challenge was to eliminate one variable – the development of the Eagle – Gurney would purchase the very fast and well proven Reynard chassis for the 1997 Champ Car season.

This Reynard 97I has its chassis tag within the carbon fiber monocoque and reveals it to be chassis #028 that was constructed in February 1997 and has AAR stamped as the original customer. The team’s drivers were both well-known names that had famous relatives; Juan Fangio II and P.J. Jones – Fangio was the nephew of the famous five-time Formula 1 World Champion of the same name and Jones would carry number 98 on his car like his father, Parnelli, had done with J.C. Agajanian’s Indy Cars in the 1960s with great success. The number 36 represents a Fangio team car.

Although the Eagle chassis was no longer in the mix, the nose artwork left little doubt to the team’s identity. The eagle on the front of the car was the subject of countless photographers’ lenses and received a great deal of attention in the racing periodicals, television broadcasts and season reviews of the period.

Reynard 97I-028 appears in the correct livery from the 1997 CART season and although this writer cannot see the number – the CART Registered Chassis tag seems to be intact above the cockpit swaybar controls on the driver’s left, leading one to believe that this chassis likely competed in the 1997 CART Champ Car series. While the engine is reported as being a Buick Indy V6 engine, you can see that certain elements of the racecar are intact such as steering wheel, cockpit suspension adjustment controls, driver’s seat, gear shift lever, rear bump shocks, half-shafts, suspension components, wings and winglets, various Aeroquip-style plumbing, plenum, alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle racing slicks, plus the intricate bellhousing casting that separates the engine and gearbox.

The All-American Racers had a difficult year in 1997, still due to the frustratingly slow development of the Toyota engine; Jones would score but three points and Fangio would be slightly ahead with nine in the season championship. The CART yearbook recounts that the team exhibited improved power and reliability as the season progressed. Meanwhile, the drivers maintained a positive attitude and continued to work hard with the rest of the team. The AAR Reynard’s displayed excellent handling through excellent set-up work and both Fangio and Jones were known for their consistency. The 1997 CART season review concluded that “with some additional horsepower, AAR will feature strongly.”

In this presentation, one thing is assured; Dan Gurney is an American racing legend and to have even the smallest part of his racing legacy is rewarding to those of us who witnessed his many successes at home and abroad on the racing world’s biggest stages. This AAR Reynard was a near 230-mph machine when ran in period; the iconic eagle on the nose lets you know immediately that it is associated to the famous AAR team, led by Daniel Sexton Gurney.