“The Chaparral 2K was the fastest car in 1979.  Al Unser Sr. just drove away from everybody in the race until he had transmission trouble.  But by the next year, the car was dominant.” 

                -Jim Hall, discussing the Chaparral 2K at the Indianapolis 500

Engine: Cosworth DFX 2.65 liter turbocharged

Horsepower: 780 @ 10,400 RPM, 70 inches of boost

Fuel Injection: Hillborn

Transmission: 4 speed Weisman

Bodywork: 5 piece fiberglass, including nose, cockpit sidepod cover, engine cover and two side pods

 Cooling: 2 sidepod mounted water radiators, 2 water/oil heat exchangers

Aerodynamics: Underbody venturis, nose mounted front wings, chassis mounted rear wing

Chassis: aluminum monocoque, bonded and riveted

Wheels: 15’’ diameter 3 spoke cast system

Tires: Goodyear Speedway Special Front -25 x 9.5-15, Rear 27 x 15.5-15

Brakes: AP 4 piston calipers, 11.75’’ vented discs

Suspension: Front-Top rocker activated, inboard mounted coil over shocks, lower wishbone.  Rear-double wishbone, coil over shocks.  Driver adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars.

Dimensions: 106-inch wheelbase, 67-inch front track, 63-inch rear track, 180-inch O.A. length, 80-inch O.A. width, 38-inch O.A. height, 2-inch ride height

Average weight: 1,550pounds

Fuel: Methanol

Fuel Capacity: 40 gallons

Why was the Chaparral 2K so successful? Continuing the aerodynamic advances developed by Chaparral Cars in the 1960s and early 1970s, the secret of the 2K lay in a design called “ground effects”.  If you look underneath the car, you will notice that the underside of the Chaparral 2K contains two long tunnels.  As the air passing underneath the car enters the forward section of the tunnels, it creates a low pressure zone beneath the car.  This has the effect of pulling the car against the road, increasing the tire grip. The added grip helps the car corner faster, brake, and accelerate quicker that its competitors.