Mike Spence Fatal Crash

Following Jim Clark’s death in early 1968, Colin Chapman invited Spence back to Lotus as part of their Indianapolis 500 race team. Spence was due to race the (literally) revolutionary Lotus 56 gas turbine car. However, during practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway three weeks before the race, Spence misjudged his entry to turn one and collided heavily with the concrete wall. The right-front wheel of the Lotus swivelled backwards into the cockpit and struck Spence on the helmet. Mike Spence died in the