DEARBORN, Mich. – Fueling Jim Clark’s Lotus 38 to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500 was one of the “greatest days” of Leonard Wood’s life.
On stage at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, being reminded of one great day makes for another great day—with 60 years and many race cars in between.
The co-founder of Wood Brothers Racing was on hand to unveil Josh Berry’s livery for NASCAR Throwback Weekend at Darlington: a green-and-yellow No. 21 Ford Mustang paying tribute to Clark’s Lotus.
“I can remember it just like yesterday,” Wood said. “60 years here, and 75 years over here [at Wood Brothers Racing]. That’s just as good as it gets.”
The Lotus 38 is remembered not only for its legendary driver, Clark, and designer Colin Chapman, but also for being the first rear-engine car to win at Indianapolis.
Berry, who won his first Cup Series race Sunday at Las Vegas, will drive the tribute car on April 6.
“I knew that it was significant because that’s why we were doing it,” Berry remarked, “but the further I get into it and the more I hear about that race and the ingenuity it took from the Wood Brothers side and Leonard’s side that really made the difference in that race, it just really shows how big a deal this really is. I just can’t wait to drive it.”
Leonard Wood and his brothers Glen, Delano and Ray are considered innovators of the modern pit stop. Working together on the Lotus 38, their ingenuity produced the fastest stops in Indy 500 history and helped Clark lead 190 of 200 laps in Ford’s first win at the iconic event.
“One of the drivers was pulling out and spilling fuel,” Wood recalled. “I just quickly welded a knot on the little cap and put a spring to roll it over the knot. Then when you come in to open it, you just roll the spring off. We only stopped twice, about 40 seconds total.”
Wood Brothers Racing has amassed 101 NASCAR Cup Series victories and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this season. While the 90-year-old Leonard and his brothers are all legends of the sport, using their team and primary series to keep Jim Clark’s name alive is something he takes for granted either.
“He didn’t come across as a big hero, but you just could tell he had self-confidence. He knew he was good.”
