In 1967, the SCCA began a fledgling “professional” category for open-wheel formula cars known as Formula A. The idea was to provide a series of five races, open to F3, F2 and 3-liter F1 cars, with each race having its own $5,000 purse. Though the turnout was a bit spotty the first year, the SCCA came to believe that by allowing competitors to use the more easily accessible and lower cost, 5-liter Chevy V8 engine the change might add enough speed and excitement for the series to really take off and stand as an American version of Formula 1. Thus, starting with the 1968 season, Formula 5000 was born.
In those first years of Formula 5000, if you wanted to be competitive you needed to be racing one of Dan Gurney’s F5000 Eagles. These early Mk V Eagles, which were penciled by the AAR design team lead by Tony Southgate, were a subtle variation on All-American Racers’ USAC Indy cars, but were effective enough in F5000 form to carry Lou Sell to the inaugural championship in 1968 and Tony Adamowicz to the championship in 1969. However, with the start of the ’70s, AAR’s F5000 fortunes shifted as first the McLaren and then the Lola chassis began their respective rises to dominance.
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