The Challenge of Indy released on DVD

RACE FANS – START YOUR ENGINES!

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the greatest motorsport events, providing a unique challenge for driver, machine and team on the high-speed banked oval at the world famous Brickyard.

Now there is the chance to relive two of these races which are etched into the memories of US motorsport fans – although for very different reasons.

Duke brings to DVD two archive films from the BP Video Library which chart the 1964 and 1973 Indianapolis 500 events, plus a special bonus feature covering the 1965 12 Hours of Sebring.

The DVD opens with 1964, following practice, qualifying and the race as the established American stars battle to hold off a European invasion led by Formula One star Jim Clark and his Ford-powered, Colin Chapmandesigned Lotus.

The rear-engined Lotus was on the verge of revolutionising American motorsport forever, with Clark nudging the track record up towards 160mph, and this would be the final year of domination for the front-engined machines of US greats like A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones

And what a last year! The thrilling action footage captures the slides, crashes, spins and wheel-to-wheel dicing as Foyt laps the entire field in his Sheraton Thompson Special. It was a moment of motorsport history, but as this classic film shows, it was also a full-throttle race.

Fast forward almost a decade for the second film, Going to Extremes. This is the story of the bizarre 1973 Indy 500, which took three days to run and even then didn’t go the full distance.

Once again viewers are treated to practice and the gripping drama of making the cut in qualifying before turning their attention to race day. Among the stars lining up are legends like Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser and Bobby Unser – and with the first 200mph lap in sight, there is the prospect of a great race.

However, what should have been a tremendous showdown turned into three frustrating days of waiting before the fans were able to enjoy a single green flag lap. When the racing did get under way, it was breathtaking, and the superb archive footage captures all the action.

Also included on this DVD celebration of American motorsport is the film 12 Hour Grind. It takes viewers back to the rain-hit 1965 running of this classic sports car race, which sees Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Paddy Hopkirk, Ritchie Ginther and many more stars doing battle in a variety of roaring racing machines, including Ford GT40s, AC Cobras and stunning Chaparrals.

This DVD shows there really is nothing like The Challenge of Indy!

The Challenge of Indy is Out Now on DVD, priced at £19.99 and will be available from leading video outlets or direct from Duke Video: Tel 01624 640 000, fax 01624 640 001 or email mail@dukevideo.com. Visit www.DukeVideo.com online.