Reynard 94I


The Reynard 94I is an open-wheel racing car designed and built by Reynard Racing Cars that competed in the 1994 and 1995 IndyCar seasons, notable for winning the first CART race it entered. The car continued to be raced in the 1996 and 1996-97 Indy Racing League seasons, and holds the unofficial and official lap records at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Development

The 94I project began in November 1992 with designer Malcolm Oastler. The car was intended to be "simple but soundly engineered, easy to tune and maintain, and with a highly developed aerodynamic package." An unused design for the Galmer G93 had been sold to Reynard and used as a basis for the 94I. Bruce Ashmore, a former designer at Lola Cars, arrived late in the design process as the technical director, and provided input based on his experience with Indy cars.
The car featured elements from the company's F3000 cars, such dynamic suspension shocks, and a longitudinal gearbox. Reynard also differentiated themselves by opening a technical base in Indianapolis and making its office and service staff accessible to customers, whereas the other manufacturers were still predominately located in England.
A total of 14 cars were built for the 1994 season at the company's location in Bicester, England.

Racing history

During the 1994 season, the 94I was raced by Chip Ganassi Racing, Hayhoe Racing, Hall Racing, Galles Racing, and Forsythe-Green Racing, and powered by the Ford-Cosworth XB and Ilmor/D engines. An additional 94I was raced at the 1994 Indianapolis 500 by Hemelgarn Racing. The car proved immediately competitive as Ganassi driver Michael Andretti won at Surfers Paradise, having started from 2nd place on the grid. Andretti would win again at Toronto that year. Jacques Villeneuve, in his rookie season, also took his first win for Forsythe-Green at Road America. Despite these results, the teams noted that the 94I was too pitch-sensitive, which would be rectified in the 95I.
The 94I continued to be used by smaller teams in 1995, one of its appeal being that the tub is the same as the 95I and the chassis could be updated to 1995 specifications. During the 1995 season, the 94I were used by Project Indy, Arciero-Wells, Pagan Racing and occasionally by Ganassi Racing. The 94I was also used by Stefan Johansson to qualify for the 1995 Indianapolis 500 when it became evident that his primary Penske chassis had trouble getting up to speed.
For 1996, the car saw competition in the first year of the Indy Racing League as the league allowed all Indy cars that complied with the 1995 technical regulations. Hence, the grid featured multiple examples of the 94I chassis, mostly from Hemelgarn, Pagan and Treadway Racing. With engineer Tim Wardrop, Treadway Racing set up Arie Luyendyk's 94I to great effect; Luyendyk went on to set an all-time unofficial lap record of 239.260 mph at Indianapolis, a 1-lap record of 237.498 mph, and a 4-lap record of 236.986 mph, all of which still stand as of the present day. The 94I ended the year with a pole and win at Phoenix and pole position at Las Vegas, both achieved by Luyendyk.

Complete Indy Car World Series results

YearEntrantEngineTyresDriverNo.1234567891011121314151617Pts
1994SURPHXLBHINDYMILDETPORCLETORMICMDOLOUVANROANAZLAG
1994Chip Ganassi RacingFord/Cosworth XB Michael Andretti81*20664531181*22553179281184th
1994Chip Ganassi RacingFord/Cosworth XB Maurício Gugelmin886157111583082015251451910223916th
1994Forsythe/Green RacingFord/Cosworth XB Jacques Villeneuve121725152976492092624173946th
1994Hall RacingIlmor Indy/D Teo Fabi117269717427984212018465799th
1994Galles RacingIlmor Indy/D Adrián Fernández7131082816231071323682252174613th
1994Hayhoe RacingFord/Cosworth XB Jimmy Vasser1845244112032312525147152813264215th
1994Hemelgarn RacingFord/Cosworth XB Stan Fox9113037th
1995MIASURPHXLBHNAZINDYMILDETPORROATORCLEMICMDOLOUVANLAG
1995Arciero-Wells RacingFord/Cosworth XB Hiro Matsushita2526112219DNQ528th
1995Pagan RacingMercedes-Benz IC108 Dennis Vitolo2118041st
1995Pagan RacingMercedes-Benz IC108 Roberto Guerrero211612133rd
1995Bettenhausen MotorsportsFord/Cosworth XB Stefan Johansson16166013th
1995Chip Ganassi RacingFord/Cosworth XB Bryan Herta415243020th
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Buddy Lazier642115035th
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Franck Fréon6415036th
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Johnny Parsons, Jr.64DNQ0NC
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Christian Danner6422625th
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Jeff Wood64Wth0NC
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Hubert Stromberger6416WthDNQ038th
1995Project IndyFord/Cosworth XB Domenico Schiattarella641821040th

2 points were scored with the Reynard 94I. The remaining points were scored with a Reynard 95I.
No points were scored with the Reynard 94I, which only ran at Indy. All points were scored with a Penske PC23
No points were scored with the Reynard 94I. All points were scored with a Reynard 95I.
No points were scored with the Reynard 94I. Danner scored 6 points with a Lola T93/00.

Complete Indy Racing League results

YearEntrantEngineTyresDriverNo.12345678910Pts
1996WDW
PHX
INDY
1996Pagan RacingFord/Cosworth XB Roberto Guerrero215162374th
1996Treadway RacingFord/Cosworth XB Arie Luyendyk51*162257th
1996HemelgarnFord/Cosworth XB Brad Murphey10231234th
1996-97NH1LV1WDWPHXINDYTXSPIKCMSNH2LV2
1996-97Treadway RacingFord/Cosworth XB Arie Luyendyk5202236th
1996-97Treadway RacingFord/Cosworth XB Johnny O'Connell35122340th
1996-97HemelgarnFord/Cosworth XB Brad Murphey918272538th

Points include results scored with another chassis.