The Scottish driver who dominated the 1965 Indianapolis 500 in a Lotus-Ford was Jim Clark.
Driving a Lotus 38 powered by Ford’s DOHC Indy V8, Clark led 190 of the 200 laps. He started from the front row, overcame an early exchange of the lead with A. J. Foyt, and then controlled the race for most of the afternoon. His two pit stops were especially efficient, helped by a gravity-fueling system and the Wood Brothers’ NASCAR pit-stop expertise.
Clark’s victory was historically significant beyond the win itself. The Lotus 38 was the first rear-engined car to win the Indianapolis 500, confirming the rear-engine revolution that had been reshaping Indy racing. Only six of the 33 starters still used front-engine cars.
Clark also became the first non-American winner since 1920. Later that year he won the Formula One World Championship, making him the only driver to capture both the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula One title in the same season.