Novi engine

The Novi engine is an American dual overhead cam supercharged V8 engine used in the Indianapolis 500. It was designed by Bud Winfield and Leo Goossen and built by Fred Offenhauser.

The Novi was first used in 1941 under the "Winfield" name and produced over 450 hp (340 kW), an amazing output for the time. It was fitted to a 1935 frame built for a Miller engine, but it was very difficult to handle.

After World War II, the Novi returned in 1946 with 510 horsepower (fitted in a more advanced Kurtis Kraft front-wheel-drive chassis) and performed well, setting the track record and leading 44 laps in a car driven by Ralph Hepburn. Drivers such as Paul Russo and Duke Nalon later drove cars powered by the engine at notable speeds, but were unable to win. In 1949, Nalon's Novi was involved in a spectacular crash, when it hit the wall in turn three, rupturing the gasoline tank and creating a "wall of fire" most of the way through the turn.

The engine's crowd-pleasing "shriek" was caused by its gear-driven centrifugal supercharger which turned at over five (5.35) times the crankshaft speed, thus giving it a scream at full power. The engine's four-camshaft and oversized valve design also gave it an exhaust noise much louder than other engines of its period, resulting in a deep-bass roar that sounded like a fighter plane. Some claimed that the noise actually rattled their teeth. The whole Novi package became legendary and had a notorious reputation for being dangerously powerful, particularly after racing veterans Hepburn (in 1948) and Chet Miller (in 1953) both died in practice piloting the enormously powerful vehicles.

After years of haggling, Frank Kurtis finally convinced Novi owner Lew Welch to switch to a rear drive chassis design that would be much more competitive than the increasingly obsolete front-drive chassis. Featuring a prominent tail-fin, Kurtis designed the new Novi that has been described as the most beautiful roadster ever seen at Indianapolis.

In 1956, Russo qualified in eighth position. The second car driven by Jimmy Davies failed to qualify due to technical complications on the last day. During the race itself, Russo leapt out to an early lead in the new finned Novi. Russo led the Indianapolis 500 for the first 21 laps. At that point, a tire blew in the south-west corner throwing Russo and the Novi into the wall and out of the race.

...
Wikipedia