The AAR Eagle was the car to beat in early 1970s American open-wheel racing. Designed by Roman Slobodynskyj at Dan Gurney’s All American Racers, the 1972 Eagle was the fastest Indy car of its time and became the most successful customer car of the decade. Taking inspiration from the groundbreaking McLaren M16, the wide, low-slung Eagle redefined the blueprint for IndyCar design.

Mr. Slobodynskyj, formerly with Rockwell’s aerospace division, blended his prior work with designers Tony Southgate and Len Terry into a bold new machine. Built to the outer limits of USAC regulations, the 1972 Eagle featured maximum width and length, a dramatically raked rear wing, and advanced sidepod-integrated radiators that cooled the turbocharged 159 cid Offenhauser engine – packaged in a robust rear subframe carried over from earlier AAR cars.

Crucially, AAR had developed a secret aerodynamic edge: the “Gurney Flap” – a small tab on the rear wing that dramatically increased downforce without added drag. Though not publicly acknowledged until 18 months later, the flap gave the Eagle an advantage that made it a sensation from its first tests in late 1971.

Bobby Unser debuted the new car with staggering pace, clocking nearly 197 mph in testing, and taking pole at the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Though he retired from that race while leading, he secured seven poles and four wins that year. The car’s sheer speed – and the subsequent qualifying lap of more than 200 mph by teammate Jerry Grant – prompted teams to order Eagles in droves. By the 1973 Indy 500, 20 of the 33 starters were AAR Eagles. The car dominated the grid.

Chassis 72-17 was one of three new Eagles built for the Patrick Racing Team in 1973. Initially run in blue and yellow, it was resprayed in STP’s iconic DayGlo red for the Indy 500, entered as the No. 20 STP Double Oil Filter Special. Gordon Johncock drove 72-17 through a rain-delayed, attrition-heavy race marked by tragedy – including the death of Art Pollard during qualifying and the violent crash of teammate Swede Savage. Amid the chaos, Johncock drove a measured, consistent race and took the Eagle’s only career victory at the Brickyard.

Following the Indy 500, chassis 72-17 competed at the Rex Mays 150, the Pocono 500, and the Tony Bettenhausen 200, where it was damaged while leading after a collision with Johnny Rutherford. Repaired later in 1973, the car was sold to Lee Brayton and John Eisenhour and raced as the No. 61 Eisenhour-Brayton entry in the Michigan 250, replacing the team’s Coyote chassis. The Eagle continued through the 1973 season and into 1974, driven by Mike Hiss at the California 500 and entered at Indy that May – its final active appearance before a qualifying crash ended its competition life.

Brayton retained the car for decades before commissioning a full restoration by noted restorer Walter Goodwin. Returned to its 1973 Indy-winning configuration and livery, the car was shown at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Acquired by a prominent American collector in 2013 via Rick Hamlin, 72-17 won First in Class (“Offenhauser Powered”) at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and participated in the “Great Offy Drivers Seminar.” Later that year, it crossed the Atlantic for demonstration runs at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Since then, the car has been displayed at the Unser Racing Museum and returned to the IMS Museum for multiple appearances, including in 2015, 2016, and 2019.

Today, chassis 72-17 stands as a singular artifact of American motor sports history: the 1973 Indianapolis 500 winner, driven by Gordon Johncock, from an era that transformed Indy racing. A potent blend of design brilliance, racing heritage, and visual drama, this AAR Eagle is a cornerstone car for any collection celebrating innovation, bravery, and victory at the highest level.

*Please note that this vehicle is sold on a Bill of Sale.