The crew spent the next week preparing the Hawk MK III to race in the Indy 500. Andretti walked away from the wreck with only minor facial burns, but Granatelli's other Lotuses were withdrawn from the race because of concerns over the strength of their hub supports. However, in a practice run before the big race, with Andretti behind the wheel of a Lotus, a suspension part broke, the car lost a wheel, and it hit the wall. Brawner argued that the Hawk MK III was a major contender to win, but it became a back-up car because Granatelli had more faith in the speeds attainable by a four-wheel drive Lotus 64 chassis. For the 1969 season, he built the MK III version, which featured a full monocoque chassis consisting of a body that was a stressed part of the structure, rather than merely a covering of the frame, and cutting-edge aerodynamics.Īndy Granatelli and STP became the sponsors going into the 1969 Indianapolis 500.

During the next season, Brawner refined his design by adding spoilers to the front and rear, creating the Hawk MK II. In 1965, a Brawner Hawk sponsored by Dean Van Lines carried Mario Andretti to a third-place Indy 500 finish, earning him Rookie of the Year honors. Mario Andretti at the 1969 Indianapolis 500

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