Indianapolis 500â veteran David Hobbs returned for 1974 with a situation that has not been matched since, namely driving for a single top team (McLaren) both at the Brickyardâ and in Formula 1. Although Team McLaren efforts were focussed on teammate Johnny Rutherford, Hobbs had essentially the same equipment. Under team manager Tyler Alexander, Hywel "Hughie" Absolom was chief mechanic on the #73 McLaren. Hobbs set the ninth fastest time on the first day, at 184.833 mph, as sprinkles began. In the race, Hobbs discovered that his tire setup had an incorrect stagger, so he was forced to drive with massive oversteer. Hobbs had the misfortune to have the first caution occur as he was leaving the pits on his first pit stop, so he quickly dropped a lap behind the leaders. 

Fuel management was somewhat hit or miss in 1974, and Hobbs' boost and fuel settings turned out to be too conservative. He finished the race with 25 gallons unused from the 285 gallon allotment. In hindsight, Hobbs felt that he should have used more boost and pushed harder to perhaps finish a couple of places higher. He finished four laps behind the winner, in fifth place. Team McLaren not only won the 1974 Indianapolis 500â with Johnny Rutherford at an average speed of 158.589 mph, they also won the 1974 Formula 1 World Championship with Emerson Fittipaldi, equaling Team Lotus' 1965 accomplishment.