[snakeeyes]

For what it's worth, Mark Donohue for many years held the world closed-course speed record in the 917/30, set at Talledega in, I think, 1975. The speed was around 221 mph, I seem to recall. I don't think that record was beaten until Olds built the Aerotech and ran it at a tire testing track in West Texas sometime in the 80's. My knowledge of the record since then is hazy (or even hazier). I too recall a Mercedes--perhaps a Group C car--setting the record at the Nardo test track in Italy, but it seems that it is currently held by an Indy, er, Champ car.