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1959 Indianapolis 500
The 43rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1959 World Championship of Drivers. Rodger Ward earned the first of two career Indy 500 victories. A record sixteen cars completed the full 500 miles. All cars were required to have roll bars for the first time. Practice and time trials Two drivers, Jerry Unser and Bob Cortner, were killed in separate crashes during the month. On May 2, Unser lost control in Turn Four, spun, and flipped down the main stretch. The car caught fire and Unser suffered significant burns; he died from complications of his burns on May 17. On May 19, rookie Cortner crashed in turn three after being pushed by a wind gust. He was killed instantly of head injuries. On the morning of pole day, Tony Bettenhausen suffered a bad crash during a practice run. His car hit the outside wall and flipped o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodger Ward
Rodger M. Ward (January 10, 1921 – July 5, 2004) was a World War II P-38 aviator in the United States Army Air Forces, and an American race driver with 26 victories in top echelon open-wheel racing in North America, two Indianapolis 500 victories, and two USAC National Championships, who conceived the classic tri-oval design and layout of Pocono International Raceway, modeled after his three favorite signature turns, at Trenton, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. Early history Ward was born in Beloit, Kansas, the son of Ralph and Geneva (née Banta) Ward. By 1930, the family had moved to California. He died in Anaheim, California. Ward's father owned an auto wrecking business in Los Angeles. Rodger was 14 years old when he built a Ford hot rod. He was a P-38 Lightning fighter pilot in World War II. He enjoyed flying so much he thought of making it his career. He began to fly B-17 Flying Fortress and was so good he was retained as an instructor. After the war he was statione ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Goldsmith
Paul Goldsmith (born October 2, 1925) is a former USAC and NASCAR driver. He is an inductee of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and the USAC Hall of Fame. Later in life Goldsmith became a pilot and, flying primarily a Cessna 421, transported engines and parts to and from races. Goldsmith is currently the oldest living veteran of the Indianapolis 500. Motorcycle career Goldsmith was a famous A.M.A. Grand National Championship motorcycle racer during the late 1940s through the mid-1950s. His first victory came in 1952 aboard a Harley-Davidson at the Milwaukee Mile in Harley's hometown. Paul was a full-time worker at a Chrysler plant in Detroit. His most famous victory was in the 1953 Daytona 200. Later in 1953, he won a event at the grueling Langhorne (Pennsylvania) cinder track. He was awarded the Most Popular Rider of the Year Award for his efforts. In 1954, Goldsmith had one victory at Charity Newsies at Columbus, Ohio, and four podi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jim McWithey
Jim McWithey (July 4, 1927 – February 1, 2009) was an American racecar driver. He was born in Grammer, Indiana. McWithey raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1960 seasons, with 20 career starts, including the 1959 and 1960 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 9 times, with his best finish in 3rd position in 1960 at Trenton. His best season was 1959, when he placed fourth three times and also won dirt track sprint car features at Terre Haute, and Williams Grove. He died in February 2009 in Gainesville, Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ..., aged 81. Indy 500 results Complete Formula One World Championship results ( key) References 1927 births 2009 deaths Indianapolis 500 drivers People ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chuck Arnold
Charles "Chuck" Russell Arnold (May 30, 1926, Stamford, Connecticut – September 4, 1997, Santa Ana, California) was an American racecar driver. Arnold drove sporadically in the USAC Championship Car series, racing between 1959 and 1968, with 11 starts, including the 1959 Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi .... He finished in the top ten 3 times, with his best finish in 5th position, in 1959 at Trenton. Retrieved February 27, 2019. Indianapolis 500 results Complete Formula One World Championship results ([...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmy Daywalt
Jimmy Daywalt (August 28, 1924 – April 4, 1966) was an American racecar driver. Born in Wabash, Indiana, he drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1950, 1953–1957, 1959, and 1961–1962 seasons with 20 starts. He finished in the top ten 3 times. His best finish was in the 1953 Indianapolis 500, where he finished 6th and was named Rookie of the Year. Daywalt died of cancer in Indianapolis, Indiana, aged 41. He is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery Crown Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. The privately owned cemetery was established in 1863 at Strawberry Hill, whose summit was renamed "The Crown", a high point ... in Indianapolis. Indy 500 results Complete Formula One World Championship results ( key) References External links Profile on Historic Racing {{DEFAULTSORT:Daywalt, Jimmy 1924 births 1966 deaths Indianapolis 500 drivers Indianapolis 500 Roo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dunn Engineering
The Dunn Engineering Special was a racecar entered in the Indianapolis 500 during the second half of the 1950s, when the race was part of the FIA World Championship. The cars were powered by the then-ubiquitous Offenhauser engine and were driven by Pat Flaherty, Al Keller Alvah August “Al” Keller (April 11, 1920 in Alexander, New York – November 19, 1961 in Phoenix, Arizona) was an American racecar driver. NASCAR Keller participated in the NASCAR Strictly Stock/Grand National series from 1949 to 1956 w ..., Chuck Weyant and Al Herman. Their best result was tenth in 1955. Formula One constructors (Indianapolis only) American racecar constructors Companies based in Indianapolis {{Motorsport-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Herman
Al Herman (March 15, 1926 – June 18, 1960) was an American racecar driver. Born in Topton, Pennsylvania, Herman died in West Haven, Connecticut as a result of injuries sustained in a midget car crash at the West Haven Speedway. Herman was involved in a multi-car crash on the first lap of the feature race and his car rolled. He drove in the American Automobile Association (AAA) and United States Automobile Club (USAC) Championship Car series, racing in the 1955-1957 and 1959-1960 seasons with 11 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in each of those years. He finished in the top ten 3 times, with his best finish in 7th position, in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 The 39th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1955. The event was part of the 1955 AAA National Championship Trail and was race 3 of 7 in the 1955 World Championship of Drivers. The ra ..., earning him Rookie of the Year. Indianapolis 500 results ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Moore (constructor)
Lewis Henry Moore (September 12, 1904 Hinton, Oklahoma – March 25, 1956 Atlanta, Georgia) was an American racecar driver. He was most known during his racing career for qualifying on the pole position of the 1932 Indianapolis 500. He was later remembered as a five-time Indianapolis 500 winning owner, a record which stood until 1987. Early life and driving He was born in Oklahoma on September 12, 1904. He moved with his family to California at a young age. He started his career on the dirt tracks of California in 1923. In 1926, he won 18 feature races out of 23 starts and had been in the lead of the other 5 when equipment failed. He drove in the Indianapolis 500 from 1928 to 1936. He finished second in 1928, started on the pole in 1932, and finished 3rd in 1933 and 1934. He also drove in the 1934 Tripoli Grand Prix, starting 10th and finishing 7th. Racing ownership After his driving career ended in 1936, Moore became a competitive car owner. Moore-owned entries won the Indian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Veith
Bob Veith (November 1, 1924 – March 29, 2006) was an American racecar driver. Veith drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing from 1955 to 1968 with 63 starts. He finished in the top ten 37 times, with a best finish of 2nd twice, both in 1958. Veith suffered bruises and abrasions in a practice crash at Daytona International Speedway on March 29, 1959. He was saved by the roll bar when sliding upside down. The accident was caused by the starter shaft, which had been left in the car. Veith qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1956, finishing 7th that year to win the Rookie of the Year award. After another top 10 finish the next year, he qualified 4th in 1958 but was knocked out of the race in a first lap accident that killed Pat O'Connor. He competed in the 500 eight more times, with his last start coming in 1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * Jan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gene Hartley
Leslie Eugene "Gene" Hartley (January 28, 1926 – March 13, 1993) was an American racecar driver. He was born and died in Roanoke, Indiana. Hartley was the son of midget car driver Ted Hartley, who competed into his 60s.Biography at the "Auto racing is all I’ve ever known," Gene once said in an interview at the . Racing career He drove in the[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kuzma (constructor)
Kuzma was a racing car constructor founded by Eddie Kuzma in the United States. Kuzma cars competed in the FIA World Championship (Indy 500 only) from 1951 to 1960. They won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 with Troy Ruttman. World Championship Indy 500 results ''Note: all cars were fitted with Offenhauser The Offenhauser Racing Engine, or Offy, is a racing engine design that dominated American open wheel racing for more than 50 years and is still popular among vintage sprint and midget car racers. History The Offenhauser engine, familiarly ... engines.'' References {{DEFAULTSORT:Kuzma (Constructor) Formula One constructors (Indianapolis only) American Championship racing cars American racecar constructors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Russo
Paul Russo (April 10, 1914 in Kenosha, Wisconsin – February 13, 1976 in Clearwater, Florida) was an American racecar driver. Midget car career He started racing midget cars in 1934. He went with a contingent of midget-car drivers to Hawaii in the winter of 1934–35.Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame He was the 1938 AAA Eastern Midget Champion. Russo won the first race held at the in |
