Happy Birthday!

[Vic Mackey]

June 18:

Denis Hulme (b. 1936)

Best known as the 1967 Formula 1 World Champion, Hulme made four starts at Indianapolis as well. He finished 4th in each of his first two tries in 1967 and 1968, but didn't see the finish line in 1969 or 1971. All of his Indy Car races took place at Indianapolis. Here he is in his debut:

http://alblixtracinghistory.typepad....42eb579970d-pi

Frank Mundy (b. 1918)

Real name Francisco Menendez, Mundy was a top notch stock car driver during the 1950s. He spent most of his time on the AAA circuit, where he was 1955 National Champion, and also made the occasional foray into NASCAR, where he picked up three Cup level wins in 1951. He only made one appearance in an Indy Car, failing to qualify at Indy in 1954. Here he is in a NASCAR convertible:

http://www.legendsofnascar.com/FrankMundy_pc_front2.jpg

Bobby Regester (58)

A veteran of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Regester found himself in a different kind of Pikes Peak race when he ran the IRL event at PPIR in 1999. He finished 18th. He made one more start, at Phoenix the next year, where a crash left him 20th. Here he is on his way to victory at the Peak in the stock car class in 2007:

https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/im...A1E9dSwKPAkFc1

[Vic Mackey]

June 19:

Frank McGurk (b. 1915)

McGurk was a part-time Indy Car competitor in the years immediately before WWII, making five starts. His best results came in 1941, a 9th at Milwaukee and a 7th at Syracuse. He returned after the break for WWII in 1946, but crashed in practice at Indy and that was that. Here he is in his debut, the 1936 Indianapolis 500:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...93545/FULL.jpg

Charlie Glotzbach (74)

Chargin' Charlie may never have run a full NASCAR schedule, but he was a constant fixture on the circuit in a career spanning 1960-1992. His heyday came from 1967-1975, during which he picked up all four of his Cup level wins and almost took the 1969 Daytona 500, being passed on the last lap by Lee Roy Yarbrough. His brief Indy Car career wasn't as successful. He entered three races (Indy and Milwaukee in 1969 and Indy in 1970) but did not make the field for any. Here he is battling inside another NASCAR star/occasional Indy Car driver, Bobby Allison:

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...Allison-22.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

June 20:

George Lynch (b. 1918)

Lynch had spent over a decade racing sprints and midgets across the Midwest before getting his Indy Car break in 1948. He would go on to make 13 starts across the next three years, with a best finish of 7th at DuQuoin in '48. He attempted an Indy Car comeback a few years later, but missed the field for races entered in 1954 and 1955, and retired after the 1957 season. Here he is prior to his only Indy 500 start in 1949; he qualified on the third row but crashed out after just one lap:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...92907/FULL.jpg

H. J. Kilpatrick (b. 1879)

Kilpatrick competed in a number of pre-WWI races, including the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup. He was entered in the 1912 Indy 500 but replaced by Lee Oldfield. He did get into the race in 1913, as a relief driver for Louis Disbrow. Here's a shot of the dapper-looking Kilpatrick:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/im...-2-292x230.jpg

Steve Ball (62)

Ball was a veteran of the short track ranks when he entered the 1981 Indy 500. His entry was declined due to a lack of experience, but he did get to make one Indy Car start the next month at Pocono. He finished 14th. No photo available.

[Vic Mackey]

June 21:

John Cannon (b. 1933)

Born in England, Cannon moved to Canada and eventually became a player in the North American road racing scene during the late 60s and early 70s. He won the F5000 title in 1970, and also raced in Can-Am and USRRC events. He first appeared in an Indy Car in 1968, running mostly road course races over the next three years, and highlighted by a runner up finish at St. Jovite, his home track. He disappeared for a couple of years when the road races were eliminated from the Indy Car schedule, but came back for a few starts in 1973-74. His son Michael is now a long-time engineer in the sport. Here John is receiving some attention from the mechanics at Indy in 1974; he did not qualify for the 500:

http://www.imscdn.com/gallery/indyca...ohn_Cannon.jpg

Al Loquasto (b. 1940)

Loquasto's path to Indy Cars was an unique one, as he was a five time national hill climb champion in the 60s, before first coming to Indy. His Indy Car appearances spanned a 17 year period from 1967-1984. He was always in low budget machinery, and the results matched. A 7th in the 1975 California 500 was the best finish in his 60 starts. Like John Cannon listed above him, Loquasto died in a small plane crash. Here he is during the 1973 season:

http://www.oldracingcars.com/images/...r/USAC-057.jpg

George Babcock (b. 1876)

Babcock paid his dues as a riding mechanic and test driver before making the move to racer. He made his first Indy Car start in 1914, and made three more the following year. His best result came on the dirt at Ascot, where he finished 5th in 1915. Here he is as Harry Grant's riding mechanic at Elgin in 1911, the duo coming home in 2nd place:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vc...7_edited-1.jpg

Baron de Rachewsky (b. 1892)

Not much out there about Vladimir de Rachewsky, other than that he was born in Russia and had a relation to an old Russian duke. His Indy Car career, in fact possibly his entire US career, lasted 11 laps. He finished 15th on the Atlantic City boards in 1926. No clean, easy photo link, but you'll see a picture of him from 1929 at the top of this page:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6862,3581838

[Vic Mackey]

June 22:

Dan Wheldon (b. 1978)

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2011/wri...n-Indy-500.jpg

Phil Krueger (61)

Often serving as his own chief mechanic, Krueger was one of those guys who got the most out of the least during a surprisingly long Indy Car run (1981-1991). He had a great run in the first two Triple Crown races of 1988, finishing 8th at Indy and following that with a career best 5th at MIS. Now he just needs to stay out of those small planes he keeps crashing! Here he is at Indy in 1988:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../Krueger88.jpg

Jeff Ward (51)

Ward was an AMA motocross legend, winning seven national titles before moving over to four wheels with his 1992 Indy Lights debut. After a DNQ at Indy in 1995, he made his first Indy Car start in 1997, and spent 1998-2002 full time in the series. He picked up his lone win at Texas that last season in a photo finish. Here he is at Indy in 2000, on his way to 4th:

http://www.theautochannel.com/callah...ward_car01.jpg

Eddie O'Donnell (b. 1885)

A leading driver from the early days, O'Donnell picked up his three Indy Car wins aboard a Duesenberg in 1915. In 17 starts that year he had 10 podium finishes (well, if they had a podium back then, that is). He kicked off 1916 with a pair of wins in non-points events, but never won another National Championship race. O'Donnell died of injuries suffered in the 1920 season finale at Beverly Hills in the same crash that killed that season's champ, Gaston Chevrolet. Here he poses at Tacoma in July of 1920, though he would use a different car for the race:

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.or...4/t1/39050.jpg

Webb Jay (b. 1870)

You have to go even further back in time to find Webb Jay, as his heyday came back at the turn of the century. He made three starts in the 1905 AAA National Championship, including a win at Morris Park in New York aboard Whistling Billy, his steam-powered White auto. Not long after he was involved in a nasty crash that gave him a concussion and ended his career. It was one of a number of high profile wrecks that got the press against racing and killed off the championship after the 1905 season. Here he is at the wheel of Whistling Billy:

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...905WebbJay.jpg

George Fonder (b. 1917)

Fonder was a star on the midget circuit, taking the 1941 AAA Eastern title. He got his first taste of Indy Cars in 1949 with three starts, taking a best of 7th at Langhorne. The next five years he would be an Indy-only driver. He made the field one of those years (1952), and also appeared as a relief driver in his final try in 1954. Fonder was killed in an ARDC midget event in 1958. Here he is at Indy in 1950, a year he didn't make the field:

http://www.imscdn.com/gallery/500/in...onder-1680.jpg

L. A. Lariviere (b. 1897)

Born in Quebec but racing as an American, Lariviere made infrequent appearances on board and dirt tracks. He entered the 1933 Indianapolis 500 but did not qualify. That was his only Indy Car attempt. Here's a portrait of him:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6032/6...1bd55bda_z.jpg

Rollin May (b. 1896)

May spent 20 years racing on the small dirt tracks in the Midwest. He entered a pair of Indy Car races in 1931, Indy and Syracuse, but made the field for neither. His entry at Detroit the next year was tossed out by the tech committee, and that proved to be the end of his Indy Car career. May was killed in a midget race outside of Cleveland in 1939. Here's a portrait of him:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6230/6...d6482843_z.jpg

[Gerald Laurie]

hey Vic! what's going on? I miss my daily fix on your great updates!!!

[Vic Mackey]

Had a really hectic week that kept me off the computer for the most part. Time to get caught up, rapid fire:

June 23:

Bob Harkey (82)

Holds the record nobody wants, most career DNQs (46)... did make 85 starts in a 20 year career (1963-83)... only top 5 finish came very early, 4th at Trenton in 1964... here he is at Indy in 1975, where he's credited with 10th, though Salt Walther drove the vast majority of the race in relief:

http://www.psychoontyres.co.uk/wp-co...ndy75_009s.jpg

Dutch Schaefer (b. 1915)

ARDC midget star, winning four series championships... made 1 NASCAR Speedway Division start, finishing 17th at Langhorne in 1952... lone USAC Indy Car entry came at Indy in 1958, where his entry was declined... he failed the physical after suffering an eye injury earlier in his career... here he is in a midget:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...3&d=1255926319

Billy Wilkerson (b. 1927)

Member of the Sprint Car Hall of Fame despite not racing sprint cars full time until age 38... two time CRA champ... two Indy Car entries: entered Indy in 1966 but declined due to lack of experience, entered Phoenix in 1968 but had to surrender his ride to Jim McElreath after McElreath wrote off his car in a practice crash... here he's racing a sprint car at Ascot in 1969:

http://www.ewarbirds.org/automotive/...sprint.3.7.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

June 24:

Juan Manuel Fangio (b. 1911)

Widely recognized as one of the greatest ever... 5 F1 titles, including 4 straight (1951, 54-57)... Indy Car career lasted 2 laps... left before qualifying at Indy in 1958, raced 2 laps at Race of Two Worlds at Monza that summer before breaking a fuel pump... here he gets a word of advice from Duane Carter at Indy:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JBA_90Mrxs...angio+1958.png

Howdy Wilcox (b. 1889)

Credited with 1919 AAA National Championship... three of four career Indy Car wins came at Indianapolis, including 1919 Indy 500... won a pre-500 race at Indy in 1910, and also (generally uncredited) Indy winner in 1923... he relieved Tommy Milton for 47 laps on Milton's way to victory, but because Wilcox didn't start or finish the race his face didn't go on the trophy that year... here's his 1910 Indy race winner:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...1&d=1267897612

Claude Bourbonnais (47)

Won 7 of 14 Atlantic races in 1993, yet somehow lost the title to David Empringham, who won only once... made five Indy Car starts in 1994, failing to finish every time... also raced at Indy in 1997, retiring in the opening laps with engine trouble... here's his Indy ride:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...87770/FULL.jpg

Erwin Bergdoll (b. 1890)

Easily the fastest of the three Bergdoll brothers who appeared in early Indy Car races... winner on the roads of Philadelphia in 1911... also has 2 2nds and a 3rd in his 8 starts... was later in trouble for dodging the draft during WWI... no photo available

[Vic Mackey]

June 25:

Johnny Herbert (48)

2 time F1 race winner... was entered in the 2001 Texas race, but did not return after the races was rescheduled following 9/11... entered Indy in 2002, but did not qualify after trying to split his time between Indy and an ALMS race... here he is at Indy:

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/ph...id=1177855&s=2

W. H. Farr (b. 1889)

Endurance racer during the early days of the sport... appeared in 1912 Indy 500 as relief driver for Billy Liesaw... don't have a picture of Farr, best I can do is show the car he relieved in with Liesaw behind the wheel:

http://www.imscdn.com/gallery/500/in...lly-Liesaw.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

June 26:

Jorge Goeters (42)

Ran one season of Indy Lights in 1998... scored shock pole at Gateway, never started higher than 10th elsewhere... brought in to provide some local flavor for the race at Monterrey in 2005... started and finished 18th... now races in Mexican NASCAR series... here he is at Monterrey:

http://cdn-8.motorsport.com/static/i...47768/s1_1.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

June 27:

Lloyd Axel (b. 1905)

Star midget racer in Colorado in the 1930s and 1940s... won multiple championships and over 200 features during those years... only Indy Car appearances came at Pikes Peak... finished 18th in 1949 and 7th in 1950... here he is in a 1947 midget race, running around the outside of Eddie Jackson:

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2011/0626/20110626__20110627_B06_SP27LAMER~p1.JPG

Terry Curley (b. 1901)

Made his name in sports not as a racer, but as a boxer... eventually became a riding mechanic, riding in three Indy 500s... drove 5 laps in the 1933 race in relief of Fred Winnai... only Indy Car race as a driver... here's a portrait:

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.or...0/t1/39076.jpg

Elmer Dempsey (b. 1895)

Made his name in planes, not cars... flew fighter planes in WWI... relived Ora Haibe in 1924 Indy 500... only other Indy Car race was on Kansas City boards that year, where he did not qualify... another one where I don't have a pic of the driver, can just show the car he took over in relief:

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/3060/192431gx8.jpg

Peter Hahn (b. 1909)

Born in Germany but a lifelong resident of Detroit... spent much of his career in sports cars... entered 1952 Indy 500 but failed to qualify... no photo available

[Vic Mackey]

June 28:

Junior Johnson (81)

One of the greatest NASCAR drivers and car owners ever... showed up at Indy in 1963 but left before finishing his rookie test... was not comfortable in an open cockpit car, as evidenced by the funky rollcage:

http://api.ning.com/files/pJvurUD7QS....jpg?width=500

[Vic Mackey]

June 29:

Harry Schell (b. 1921)

Wealthy American who spent most of his career racing in Europe... made 56 F1 starts from 1950-1960, with a pair of podium finishes... DNQ at 1946 Indy 500... only other Indy Car appearance was at 1958 Race of Two Worlds; finished 12th in heat 1 and 13th in heat 2... killed in practice for a non-championship F1 race at Silverstone in 1960... here he is in 1954 Spanish GP:

http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/70/79/1450797_600.jpg

W. H. Frey (b. 1879)

Finished 8th at Long Island in 1910 in only Indy Car start... relieved Charles Bigelow in first Indy 500 in 1911... like others earlier, don't have a pi of him, just one of the car he would eventually drive in relief:

http://www.imscdn.com/gallery/500/in...w_car_1911.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

June 30:

Chuck Booth (b. 1930)

USAC midget and sprint veteran... made a few Indy Car starts in the early 1960s, then 6 more in 1968... best finish was a 9th on his debut at Sacramento in 1962... here he races outside Mike McGreevy in a 1963 sprint car race:

http://www.strykerscustom.com/MikeMc...op_608x485.jpg

Omar Toft (b. 1886)

Wealthy sportsman who raced Indy Cars in the latter half of the 1910s... best season was 1918, when he finished in the top 5 in all 6 starts, including career best 2nd at Uniontown... Toft was killed in a race in Phoenix in 1921... here he is at Santa Monica in 1919, on his way to 6th:

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/431238/1919%20santa%20monica%20250%20-%20omar%20toft%20(miller)%20dnf%2032%20laps%20flag ged.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 1:

Harris Insinger (b. 1909)

Insinger made his Indy Car debut on the Mines Field, CA road course in 1934, relieving Shorty Cantlon. His lone Indy Car start came at Indy the next year, where he finished 14th. He was killed in a wreck at Oakland that September. Here he is after his 500 start:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...93649/FULL.jpg

Len Fanelli (b. 1912)

Fanelli was a Northeast short tracker, starting first in open wheels before moving to stock cars. He's known to have made at least one sprint car start in 1946, when sprint cars counted toward the National Championship. He would later make one NASCAR Cup level start, at Daytona Beach in 1951. Here's an old stock car shot of him:

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...ZA2LseVIKJ&t=1

And with that we are halfway through the birthdays. 166 days down, 166 to go.

[Vic Mackey]

July 2:

Sam Hornish (33)

Pretty sure we all know his story. Here he is on his way to winning the 2002 finale at Texas:

http://www.tmsfan.com/img/rw-sept02.jpg

Bob Tattersall (b. 1924)

Tattersall was a star in the midget ranks, winning a slew of feature races and finally picking up that USAC national title in 1969. He also made a name for himself at the other end of the globe, spending 13 winters racing midgets in Australia. He made six starts in an Indy Car from 1965-1967, with his best finish coming in his last race, a 10th at Trenton. Here he is three wheeling a midget (literally) in Australia; he was able to race 21 laps like that before dropping out with an engine problem:

http://www.smartcarby.com/classic/bob3wheels.jpg

William Gardner (b. 1895)

"Speed" Gardner first showed up at Indianapolis in 1922, but failed to qualify. It would be seven years before he came back, but he not only made the field in 1929 but came home in 6th. He made eight Indy Car starts in total from 1929-1931, with six top 10 finishes, including a 5th on the Altoona boards in 1930. Gardner got out of the racing game after suffering a practice crash at Indy in 1933. Here's his 1930 Indy ride:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...94139/FULL.jpg

Eddie Burbach (b. 1898)

Burbach made his living behind the wheel, not necessarily as a racer, but as a driver for the Chicago mob back in the 30s. He did see some time on the race track too, appearing as a relief driver for Al Cotey in the 1927 Indianapolis 500. He entered the race himself in 1931 but did not qualify. No photo available.

Ernest Stoecker (b. 1877)

A German driver, Stoecker made one appearance in an Indy Car, racing his Benz to a 2nd place finish on the roads of Lowell, MA in 1909. No photo available.

[Vic Mackey]

July 3:

Carl Scarborough (b. 1914)

Some drivers say they've given everything they've got in a race. Scarborough actually did. He pushed himself so hard in the sweltering heat at the 1953 Indy 500 that he died of heat exhaustion following the race. Scarborough entered 16 Indy Car races from 1950-53, but only made the field three times. The 12th he got in that last race was his best. Here's a headshot of Carl:

http://www.statsf1.com/pilotes/photos/scarboro.gif

Vinicio Salmi (56)

Salmi split his career bouncing back and forth from two wheels to four. His stateside run began in 1989, with two years of Indy Lights. He picked up a surprise win at Vancouver in 1990, and tried to parlay that into an Indy 500 start the next year, but failed to qualify. He did run five Indy Car races in 1992, with a best of 15th at Elkhart Lake before disappearing from the American scene. Here he is in a Lights race at Road America:

http://www.comicozzie.com/gallery2/d...89CART-115.jpg

James Patterson (b. 1905)

A short track racer from Missouri, Patterson tried to make Indy Car fields twice at Indianapolis and Syracuse, but never qualified. He did get into the 1931 and 1932 Indy 500s however as a relief driver for Billy Winn. Patterson was killed in a crash at Winchester in 1934. I don't have a picture of James, so here's the Billy Winn car Patterson took over in the 1932 500:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...93908/FULL.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 4:

Johnnie Parsons (b. 1918)

1949 AAA National Champion and 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner... oddly enough he went into a slump after the Indy win, with a 4 race DNQ streak... he did win a few more races afterward, but also had a bundle of DNQs and never really got the old pace back... here he is after victory at Langhorne in 1949:

http://cache.matrix.msu.edu/expa/lar...l1f5-a_349.jpg

Jan Magnussen (39)

Was hailed as the next big thing after dominating the 1994 British F3 season, but it never really came together... spent just part of two seasons in F1 (1997-98)... made Indy Car debut with Penske in 1996 as injury replacement first for Paul Tracy, then Emerson Fittipaldi, making four starts... made seven starts in 1999 for Patrick in place of PJ Jones, with best of 7th at Vancouver... here he is at Elkhart Lake in 1996:

http://mwphoto.smugmug.com/Cars/CART...46_Sj3q6-L.jpg

Jim McWithey (b. 1927)

Central Indiana sprint car racer who made 18 Indy Car starts from 1956-1961... made a pair of Indy 500s, starting 33rd and 32nd... missed more fields than he made, yet still picked up a 3rd at Trenton in 1960 and three 4ths in 1959... here he is at Indy in 1959, his first start there:

http://images34.fotki.com/v1079/phot...ithey59-vi.jpg

Bill Horstmeyer (b. 1930)

A successful midget racer in the 50s and 60s, he bought an Indy Car in 1964... made debut at Springfield that year... unfortunately it was his only start, as he was killed in a wreck 24 laps in... here he poses at a 1963 sprint car race in Wisconsin:

http://winfield.50megs.com/AAUpload/...meyer_1963.jpg

Franz Heim (b. 1882)

Served as a mechanic for Benz... got his lone Indy Car opportunity as a substitute for an injured George Robertson at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup... An early fire left him with a 27th place finish... here he is at that race:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vc...6_edited-1.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 5:

Elmer George (b. 1928)

Yes, that's the father of a certain well known figure in modern Indy Car racing... spent over a decade (1954-64) in an Indy Car... journeyman driver for the most part, but he did have his one moment in the sun, winning from pole at Syracuse in 1957... here he is at Indy in 1962:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...90721/FULL.jpg

Roscoe Thompson (b. 1922)

Georgia-born stock car driver who spent part of the 50s and early 60s in NASCAR, with two top 10 Cup level finishes... made two starts in the 1952 NASCAR Speedway Division, with best of 10th at Martinsville... also raced in 1953 but with no currently known results... here he is at Charlotte in 1961, driving car #24:

http://georgiaracinghistory.com/wp-c...arlotte-61.jpg

Pierre de Vizcaya (b. 1894)

de Vizcaya had a long association with Bugatti... his father helped finance the first Bugatti plant, he Pierre and his brothers all raced Bugattis... lone Indy Car appearance was at 1923 Indy 500, where he started 6th and finished 12th... here he is that May:

http://www.moodyscollectibles.com/pixfiles15/15538.jpg

Woody Woodford (b. 1905)

Woodford spent most of his 20 year career racing on the west coast... entered 1937 Indy 500 but failed to qualify... he was killed in a CSRA event in Ohio in 1942... here's the car he was crown Northwest Champion in in 1934:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oRAnNWtVVBA/TIXj8gqhY4I/AAAAAAAAC7U/e83WUuJgkIw/s1600

Geoge Kalen (b. 1904)

Philadelphia dirt track racer who had some success in Pennsylvania, though not as much on the national scale... entered three Indy Car races in 1932, failing to qualify at each (Indianapolis, Detroit and Syracuse)... those were his only entries... no photo available

[Vic Mackey]

Now that I'm finally back online there's a lot of catching up to do:

July 6:

Cyrus Patschke (b. 1889)

He's probably been robbed worse than any driver in Indy Car history. He relieved Ray Harroun for 32 laps on his way to winning the first Indy 500, but because he didn't start or finish the race he isn't generally credited as an Indy winner, unlike other relief drivers who drove the winning car to the finish, or starters who were pulled before the finish. He only started a few Indy Car races, but did pick up a 2nd at Santa Monica in 1911 and a 3rd at Sioux City in 1914 to go with his Indy "win". Here's Cyrus:

http://www.teamdan.com/people/cyrus%20patschke.jpg

Charles Merz (b. 1888)

An Indy Car driver from 1909-1916, Merz was a factory driver for the National team during his early years in the series. He picked up a pair of wins in 1911 at San Francisco and Santa Monica before departing for Stutz, with whom he won at Elgin in 1912. He was out of an Indy Car after the 1913 Indy 500 until a couple of appearances in 1916, then was gone for good. Here he is at Indy in 1911:

http://www.imscdn.com/gallery/500/in...z_car_1911.jpg

Dana Carter (b. 1952)

Son of Duane and brother of Pancho, Dana also raced on the USAC short track trail, but didn't get as much of a shot in Indy Cars. He made four starts in 1979, with a pair of 10th place finishes his best. He also made three Gold Crown dirt starts in 1982. Dana was only 30 when he died of a heart attack. Here he is following Joey Saldana in a Silver Crown race at Eldora in 1982 (this was not one of the Gold Crown events):

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/c...1_filtered.jpg

Carl Limberg (b. 1883)

Limberg was only an occasional Indy Car competitor, making seven starts across seven years (1910-1916). He finished 3rd and 4th in a pair of non-points races held on the Sheepshead Bay boards in 1916. The feature race, a points-paying National Championship event, went much worse, as he and riding mechanic Roxie Pallotti were killed in a wreck. Here's his Indy Car debut, the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vc...0_edited-1.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 7:

Stan Fox (b. 1952)

A short track star, Fox had a disastrous foray into Indy Cars in 1984, missing more fields than he made and not finishing higher than 19th. After that he settled into a role as an Indy-only driver and produced a couple of top 10 finishes. He never truly recovered from head injuries sustained in the 1995 race, and died in a street car accident in 2000. Here he is in the legendarily unreliable Foyt Chevy at Indy in 1988, where he broke after two laps:

http://8w.forix.com/march90ca/sf-indy88.jpg

Steve Krisiloff (66)

Though rarely running a full schedule, he managed to last a decade and a half at make 111 Indy Car starts. 1978 was easily his strongest season, earning a career best 2nd at the season opener in Phoenix along with seven other top five finishes and a career best 7th in points. His son Kyle would eventually win an SCCA Runoffs title and start a p[ro career of his own. Here is Steve in his final start, the 1983 Indy 500:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...risiloff83.jpg

Mike Hiss (71)

Despite what floated around the Internet for years, Mike Hiss is still very much alive. He made 28 Indy Car starts from 1972 to 1976, with a best of 2nd at Ontario his rookie year. He had an impressive run in the Triple Crown races that year, winning Rookie of the Year for finishing 7th at Indy, and also scoring a 6th at Pocono. Almost all of his best finishes (9 of his top 11) came on the big ovals: Indy, MIS, Pocono and Ontario. Here he is at Indy in 1975, where he crashed out early:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5264/5...6200ee55_z.jpg

Harris Hanshue (b. 1881)

Hanshue made a splash on his Indy Car debut, winning from pole at the Santa Monica road course in 1909. It wasn't a precursor of great things however. He made just nine total Indy Car starts, almost all in California, and never won again. He did pick up a 2nd at San Francisco later in 1909 though, and a 3rd back at Santa Monica in 1911. Here he is at San Fran in 1909:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/vcrsys/Images/Alco/hanshue_(3).jpg

E. H. Delling (b. 1884)

Erik Delling made his name not as a driver, but as an engineer. He produced an early overhead cam design while chief engineer for Mercer, and also served as chief engineer for Stanley when they were still making steam powered cars. His lone Indy Car driving mention comes in 1913, when Mercer entered him as a driver at Indy, but he was refused due to lack of experience. There's a pic of him at the top of this page, along with an experimental steam engine he was working on in 1938:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2065,6893038

Eldon Rasmussen (76)

Rasmussen competed throughout the 1970s as an independent. An Indy Car rarity in that he hailed from Alberta, he made 23 starts, mostly in his home-built Rascar, and took a best of 7th at Ontario in 1975. He still appears in highlight films to this day, as he's the guy Tom Sneva goes flying over in his dramatic Indy crash in 1975. Here is Rasmussen at Indy that year:

http://www.imscdn.com/gallery/indyca..._Rasmussen.jpg

Cotton Farmer (b. 1928)

Farmer was a star on the IMCA sprint car circuit in the 1950s before switching over to USAC. In addition to sprints and midgets, he also raced Indy Cars from 1959-63, and again in 1967. His stats look a bit confusing. On one hand, he barely qualified for half of the 48 races he entered, on the other hand he does have five top five finishes, including a 2nd at Sacramento his rookie year. Here he is tripping over Johnny Rutherford in a sprint car race at Williams Grove in 1963:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/a...6&d=1255453584

Thurel Novotny (b. 1933)

Another geographical oddity, Novotny is one of the few Indy Car drivers to call Wyoming home. All of his Indy Car starts came at Pikes Peak, where he raced five times as a non-points race as well as twice during its time on the National Championship trail. His best finish of 11th came in 1964, a non-points year, his best Championship season finish was a 12th in 1968. Here he is in 1964:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/236...4315f14c_r.jpg

Johnny Matera (b. 1906)

Matera was a Jersey-born sprint car racer in the 1940s. He's known to have run at least six sprint car races in 1946, when they counted toward the National Championship, including a 2nd place at Williams Grove. His only experience in a proper Indy Car came at a non-points race at Langhorne in 1940. Here he is at a 1948 sprint car race:

http://www.thevintageracer.com/vow48/dt28.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 8:

Dale Coyne (58)

If you would've told me a few years ago Dale Coyne Racing would have a pair of Indy Car wins, I'm sure most everyone would've giggled. Probably because his driving career wasn't the most renowned. He made 34 starts from 1984 to 1991, and never finished higher than 12th. Here he is driving his DC-1 chassis (basically a reworked Lola) at Mid-Ohio in 1986:

http://tazio.uol.com.br/media/images...c1-em-1986.jpg

Jack Hewitt (61)

Legendary short track racer who recorded such feats as sweeping all four Four Crowns Nationals races at Eldora, he got his shot at Indy in 1998 and turned in a 12th place finish. His debut actually came 17 years earlier, as he was one of the Silver Crown drivers filling out the field at the 1981 Pocono 500. He also started the three Gold Grown dirt race that year, finishing 4th twice, and ran again in 1983. Here he is at Indy:

http://www.theautochannel.com/callah...4/hewitt01.jpg

Cliff Woodbury (b. 1894)

Woodbury was a board track specialist who raced Indy Cars from 1926-1929. 30 of his 37 starts came on the boards, though oddly one of his two wins didn't. He won at Rockingham (New Hampshire, not North Carolina) in 1928, followed that up by taking pole position for the 1929 Indianapolis 500 (and finishing last after an early crash), and then came from the front row to win on the Detroit dirt mile. His Indy Car career would come to an end though after that 1929 season, although he would at least go on to set a speed record at Daytona in 1930. Here he is at Indy in 1928:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...94184/FULL.jpg

Roy Painter (b. 1896)

Painter came to Indianapolis with a dream. He didn't come with a fast enough car. He made five attempts at making the 500 during the 1930s, but never qualified. He also DNQed at his only other race, at Syracuse in 1932. He did participate in the 500 though, serving as Jimmy Gleason's riding mechanic in 1930. Here he is that year:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...94121/FULL.jpg

Jarek Janis (29)

Since we started with Dale Coyne we'll end with one of his drivers. A solid though unspectacular F3000 racer, Janis was just 21 when he made a one-off start for Coyne at Surfers Paradise in 2004. A broken gearbox left the Czech in 18th. Most recently he's been racing GT cars in Europe. Here he is with Coyne:

http://www.jarek-janis.cz/files/stat...s_2004_top.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 9:

Herbert Lytle (b. 1874)

Lytle was one of the few drivers from the 1905 AAA National Championship to still be running top level AAA racing in 1909. In total he made eight Indy Car starts, with his best weekend coming at the Atlanta Motordrome, a 2 mile dirt oval, in 1910. He picked up his lone Indy Car win there, and added a 2nd the next day. Here's Herbert:

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/im...e_-600x590.jpg

Tom Frantz (69)

Frantz made occasional appearances during the late 70s and early 80s. He typically ran toward the back, picking up just one top 10 finish in 17 starts, a 9th at Trenton in 1979. He still builds engines today, just not anything Indy Car related. Here's his ride in 1979:

http://bargainbuyouts.com/images/t/tomfrantz2.jpeg

Bruce Hill (63)

Hill was a stock car driver in the 70s and early 80s, with some mild success in NASCAR during that time, as well as an ARCA win and a USAC stock car pole. His lone Indy Car attempt came in 1980, when he went to Milwaukee and failed to qualify. Here he poses with his stock car in 1976:

http://images24.fotki.com/v824/photo...ll_1976-vi.jpg

Joe Langley (b. 1918)

Langley was a short track racer in the 1940s. He made his Indy Car debut in 1946 with a fine 5th place finish at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta. He was 14th at the Hoosier Hundred that year as well, but never got back into an Indy Car. He also is known to have made at least two sprint car starts that year. After his driving days ended he went on to a career as a car owner. No photo available.

[Vic Mackey]

July 10:

Harry Grant (b. 1877)

One of racing's big names from the early part of the 20th century, Grant stamped his name on the record book by becoming the first two time Vanderbilt Cup winner. He took the race in 1909 and again in 1910, both years it was staged in Long Island. Those would be his only two Indy Car wins in 23 starts stretched across 1909-1915. Grant was killed while practicing for the Astor Cup race at Sheepshead Bay in Octover of 1915. Here he is on his way to his first Vanderbilt Cup win:

http://races.pmhclients.com/vcrsys/I...6_edited-3.jpg

Willie Haupt (b. 1885)

Haupt also raced back in the early days of Indy Car, though without the same level of success. In 11 starts from 1090-1920 he cracked the top five once, a 3rd on the Providence, RI concrete in 1915. He had more success in hillclimbs, winning a number of races there. Here he is at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup:

http://theoldmotor.com/wp-content/up...llie-Haupt.jpg

Gary Patterson (b. 1936)

Patterson made his name as a sprint car star out west. A true independent, he bounced from track to track and across many different sanctioning groups before it was fashionable to be seen as an outlaw sprinter. His winning ways would eventually see him earning induction into the National Sprint Car Racing Hall of Fame. He entered all three of the USAC Gold Crown dirt races held in 1981, but didn't qualify for any. Those would be his only National Championship entries. Patterson was killed in a sprint car at Calistoga, CA in 1983. Here he is racing at Knoxville in 1980:

http://www.garypattersonracing.com/images/gp14.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 11:

Mel Hansen (b. 1911)

Hansen began racing midgets in the 1930s and quickly became a star, winning races across the country. He made his first start at Indy in 1939, but it wasn't until after WWII that his Indy Car career began to take off. Late in the 1948 season he picked up his first win at Lakewood, and after some early season trouble he got on a nice roll in the summer of 1949. He finished 2nd at Trenton, won a non-points race at Arlington from pole, won from pole again at Springfield, and started on pole at Milwaukee. Unfortunately his career would end less than two weeks later when he was paralyzed in a midget crash in Detroit. Here he is at Indy in 1940, when he would finish 8th:

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...ansen_1940.jpg

Buddy Cagle (82)

A long time veteran of sprints and midgets, Cagle made a pair of Indy Car starts in 1955, and two more in 1959. His best result came in his last race, a 10th at the Hoosier Hundred. Here he picks up a trophy after a sprint car win at his hometown track in Tulsa in 1964:

http://winfield.50megs.com/Seago/Spr...Tulsa_1964.jpg

[PenelopePitstop]

July 12:

Bill Cosby (b. 1937)

In 1991, comedian Bill Cosby put "Fat Albert" aside and became a vital force behind African-American driver Willy T. Ribbs' Indy 500 effort. Cosby was part of an IndyCar team that included team owner Derrick Walker and Sam Belnavis. Ribbs became the first Black driver in the Indianapolis 500 competing in 1991 and finishing 32nd. In 1993 the Cosby-led Ribbs entry started 30th and finished 21st at Indy.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...photo_gallery/

[Vic Mackey]

July 12:

Katherine Legge (32)

Rough break with Dragon cutting back, but at least she gets one more shot this year at Fontana. Here she is at Elkhart Lake in 2006, before her car got smashed to bits:

http://dlstatic.speedtv.com/imageser...kground=000000

Jeff Bucknum (46)

Son of a former Indy Car and F1 racer, Jeff started on the open wheel ladder, diverged into sports cars for a few years, then came back to make his Indy Car debut in 2005. He made four starts that year and seven the next, with a best of 10th at Sears Point in '05, before returning to sports cars. Here he is during rookie orientation at Indy in 2005:

http://www.indymotorspeedway.com/j/05/jbuck1.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 13:

Sam Hanks (b. 1914)

Long remembered as the driver who retired on the spot after winning at Indy in 1957 in his 12th try, he actually had a nice career that gets overshadowed by that moment. Though he first appeared before WWII, he didn't become even a semi-regular until 1949. Wins at Springfield and DuQuoin propelled him to the 1953 National Championship, and he repeated his DuQuoin win a year later. Here he relaxes at home with the Mrs., freshly retired after that Indy win:

http://waynekelly.digitaleventsonlin...os/2204093.jpg

Oriol Servia (38)

Servia has an odd distinction, he won an Indy Lights title without ever winning a race. Here he takes that long-awaited first Indy Car win, at Montreal in 2005:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezfl...real_lead1.jpg

Alberto Ascari (b. 1918)

Ascari was one of the greatest drivers of the early F1 era. To this day he remains the only Italian driver to win the World Championship in a Ferrari (1952-53). He also became the only European to come and race at Indy during the period from 1950-60 when it counted as a World Championship race. He raced Indy in 1952, but a mechanical problem led him to spin out of the race after only 40 laps. It was his only Indy Car race. Ascari was killed testing a sports car at Monza in 1955. Here he is with the Ferrari crew at Indy:

http://www.arts-stew.com/wp-content/...-500-race..jpg

Joao Paulo de Oliveira (31)

Probably safe to say he'll be considered the most obscure driver of the year when people in the future look back on the 2011 final standings. I also feel pretty confident in saying he drove the only Indy Car sponsored by a Japanese funeral service. He's still in Japan, racing Formula Nippon as he has since 2006. Here's his run at Motegi:

http://cdn-4.motorsport.com/static/i...52384/s1_1.jpg

Bob Brutto (58)

Bob Brutto is undefeated in an Indy Car. Unfortunately for him the win came in a consolation race held for drivers who missed the field for the 1982 season opener at Phoenix. That was Brutto's only Indy Car race. His main area was sprint cars and Silver Crown. No photo available.

[Vic Mackey]

July 14:

Tom Klausler (67)

Klausler was a front runner during the early days of Formula Atlantic, and later moved into Can-Am, where he won the first race held in the series' return. He made his Indy Car debut at Indy in 1981, finishing 29th. After a year away he made two more starts in 1983, picking up a 6th place at Riverside. Here he is looking to get around Pancho Carter at Riverside:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6...55f9f611_z.jpg

Matt Halliday (33)

New Zealander Halliday spent the early part of the 2000s trying to break into the Indy Car scene, spending time in Lights and Atlantic in 2001-02. It wasn't until five years later he got his break, running the first three CCWS races in 2007. He finished 16th, 15th and 14th. He's now racing in the FIA GT1 series. Here he is at Las Vegas for his debut:

http://www.racebyrace.com/gallery/th...ache&size=1024

George Draper (b. 1867)

Draper was a skilled engineer and inventor with over 100 patents who was also an early automotive enthusiast. Most of his work came in the cotton industry. He entered the race at Readville, MA in 1905, but did not appear. That's his only Indy Car entry. Here's a pic of George:

http://www.hope1842.com/sitebuilder/...ic-267x457.jpg

[Vic Mackey]

July 15:

Bill Alsup (74)

Alsup was a star in Super Vees, winning both the SCCA and USAC pro titles in 1978, earning him a promotion in 1979. He produced one of the odder stat lines in 1981, when despite not having a top two finish and only finishing one race on the lead lap he came home 2nd in points. A pair of 3rds at Riverside and Watkins Glen were his bests. Unsurprisingly that was his high point, and he made his last start in 1984. Here he is in 1982:

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1246/81alsup.jpg

Mickey Shaw (b. 1932)

A race winner on the USAC sprint car trail, Shaw made his Indy Car debut in 1963, starting four races. After a couple of years away he returned for a pair of starts in 1967, plus one more each in '68 and '69. A 12th at Trenton in '67 would be his best finish. Shaw suffered a heart attack during a sprint car race at Eldora in 1969, and died the next morning. Here he is in his lone Indy appearance in 1967; he did not qualify:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...er/White60.jpg

Ray Gilhooly (b. 1887)

Gilhooly spent most of his career selling cars, not racing them. He need make one notable start though, racing at Indy in 1914. An early crash relegated him to a 27th place finish. That was his only Indy Car race. Here's his battered mount after that incident:

http://ims.cdn.racersites.com/prod/p...94497/FULL.jpg

Rick Hood (60)

Memphis native Hood was a short track star who earned his spot on this list through the USAC Gold Crown dirt races. He finished 7th at Springfield and 5th at DuQuoin in 1982, and returned to DuQuoin the following year, only to crash on the first lap. Those are his only National Championship starts, but his short track career was just approaching its peak. He won the USAC sprint car title in 1984, and doubled up by winning both the sprint car and Silver Crown championships the next year. Here he is in a World of Outlaws race at Gardena, CA in 1987, he's the one in the middle:

http://www.bakerracingpix.com/data/i...ooascot091.jpg