Daniel clive wheldon 22 june 1978 16 october 2011 was a british motor racing driver who won the 2005 indycar series drivers championship for andretti green racing agr. Sullivan won the 1988 cart championship, and placed third in points in 1986. His nephew, marco, michaels son, finished second at indy as a rookie in 2006 and. List of race car drivers who did not make it out of indy in may. He was owner, driver, chief mechanic, engine builder and sponsor finder all at the same time. Indycar series rookie of the year in 2007 and indy 500 rookie of the year in 2008 after finishing sixth. Columnist fired over tweet about japanese drivers indy. Daniel john sullivan iii born march 9, 1950, better known as danny sullivan, is an american former racing driver. He earned 17 wins in the cart indy car world series, including the 1985 indianapolis 500. Bob lazier, the racer with the perpetual smile who always seemed optimistic no matter the odds, has died at the age of 81. Bobby unser won the 1981 indy 500 winner in his final start at the indianapolis motor speedway. Petersburg professional drivers watching ryan newmans horrific crash in mondays daytona 500 had the same reaction as fans who saw it. Cnn bob lazier, indianapolis 500 starter and 1981 carts rookie of the year, died saturday due to complications from the coronavirus, his.
The following is a list of 73 individuals killed at the indianapolis motor speedway. John was the nephew of racing legend mario andretti, cousin to current indycar team owner michael. He only ran once in the indy 500, but bob lazier became a staple around. Indianapolis wthr indycar driver john andretti has died at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer. Indianapolis gary bettenhausen could have been rick mears, but he was gary bettenhausen, driver of anything. He produced 11 top10 finishes, including a career best of sixth in the 1970 milwaukee 200. John andretti, the first driver to compete in the indianapolis 500 and nascars cocacola 600 on the same day, has died at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer. Bob burman usa grand boulevard corona corona grand prize. All fatalities are related to championship car races at the speedway unless otherwise noted fatalities have occurred in conjunction with the indianapolis 500 and its precursors, the. The next year, lazier chose not to attempt to qualify for the indy 500 after his family expressed concerns following driver gordon smileys fatal crash during the opening day of. Fatalities have occurred in conjunction with the indianapolis 500 and its precursors, the brickyard 400, the moto gp event, the speedways golf. North tonawanda native jim hurtubise, undoubtedly the most distinguished race car driver in western. The 1981 indianapolis 500 rookie of the year and father of 1996 indy.
Nascar driver ryan newman was rushed to a hospital monday after his race car flipped and was launched into the air in a fiery car crash near the finish line of the daytona 500. In addition to stock cars and openwheel cars, andretti also did some endurance racing winning the 1989 24 hours of daytona and he even strapped in behind the wheel of an nhra top. A total of 23 drivers have been killed during practice or qualifying runs at the indy 500. John andretti, the nephew of indycar legend mario andretti, had been battling cancer and advocating for others. Indy 500 lineup driver miniprofiles sfgate subscribe. Indy 500 driver john andretti signs autographs at macys and izods celebration of the indianapolis motor speedway and the indy 500 at macys herald square on may 25, 2010 in. Former driver bob lazier, father of 1996 indy 500 winner buddy lazier, died at age 81 after being hospitalized and placed on a ventilator. John andretti, a member of one of auto racings most famous families and the first driver to attempt the indianapolis 500 and nascars 600mile. List of fatalities at the indianapolis motor speedway wikipedia. Scott was a crew member on 1974 team before taking the seat. Indianapolis john andretti, a member of one of auto racings most famous families and the first driver to attempt the indianapolis 500 and. He was the son of melvin tony bettenhausen, a 14time indy 500 starter in the 1940s and 1950s best finish of second in 55, the brother of merle bettenhausen and the late tony bettenhausen jr. Columnist fired over tweet about japanese drivers indy 500 win says it wasnt based in racism takuma sato was on top of the world and the empire state building after winning sunday. Indianapolis, wednesday, june 3, 2009 eighttime indianapolis 500 starter bob caveman christie, whose rather fearsome nickname belied one of the.
In recent years, lazier stayed involved in racing as a team owner and by driving vintage race cars. There have been 14 drivers that have died while racing in the indy 500 dating back to 1919. Hiss drove in the indy 500 four times, with his highest finish being the seventh he scored in his rookie year in 1972. List of fatalities at the indianapolis motor speedway. Andretti raced 12 times at the indy 500 through 2011, and in 1994 he raced there and in a nascar event that night. A fiery crash involving 15 cars claims the life of indy 500 winner dan wheldon. The hottest 500 shows the 1953 indy 500 won by bill vukovich in 120plus degree heat. He made 52 career indycar starts between 1968 and 1977. Michael, competed in formula one before turning team owner and winning the indy 500 five times.
Harkey drove in the indy 500 six times between 1964 and 1976, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions. Bob lazier, father of indy 500 winner buddy lazier and. Bob lazier, indy 500 starter and 1981 rookie of the year. David salt walther, the former auto and hydroplane racer who was severely burned in a spectacular crash in the 1973 indianapolis 500, has died. Six people died at the speedway in accidents during races contested before the first indianapolis 500.
Hiss top finish at the indianapolis 500 was seventh in 1972. Michael, competed in formula one and led more laps in the indy 500 than any other race nonwinner before turning team owner and winning the marquee race five times. Andretti carried on the family racing tradition with a long career in both nascar, indycar, sports cars and even nhra drag racing. The most recent driver to be killed in an indycar series event was justin wilson at the 2015 abc supply 500. Bob lazier, indy 500 driver and father of indy winner buddy lazier, died saturday of covid19 in denver, colorado at the age of 81. Simpson competed as a driver in drag racing, sports car racing and openwheel formula racing, including in scca and usac indycar competition.