1948 – Indy 500 Moments: So, if I say “six-wheeler,” what do you think?

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If you are a racing fan and I say, six-wheeler, you will probably think of a Tyrrell P34. Of course, as you probably know, that fantastic car was not the only six-wheeler in the history of auto racing.

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Actually there was a six-wheel car back at the 1948 Indy 500. It was called the Pat Clancy Special, raced by Billy DeVore. It was a 4WD machine with power going to two rear axles. It was very quick in a straight-line, but really difficult to get around the corners of the Speedway.

Mr.Clancy was a former dirt track driver turned truck line owner and the six wheel’s idea came from one of his truck drivers. The car qualified in 20^th position and finished twelfth. The chassis was a Kurtis and the engine an Offenhauser.

Rookie Jackie Holmes qualified the car for the 1949 Indy 500 in 17^th position but was black-flagged for not keeping a safe racing speed.

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1935 – Indy 500 Moments: Jimmy, the riding mechanic

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Safety was a concern, so the Speedway installed the first green and yellow warning lights around the track, and made mandatory the use of helmets. However, life was tough at the Brickyard, not just for the drivers but also for the riding mechanics. 

“All drivers and mechanics dream of getting to go to Indianapolis, let alone participate. I was very fortunate. I go one time and I win the race,” said riding mechanic Jimmy Dunham who won the 1935 Indy 500 with driver Kelly Petillo.

And in a way, it was almost a miracle. Dunham was passing by Petillo’s garage when he saw him and his friends building the car for the Indy 500. He immediately offered his help, and ended being the riding mechanic.

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Today in History (May 20, 1962)

British driver Graham Hill wins his first Formula 1 Grand Prix (Zandvoort, Netherland), while driving for BRM. Trevor Taylor (Lotus) and Phil Hill (Ferrari) were second and third. Graham Hill debuted in Formula 1 during the Monaco Grand Prix in 1958. He was World Champion twice (1962 & 1968), and also won the 24 Hours ofLe Mans(1972) and the Indy 500 (1966).

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Today in History (May 19, 1928)

British Colin Chapman is born in Richmond,Surrey. He studied engineering at University College in London. He served as a RAF pilot and after that he started selling secondhand cars. By 1952 he established Lotus Engineering Co. Chapman built his first single-seater in 1956. Lotus entered the Formula 1 Championship in 1958. Under his direction Team Lotus won seven F1 Constructors titles, six Driver’s Championships and the Indy 500.

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1919 – Indy 500 Moments: Thirty three for the first time

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WWI was over and races returned to the tracks. In 1919 the Indy 500 was named the “Liberty Sweepstakes,” honoring the end of the war and celebrated flying Ace, Eddie Rickenbacker.

The race was won by American driver Howdy Wilcox –the first American winner since Joe Dawson in 1912, and for the first time there were 33 starters.

Back in 1911, after the first Indy 500, the Board of the American Automobile Association (AAA) established a formula to set the maximum number of cars per event: A track could start one car per every 400ft of its length. Based on that calculation, theSpeedwaycould host 33.

However, for some reason or another it never happened until 1919… And it didn’t happen again until 1934. Since then, apart from 1947, 1979 and 1997, it’s always been 33.

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Today in History (May 18, 1952)

Italian driver Piero Taruffi wins the Swiss Grand Prix (Bremgarten). He also scores his and Ferrari’s first fastest lap in a Formula 1 race. Rudi Fischer (Ferrari) was second and Jean Behra (Gordini), third. It was the first official podium for Fischer and Behra.

1952 Formula 1 Season (Part 1/2):

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1916-Indy 500 Moments: When the Indy 500 was the Indy 300

In 1916 the Indy 500 was really the Indy 300. Manufacturers were dropping out of the race because of USAinvolvement in European hostilities during World War I and race organizers decided to cut the distance. The race was held on Tuesday May 30 and was won by Dario Resta driving a Peugeot.

It’s been the only Indy 500 scheduled for less than 500 miles. The race had 21 entries, and according to some sources seven cars were entered either by theSpeedwayor its owners in order to guarantee a strong field.

Eddie Rickenbacker was one of the entries. It was his fourth –and last, Indy 500. Shortly after the race he left for Europe and became fighter ace in WWI. Years later, he would become one of the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1927-1945).

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Today in History (May 17, 1981)

British driver Nigel Mansell scores his first Formula 1 podium finish, third place, during the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. It was his seventh F1 race. Carlos Reutemann (Williams-Ford) won the race, and Jacques Laffite Ligier-Matra) finished second.

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Today in History (May 16, 1909)

 Italian driver Luigi Villoresi is born inMilan. He began to race local rallies when he was in his twenties but his racing career was interrupted by the WWII. After the war he raced for Maserati winning the Italian Championship (1946-47) and by 1949 he joined Ferrari. He participated in 31 F1 GP from 1950 to 1956. And of course, this short recount does not tell the whole story!

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1914 – Indy 500 Moments: A very inexpensive race

Gas prices have been always a concern. Well, maybe I am exaggerating. Not always, but invention has been a constant path in the racing world.

After his Indy 500 victory in 1911 Ray Harroun retired (better said, he returned to his retirement as a driver) and continued his career as an engineer. In 1914 he was in charge of the Maxwell Team and developed a special carburetor, allowing his car to run on kerosene.

The car went the full distance for 9^th place and using just 30 gallons of kerosene. Considering that kerosene sold for six cents per gallon in those days, that was a very inexpensive Indy 500: US$1.80.

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