Monday, May 31, 2021

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 31, John Mahler, 1972 Harbor Fuel Oil McLaren/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
In 1972, John Mahler used an old McLaren to make his first start in the Indianapolis 500.

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 31, John Mahler, 1972 Harbor Fuel Oil McLaren/Offy. We wrap up with John Mahler, who was one of eight rookies in the starting lineup for the 1972 Indianapolis 500. He had qualified for the 1971 race but was “bumped” by his car owner, Dick Simon.

Mahler had qualified Simon’s back-up car in 1971, becoming the fastest rookie in 500 history in the process. But then Simon was bumped, so he took over Mahler’s ride for the race.

So began what was to be an interesting, colorful Indianapolis 500 career for Mahler, who made four starts from 1972 through 1979. In 1973, he was part of the Champ Carr Enterprises team with Sam Posey. Mahler likely would have made the race had he been allowed to complete either of his two qualifying attempts, both of which were tracking toward an average fast enough to make the race.

As it turned out, Posey was bumped and Jim McElreath took over Mahler’s car and made the field in the final minutes of qualifying.

Mahler’s best finish was in 1977, when he was credited with 14th after getting some relief help from Larry “Boom Boom” Cannon. He almost squeezed into the 1983 lineup, accepting a speed that was some 27 mph off the pole speed with the hope that rain would curtail qualifying. The gamble almost paid off, but Mahler was knocked out by Dennis Firestone, who completed his run as showers hit.

In 1972, Mahler wound up 22nd, sidelined by piston failure after 99 laps. A highlight film produced by Channel 6 in Indianapolis indicates that Mahler had to pull in before the start because he forgot his gloves.

30 Days in May: No. 30, Arie Luyendyk, 1990 Domino’s Pizza Lola/Chevrolet

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Arie Luyendyk was a darkhorse pick to win the 1990 Indianapolis 500.

30 Days in May: No. 30, Arie Luyendyk, 1990 Domino’s Pizza Lola/Chevrolet. It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 30 years since Arie Luyendyk won his first Indianapolis 500 (and first IndyCar race) after starting third. Domino’s chose the number 30 as a tie-in to its “30 minutes or less” delivery guarantee, a slogan that eventually was abandoned in the interests of safety. The Flying Dutchman added another 500 win in 1997 and still holds the one-lap and four-lap qualifying records, which he set in 1996.

30 Days in May: No. 29, Pancho Carter, 1987 Hardee’s March/Cosworth

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Pancho Carter had a tough time making it into the field for the 1987 Indianapolis 500,
but he persevered to earn the 29th starting position - the same number as his car.

30 Days in May: No. 29, Pancho Carter, 1987 Hardee’s March/Cosworth. Pancho Carter, the 1974 Rookie of the Year, was a steady presence in the 500 lineup through 1991, missing only the 1988 race. His big day came in 1985, when he won the pole with a Buick-powered machine. The “TT” indicates this car was a backup to a backup, the result of Carter taking a "header" in practice in his primary car, then withdrawing his backup car to qualify this one.

During this time, the Hardee’s restaurants in the Indianapolis area gave out trading cards of IndyCar drivers if you made a certain purchase. It sure would nice to have a set of cards again.

Friday, May 28, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 28, Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2014 DHL Dallara/Honda

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Doug Mathews/Indianapolis Motor Speedway photo
The duel between Ryan Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves in the closing laps of
the 2014 Indianapolis 500 was some of the best racing ever at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

30 Days in May: No. 28, Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2014 DHL Dallara/Honda. Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first 500’s U.S.-born winner since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006 when he held off Helio Castroneves to cap a thrilling duel. Hard, clean and precise racing in the closing laps made the 2014 race one of the most memorable.

This year, Hunter-Reay was a bit of a surprise in making the Fast Nine Shootout. He'll start seventh on Sunday.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 27, Janet Guthrie, 1977 Bryant Heating and Cooling Lightning/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Janet Guthrie drove in the Indianapolis 500 three times starting in 1977.
30 Days in May: No. 27, Janet Guthrie, 1977 Bryant Heating and Cooling Lightning/Offy. Janet Guthrie was something of a retread rookie in 1977 after trying valiantly the year before to make the race in a Vollstedt that was, to put it kindly, a bit long in the tooth.

Updated equipment made a big difference for Guthrie the next year, as she made the field comfortably on the last day of qualifying. Mechanical woes doomed her to 29th place. She made the race the next two years, with a best finish of ninth in 1978. It wasn’t until 1992 that another woman, Lyn St. James, qualified for the 500.

Bryant has been a sponsor at Indianapolis since the furnace and the air conditioner were invented (just kidding) and has been associated with Tony Kanaan in recent years.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 44, Dick Simon, 1973 TraveLodge Eagle/Foyt

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Did you know this was a record-setting car? In 1973, Dick Simon set a record for
eight-cylinder engines when he qualified at 191.276 mph.

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 44, Dick Simon, 1973 TraveLodge Eagle/Foyt. I miss guys like Dick Simon around the Speedway. Energetic and enthusiastic, Simon was an outstanding ski jumper and parachutist before he pursued a career in Indy cars. Had the X Games been around in the 1960s, he probably would’ve been a star.

As for Indianapolis, Simon usually was saddled with marginal equipment that he had to hustle into the show. His 1973 mount was pretty decent though, and Simon ran up front before piston failure sent him to the sidelines for a 14th-place finish. 



Toward the end of his career, Simon obtained better cars, leading to better results – he was sixth and ninth in his last two races in 1987 and 1988, respectively. Simon is bald, but he donned a toupee for this ad in the 1973 Indianapolis 500 program.

30 Days in May: No. 26, Marco Andretti, 2006 NYSE Group Dallara/Honda

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Dan Helrigel/Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Marco Andretti came within a fraction of a second of winning the Indianapolis 500
on his first try in 2006.

30 Days in May: No. 26, Marco Andretti, 2006 NYSE Group Dallara/Honda. Marco Andretti added an agonizing “almost” to the family legacy of Indianapolis 500 frustration and heartbreak right off the bat. As a 19-year-rookie, Andretti led coming out of Turn 4 on the last lap before Sam Hornish Jr. blew past to nip him by 0.0635 of a second.

In 2020, he won the pole in a stirring effort, the first for the family since Mario’s in 1987. Race Day was a disappointment as Marco wound up 13th.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 25, Danny Ongais, 1978 Interscope Racing Parnelli/Cosworth

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Majeske post card collection
Danny Ongais started on the front row for the 1978 Indianapolis 500.

30 Days in May: No. 25, Danny Ongais, 1978 Interscope Racing Parnelli/Cosworth. Some cars and drivers just sum up an era at Indianapolis and are indelibly linked. While not a legend of the Brickyard like, say, A.J. Foyt or Rick Mears, if you went to the track in the late 1970s to mid-1980s, you remember Danny Ongais and the black Interscope No. 25.

Danny On the Gas was fast, fearless and spectacular. When Tom Carnegie or John Totten piped up on the PA system that Ongais was on the track, you paused from munching your Sno-Cone and gave the 2 ½-mile oval your undivided attention.

In 1978, the Flying Hawaiian started second and led 71 laps before the engine blew. Ongais wound up 18th with 145 laps to his credit. 

Monday, May 24, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 24, Robbie Buhl, 2001 Purex G Force/Infiniti

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Robbie Buhl started ninth and finished 15th in the 2001 Indianapolis 500.

30 Days in May: No. 24, Robbie Buhl, 2001 Purex G Force/Infiniti. Robbie Buhl was one of the drivers who benefited from the infamous split in open-wheel racing. The former Indy Lights champion (1992) had trouble finding a good ride in CART, but the arrival of the Indy Racing League in 1996 provided an opportunity to finally show his talent.

He had success with both John Menard and Dreyer & Reinbold, winning a race for each. Buhl’s Purex machine was one of the more striking liveries of that era. In 2001, he started ninth and finished 15th in the 500.

Buhl competed in the 500 from 1996-2003 with a best finish of sixth in 1999 driving for A.J. Foyt. The Buhl family is quite prominent in the history of his Detroit, and Buhl Sport Detroit in Corktown, the ciity’s oldest neighborhood, is very active with several initiatives, projects and businesses.

 

Sunday, May 23, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 23, Mel Kenyon, 1972 Gilmore Racing Coyote/Ford

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mel Kenyon started every Indianapolis 500 from 1966-73. In 1972, he started 12th
and finished 18th.

30 Days in May: No. 23, Mel Kenyon, 1972 Gilmore Racing Coyote/Ford. Considered one of the true gentlemen in the sport, Mel Kenyon had several top finishes at Indianapolis and is considered the best USAC Midget driver in history. His longevity is particularly amazing. Some 30 years after his last start in the 500, Kenyon was still racing at age 70! Even more incredible, Kenyon was severely burned in a crash in 1965 and raced with a special glove with a device that fit in the steering wheel – incredible determination and will.

For 1972, Kenyon drove one of two Gilmore Racing entries, with Wally Dallenbach in the other car. While Kenyon qualified safely in 12th, Dallenbach was bumped.

Dallenbach did, however, get to start the race as he replaced Art Pollard, who broke a leg in practice after qualifying the No. 40 STP Oil Treatment Lola/Foyt. Race Day was rather difficult for Dallenbach as his car caught fire several times during pit stops. He pressed on, finishing 15th, 18 laps down to winner Mark Donohue.

For his determination, Dallenbach won the “Extra Mile” award from the St. Piux X Council of Knights of Columbus. (I haven’t been able to watch the Victory Banquet for many years; does this award still exist?)

Kenyon’s race was far less eventful. He ended up 18th, going out after 126 laps with fuel injection woes. Later that season, Kenyon almost won at Michigan. He ran out of fuel while leading with just two laps to go.

30 Days in May: No. 22, Tony Stewart, 1999 The Home Depot Dallara/Oldsmobile

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Tony Stewart pulled double duty in 1999, notching top 10s in both the Indianapolis 500
and the 600-mile NASCAR race later that night.

30 Days in May: No. 22, Tony Stewart, 1999 The Home Depot Dallara/Oldsmobile. Tony Stewart was the first homegrown star of the Indy Racing League. His pedigree was perfect: An Indiana native who won USAC national titles in Midgets, Sprints and Silver Crown cars (all in the same season!) who proved immediately adept at driving Indy cars, too, winning races and a championship in those as well.

After running in the IRL from 1996 to 1998, Stewart became a full-time NASCAR driver, appearing in the 500 just two more times (1999 and 2001). Stewart was fast right off the bat in stock cars, too, and finished his NASCAR career with three Cup titles and two wins in the Brickyard 400.

In the 1999 Indianapolis 500, Stewart finished ninth, four laps down to winner Kenny Brack. But Stewart’s workday was just beginning, because he flew from Indianapolis to Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete in the 600-mile NASCAR race that night and finished an impressive fourth.

 

Friday, May 21, 2021

Remembering the PEP Gas Treatment Special

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Larry Cannon consults with his crew as he tries to find the speed to qualify
the PEP Gas Treatment Special for the 1973 Indianapolis 500.

One of the fun things about delving into the history of the Indianapolis 500 is learning more about some of the cars that didn’t make the race in a given year. In just about every case, there’s an interesting story about the driver, car or sponsor – sometimes all three.

Take the PEP Gas Treatment Special driven by Larry Cannon in 1973. That year, I was fortunate to go to Pole Day with my family for the second straight year. Though I was only 5 years old, a few things stood out. First, I remember the crowd going absolutely wild when Swede Savage set “A New Track Record” and broke Bobby Unser’s qualifying marks.

Then, a bit later, Johnny Rutherford topped Savage’s mark and nearly became the first to eclipse the magic 200 mph mark with a lap at 199.071 mph. That near-miss really had the immense crowd cheering.

For much of the day we sat in the stands behind the pits – the gold metal ones in the Tower Terrace, which were much more comfortable than the green wooden bench seats in the Terrace Extension.

During one of the lulls, we moved to seats on the outside of the track, probably Stand H. This would make sense because this is where my parents were going to sit for the race, so they probably wanted to get an idea of their vantage point.

Being able to move around on the track is one of the great things about going to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I still do it myself when I come out to a practice day. I’ll start behind the pits, then go over to Turn 1, then the main stretch and down to Turn 4. It’s great to be able to see the cars from different spots around the course.

Anyway, back to my day in 1973. Sitting in H stand I noticed a car that seemed to be practicing quite a bit, which was the PEP Gas Treatment Special.

By this point, I had become sort of a mini Donald Davidson in our house, entertaining my family with what drivers drove which cars, how to tell the difference between a McLaren and an Eagle, where the drivers were from, the sponsors and so forth.

But to be honest, I didn’t know a whole lot about the PEP Gas Treatment Special driven by Larry Cannon. I knew about the STP Gas Treatment because that was No. 60 and driven by Graham McRae, and I had seen him qualify earlier. (Hard to miss those STP cars, right?)

I had learned that STP stood for Scientifically Treated Petroleum. Until recently, I didn’t know that PEP was an acronym as well – I just thought it had to do with giving your car some “pep” as it related to better performance.

PEP actually stood for Power Ecology Performance. It was a product of PEP Enterprises, which was located at 4960 Jefferson Street in Gary, Indiana.

For anything racing connected to the Calumet Region, I turn to my good friend Bill LaDow, who runs Speedway Sightings. This site is an excellent resource for articles about Chicago and Northwest Indiana and their connection to the Indianapolis 500.

LaDow, in particular, helps maintain the legacy of Ray Nichels, one of the great mechanical minds of all time in both Indy cars and NASCAR.

“PEP was selling through distributors for a toll producer,” said LaDow, referencing an advertisement for a distributor in South Bend in April of 1972. “It very well could have been Ray who was supplying the product as a toll producer (sort of an on-demand service). When going through his records, I found evidence of several business plans that never fully came to fruition; many were handshake deals.”

How the PEP Gas Treatment Special Fared

So there’s the story of the sponsor. How about the car and driver? The PEP Gas Treatment Special was entered by August Hoffman, also known as Gus, and was an older-model Eagle.

According to oldracingcars.com, another excellent resource, it was a 1970 Eagle and traced its lineage to the Leader Cards team and Bobby Unser drove it in practice for the 500.

By 1973 the aero era was in full swing at Indianapolis and it was difficult to keep cars from earlier in the decade that were designed with minimal (or no) wings competitive. Mechanics for these smaller teams did their best, but, unfortunately, creativity, ingenuity and effort went only so far.

Still, Cannon passed his four-phase rookie test the Wednesday before the first weekend of qualifying (back then there were four qualifying days over two weekends).

The four phases were:

·         10 laps at 150 mph

·         10 laps at 155 mph

·         10 laps at 160 mph

·         10 laps over 160 mph

Cannon was the sixth rookie to pass this test, behind Bobby Allison, Tom Bigelow, Johnny Parsons Jr., Larry McCoy and Tom Sneva (!). McRae, the eventual Rookie of the Year, finished the next day.

Allison and McRae qualified on the first day and eventually were joined by Jerry Karl in the starting lineup. Karl needed to pass only a two-phase refresher test because he had previous USAC experience, including starts at Pocono and Ontario the previous year.

Allison and McRae, on the other hand, were completely new to USAC and had to do the full program. This despite Allison being one of the best NASCAR drivers and probably ranked in the top 10 drivers in the world at the time of his inaugural appearance at Indianapolis; McRae was also an accomplished racer with championships in the Tasman Cup Series and the L&M Continental Series to his credit.

Cannon had passed parts of the driver’s test in both 1970 and 1971 and was unable to qualify. Although now eligible to make an attempt, Cannon’s team was not among the 46 car/driver combinations that drew a number for the qualifying lineup. He made no attempt on subsequent qualifying days, either.

No PEP, but a place in the field

The same car, driver and team returned to Indianapolis in 1974 and squeezed into the field in the 33rd spot. A new sponsor, American Financial, was on board for Race Day. Cannon finished 24th after being sidelined with mechanical woes after 49 laps. Still, to make the field with an old car and a shoestring operation was a great achievement.

Cannon was joined in the 1974 rookie class by a few other drivers who had tried and fell short in 1973 – Tom Bigelow, Johnny Parsons Jr. and Tom Sneva. All three were regulars in the starting lineup at Indianapolis for the next decade or so, with Sneva of course winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500 as part of an outstanding career.

“Boom Boom,” as Cannon of course was called, made the 500 in 1976 and 1980 as well. He passed away on Nov. 6, 1995, at the age of 58.

 

Thanks to William R. LaDow, Principal of Speedway Sightings; data from oldracingcars.com; Suzi Elliott, IMS Media Relations; and Kendra Wilson, IMS Photo, for their help with this article.

 

 

 

30 Days in May: No. 21, Al Unser, 1977 American Racing Parnelli/Cosworth

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

 

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Al Unser Sr. was consistently strong in the Indianapolis 500. In addition to his
record-tying four victories, he had 15 top 10 finishes in 27 starts.

30 Days in May: No. 21, Al Unser, 1977 American Racing Parnelli/Cosworth. 1977 was Al Unser’s last year with the Vel’s Parnelli Jones team, an association that dated back to 1969. (Unser missed Indianapolis that year after breaking a leg in a motorcycle mishap in the Speedway infield, then returned to win the next two 500s.)

As the 1970s wore on, VPJ faded somewhat, then began a bit of a renaissance as development on the then-new Cosworth engine started to pay off.

In 1975, Unser and teammate Mario Andretti practiced in a new chassis built for the Cosworth before opting for the proven Eagle/Offy combination. In 1976, Unser put the first Cosworth in the 500 , starting fourth and ending up seventh in the rain-shortened race.

In 1977, Unser did a little better, starting third and finishing third. For many drivers, such a result would be a career highlight, but for Unser at Indianapolis, it was just another day at the track. In addition to his record-tying four victories, Big Al had an additional SEVEN top-three finishes in 27 Indianapolis 500 starts!

Unser is the all-time lap leader in the 500 at 644, a record that could be in jeopardy this year. Scott Dixon is third at 563 – 81 behind - so it’s definitely within reach.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Thursday, May 20, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 20, Gordon Johncock, 1975 Sinmast Wildcat/DGS

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Majeske postcard collection
In 1975, Gordon Johncock quickly grabbed the lead from his second starting position,
but fell out after 11 laps due to mechanical trouble.  

30 Days in May: No. 20, Gordon Johncock, 1975 Sinmast Wildcat/DGS. Starting in 1973 and over the next 10-plus years, Gordon Johncock was synonymous with the number 20 and Patrick Racing. For 1975, he had a new sponsor, a new chassis and a new engine. It all added up to a fast combination, as Johncock was among the leaders every day in practice and held the pole for a while before A.J. Foyt nudged him aside with a run late in the day.

Johncock jumped to the lead at the start of the race but fell out after just 11 laps and finished 31st. DGS stood for Drake, Goosen and Sparks, the last names of engine pioneers Dale Drake, Leo Goosen and Art Sparks. The name was something of a tribute by George Bignotti, who helped modify an Offy engine to create the DGS.

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
I just like this photo from 1973. I haven't been to the museum for a few years,
but I hope Harlan Fengler's hat is in one of the displays.



#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 73, David Hobbs, 1973 Carling Black Label Eagle/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
David Hobbs drove for four different teams in his four starts in the Indianapolis 500:
Penske in 1971, Roy Woods Racing in 1973 (above), McLaren in 1975 and Walther in 1976. 

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 73, David Hobbs, 1973 Carling Black Label Eagle/Offy. As a 5-year-old in 1973, in addition to trying to memorize the car numbers, drivers, chassis and engine, I tried to memorize the hometowns of all the drivers in the Indianapolis 500. Some were more easily remembered than others.

Take David Hobbs, for instance. He was from Upper Boddington, England. Tough to forget that one. Hobbs was one of the few international competitors during this era, with four starts spanning 1971-76. In 1973, he was still running when the race was red-flagged and finished 11th.

A versatile and successful driver, Hobbs competed in several disciplines, including Formula One, Indycar, Can-Am, Trans-Am and even NASCAR Winston Cup. He also was an insightful and witty commentator on broadcasts, and he still pops up occasionally on TV.

 #Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @MrDavidHobbs

30 Days in May: No. 19, Spike Gehlhausen, 1976 Spirit of Indiana McLaren/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Spike Gehlhausen qualified 25th but dropped out before the green flag in 1976
with a mechanical issue.

30 Days in May: No. 19, Spike Gehlhausen, 1976 Spirit of Indiana McLaren/Offy. The Spirit of Indiana entries appeared in the Indianapolis 500 in 1975 and 1976, each with a rookie driver from Indiana and each with No. 19 because Indiana is the 19th state.

In 1975, short-track star Sheldon Kinser (Bloomington) finished 12th. For 1976, Spike Gehlhausen (Jasper) got the assignment. Spike’s dad, Carl Gehlhausen, was a longtime owner in USAC in the Midget, Sprint, Championship Dirt and Championship divisions. In 1973, an up-and-coming Tom Sneva won several features in the family’s soon-to-be-banned rear-engine sprint car.

Race Day was a tough one as the Offy lost oil pressure before the green flag. Spike (real first name Daniel) competed in four more Indianapolis 500s, with a best finish of 10th in 1979.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 18, Mike Mosley, 1983 Kraco March/Cosworth

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mike Mosley appeared to be a good bet to win the pole for the 1983 Indianapolis 500
until rookie Teo Fabi set "A New Track Record" in qualifying.

30 Days in May: No. 18, Mike Mosley, 1983 Kraco March/Cosworth. Along with Bobby Unser and Johnny Rutherford, Mike Mosely was one of my favorite drivers as a young boy. Unlike Unser and Rutherford, Mosley never found the right combination to vault him to Indy glory. It wasn’t due to lack of determination (twice he was badly injured at Indianapolis from crashes caused by mechanical failure) or certainly driving talent. Twice Mosley started last in IndyCar races and won, both at Phoenix and Milwaukee, considered “driver’s tracks.”

In 1983, Mosley was consistently among the fastest in practice and appeared to have the pole locked up until an unknown rookie named Teo Fabi stunningly broke the track record. In what was to be his last 500, Mosley wound up a fitting 13th after a spin and contact in Turn 1.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Monday, May 17, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 17, Willy T. Ribbs, 1991 Cosby/McDonald’s Lola/Buick

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: From the 1991 Indianapolis 500 Yearbook
Willy T. Ribbs drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1991 and 1993.

30 Days in May: No. 17, Willy T. Ribbs, 1991 Cosby/McDonald’s Lola/Buick. Willy T. Ribbs had a devil of a time qualifying for his first Indianapolis 500 because the ever-temperamental Buick engine would fail after only a handful of laps. In the last hour of qualifying, Ribbs shoved aside the frustration, shelved any jinxes and put it in the show, bumping Ton Sneva in the process. The mechanical gremlins returned on race day, however, and Ribbs lasted only five laps and finished 32nd.  

Like many others, I highly recommend the documentary “Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story” to learn more about Ribbs’ career.

Photo credit: 1991 Indianapolis 500 Yearbook published by Carl Hungness.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @WillyRibbs


Sunday, May 16, 2021

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 93, Johnny Parsons, 1975 Ayr-Way WNAP “Buzzard”

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Ayr-Way WNAP cars were certainly among the most colorful at the track in 1975.


30 Days in May Bonus: No. 93, Johnny Parsons, 1975 Ayr-Way WNAP “Buzzard”: Cars entered in the Indianapolis 500 certainly have had interesting, colorful names. One of my favorites was the Ayr-Way WNAP “Buzzard” from 1975. This name may not make sense today – especially if you’re not from Indianapolis – but it was definitely a product of the times.

Ayr-Way was spun off L.S. Ayres, one of the top fashion stores in Indianapolis. Ayr-Way was a department store similar to Target – in fact, many of the Indianapolis locations became Target stores after Ayr-Way folded in the late 1970s. (Squint hard enough and maybe you can see the old Ayr-Way flower where the Target bull’s eye is now at some stores.)

We often shopped at the Ayr-Way on Lafayette Road because it had just about everything – even a garden center. WNAP was a hard-rock station teeming with many interesting personalities; the buzzard was the station mascot. It was at 93.1 on the FM dial, so that’s why it was Car 93.

Because I was only 7 years old, I didn’t listen to WNAP. My parents were strictly WIBC (1070 AM), which was fine because WIBC covered qualifications and had updates from the track that I would listen to when I got home from school while allegedly doing my homework.

This was very much an Indianapolis-centric team. In addition to the two local sponsors, driver Johnny Parsons lived in central Indiana for many years. He’s the son of 1950 winner Johnnie Parsons (note the different spellings) and originally was from California but moved to Indiana to jump-start his racing career.

The chief mechanic (remember those?) was Bill Finley, who basically built race cars out of his garage in Eagledale, a subdivision within earshot of the track. (My first house was in Eagledale: 3031 Fuller Drive. Carl Wilde School 79 represent!)

The team also had a second entry: Car 94, driven by Mike Hiss.

Race day wasn’t the greatest for either driver. Hiss spun out on Lap 39 and finished 29th. Parsons ran as high as fifth before transmission woes sidelined him after 140 laps. He finished 19th.

Ayr-Way heavily promoted its involvement with the 500. In addition to buttons (see below), there were posters, large ads in the Indianapolis papers (there were two of them back then) and even a timing and scoring chart with Parsons’ likeness.

Today, interestingly, WNAP’s old FM spot is occupied by WIBC.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar 

I came across this button on eBay
a few years ago and had to add it to my collection.


30 Days in May: No. 16, Lee Kunzman, 1973 Ayr-Way/Lloyd’s Eagle/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Lee Kunzman was a second-day qualifier in 1973. He started 25th, but his four-lap
average of 193.092 mph ranked an impressive 11th.

30 Days in May: No. 16, Lee Kunzman, 1973 Ayr-Way/Lloyd’s Eagle/Offy. Lee Kunzman was considered a rising star in the USAC ranks before his career was derailed by some serious crashes. In 1973, he joined the Lindsey Hopkins team and moved up from 25th to finish seventh in the rain-shortened race. This was a very good year for Hopkins as three of his cars were in the top 10: Roger McCluskey was third and Mel Kenyon fourth in addition to Kunzman in seventh. After his driving career, Kunzman was part of Ron Hemelgarn’s operation for many years.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Saturday, May 15, 2021

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 71, Rick Mears, 1978 CAM2 Penske PC6/Cosworth

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Although it was a couple of years after the Bicentennial, each car on the Penske team
sported a red, white and blue color scheme for the 1978 Indianapolis 500.
This included rookie Rick Mears and his CAM2 ride.


30 Days in May Bonus: No. 71, Rick Mears, 1978 CAM2 Penske PC6/Cosworth. After trying unsuccessfully to qualify for the 500 as a rookie in 1977, Rick Mears caught the eye of Roger Penske and was offered a ride in races that Mario Andretti could not compete in due to Formula One commitments. Mears eagerly accepted the offer, which also included the Indianapolis 500. The Bakersfield, California, native justified Penske’s confidence by grabbing the outside spot on the front row, setting a rookie qualifying record in the process.

Race day wasn’t great, as Mears forgot to buckle his helmet at the start and then had his engine let go just after halfway and finished 23rd. Still, the outstanding performance in time trials helped Mears earn Co-Rookie of the Year with Larry Rice. Mears’ number, 71, is rarely used at the Speedway, but I think the reason why Penske used that number is because his other entries were 7 (Andretti) and 1 (Tom Sneva), so he just combined the two. (Dick Simon had 17 that year, in case you were wondering.)

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @Team_Penske

30 Days in May: No. 15, Peter Revson, 1973 Gulf McLaren/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Majeske collection
Peter Revson finished 31st in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. Sadly, it was his last race at Indianapolis.


30 Days in May: No. 15, Peter Revson, 1973 Gulf McLaren/Offy. A front-row starter the previous two 500s, Peter Revson was the first qualifier for the 1973 race. He wound up starting 10th and finished 31st after crashing coming out of Turn 4 after only three laps. That year, I remember my mom taking me to a drug store in the Speedway Shopping Center to meet Revson, who was promoting Rev-Up vitamins, and get an autographed picture, which I still have.

Majeske collection
I was delighted to "reunite" with Peter Revson's 1973 Indy 500 car in 2018. Well, sort of.
According to oldracingcars.com, the whereabouts of that car are unknown.
Nevertheless, this is an outstanding restoration and it was nice to get close to a Gulf McLaren again. 


Majeske collection
My late mother made this for me many years ago. It's a bit worse for wear now,
but you can see the autographed photo mentioned in the story.


Friday, May 14, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 14, A.J. Foyt, 1973 Gilmore Racing Coyote/Foyt

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

A.J. Foyt was still working out the bugs in his new Coyote/Foyt at Indianapolis in 1973.
No surprise, Super Tex figured it out. The Coyote/Foyt combination won the pole in 1974
and 1975 and got Foyt his  record fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 1977. 


30 Days in May: No. 14, A.J. Foyt, 1973 Gilmore Racing Coyote/Foyt. Amazingly, A.J. Foyt was close to the bubble for the 1973 500, as his speed average of 188.927 mph was 32nd-fastest (or second-slowest). Not surprisingly, the 1973 race was one to forget for Foyt. His Coyote dropped out after 37 laps, then Foyt took over teammate George Snider’s car, which wound up 11th.

Why Foyt had so much trouble in time trials in 1973 is hard to fathom because Super Tex usually was an excellent qualifier. Consider this: In 1991, 33 years after his 500 debut plus coming off devastating lower-leg injuries suffered in a gruesome crash at Road America and at age 56 (!) no less, the amazing Foyt earned a front-row stating position – between Rick Mears and Mario Andretti. Many consider this the greatest front row in Indianapolis 500 history. And it has to rank as one of the greatest feats (no pun intended) in Foyt’s amazing career. 

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @AJFoytRacing

Thursday, May 13, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 13, Danica Patrick, 2018 Go Daddy Dallara/Chevrolet

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: John Cote/Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Danica Patrick finished in the top 10 six times in eight starts in the Indianapolis 500.
Her best finish was third in 2009.


30 Days in May: No. 13, Danica Patrick, 2018 Go Daddy Dallara/Chevrolet. With a green paint job and the number 13, Patrick had herself a real hoodoo wagon for her last go-round at the Brickyard – all she needed was a bag of peanuts and she would’ve scored the trifecta of racing superstitions.

Patrick had an amazing debut in 2005, earning an incredibly loud roar from the crowd when she took the lead in the late stages of the race, which was won by Dan Wheldon. Patrick’s final 500 ended with a crash and 30th place, one of only two finishes outside the top 10 in eight starts.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar


Wednesday, May 12, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 12, Bobby Allison, 1973 Sunoco DX McLaren/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Bobby Allison was part of Roger Penske's three-car effort for the 1973 Indianapolis 500,
joining Gary Bettenhausen and defending champion Mark Donohue.


30 Days in May: No. 12, Bobby Allison, 1973 Sunoco DX McLaren/Offy. It’s always great when a star driver from another discipline takes on the challenge of the Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately, mechanical problems sidelined Bobby Allison from the get-go and he finished 32nd after just 1 lap. The NASCAR ace returned in 1975, but the results weren’t much better as Allison finished 25th in that race. On the other hand, Bobby’s brother Donnie did quite well in his two Indianapolis 500 appearances. Donnie Allison finished fourth in 1970 and sixth in 1971, completing 399 out of a possible 400 laps.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @Team_Penske

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 11, Mario Andretti, 1973 Viceroy Parnelli/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mario Andretti qualified a very respectable sixth for the 1973 Indianapolis 500.
Unfortunately, a bad piston eliminated him after just four laps and he finished 30th.


30 Days in May: No. 11, Mario Andretti, 1973 Viceroy Parnelli/Offy. When Mario Andretti joined Al Unser and Joe Leonard at Vel’s Parnelli Jones for the 1972 season, it was expected this “Super Team” would dominate the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar circuit.  As it turned out, these years were not a lot of fun for Andretti. In 1973 he started a strong sixth but was out after four laps with a broken piston to finish 30th. 

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @marioandretti

Monday, May 10, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 10, Michael Andretti, 1991 Kmart-Havoline Lola/Chevrolet

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Michael Andretti made an incredible move to pass Rick Mears on the outside
going into Turn 1 to lead Lap 187 of the 1991 Indianapolis 500. Mears
did the same thing on the next lap and went on to win.

30 Days in May: No. 10, Michael Andretti, 1991 Kmart-Havoline Lola/Chevrolet. What’s May without an “Andretti almost”? 1991 was the closest Michael came to winning the Indianapolis 500, finishing second to Rick Mears after a breathtaking duel in the late stages. In his Indianapolis 500 career, Michael Andretti led 431 laps, 0 wins. Rick Mears led 429 laps at Indy, 4 wins.  Michael has had great success as a car owner in the Indianapolis 500, though, with five victories with five different drivers: Dan Wheldon (2005), Dario Franchitti (2007), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Alexander Rossi (2016) and Takuma Sato (2017).

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @FollowAndretti @michaelandretti @AndrettiAutosport

Sunday, May 9, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 9, Scott Dixon, 2008 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Dan Helrigel/Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Scott Dixon has had an amazing career, but has won the Indianapolis 500 just once: in 2008.


30 Days in May: No. 9, Scott Dixon, 2008 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda. Scott Dixon has compiled an amazing IndyCar career that continues to be largely underappreciated outside of hardcore fans. He’s now third all-time in victories, behind only A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti, and added a sixth championship in 2020, one behind Foyt.

Given all that success, it’s surprising Dixon has only one Indianapolis 500 victory, which came in 2008. He started on the pole and led the most laps on his way to that victory. He’s more than overdue for a second 500 win, and it very well could come this year after falling just short to Takuma Sato in 2020.

Dixon dominated last year’s race, leading 111 laps. That boosted him to third on the all-time laps led list (563) behind Al Unser (644) and Ralph DePalma (612).

Here are some other notable stats from Dixon’s Indianapolis 500 career:

  • 18 starts
  • 13 races led
  • 12 top 10 finishes
  • 8 top 5 finishes

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar @scottdixon9 @CGRTeams

 

Saturday, May 8, 2021

30 Days in May Bonus: No. 48, Mike Mosley, 1981 Pepsi Challenger Eagle/Chevrolet

 

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mike Mosley started in the middle of the front row for the 1981 Indianapolis 500.


30 Days in May Bonus: No. 48, Mike Mosley, 1981 Pepsi Challenger Eagle/Chevrolet. Stunning, fast and loud, 1981 was the only appearance of the Pepsi Challenger at Indianapolis. Always an innovator, Dan Gurney was trying to bring stock-block engines to Indy racing as a lower-cost alternative to the Cosworth engines, which were used by (almost) everyone else. In terms of speed, this car proved his point as Mosley put it in the middle of the front row.

The sound of this screaming Eagle is almost impossible to describe. It had a distinctive roar – in some ways, perhaps, it was the Novi of its generation. In other words, if you heard it, you never forgot it. The distinctive shape and color of the Eagle made it look like a dart hurtling down the straightaway.

Consistent with the lousy fortune Mosley endured at Indianapolis, he went out after 16 laps with a radiator issue, placing 33rd. At Milwaukee a couple of weeks later, Mosley won, going from last to first in an incredible driving display. It was the last of his five wins in Indy cars and the last for Gurney in Indy-car competition as well. 

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

30 Days in May: No. 8, Bobby Unser, 1973 Olsonite Eagle/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Bobby Unser just missed winning the pole back to back in 1973.


30 Days in May: No. 8, Bobby Unser, 1973 Olsonite Eagle/Offy. Based on his incredible qualifying performance in 1972, when he increased the pole speed by more than 17 mph to an average of 195.940 mph, Bobby Unser entered 1973 as the favorite to be the first break the magic 200 mph barrier at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Unser fell just a little short, setting for a four-lap average of 198.183 mph, slightly behind pole-sitter Johnny Rutherford. Unser led the first 39 laps, fell behind after a slow pit stop and dropped out after 100 laps with mechanical trouble.

Better days were just ahead as Unser won the national championship in 1974 and added his second Indianapolis 500 win in 1975, all while still driving for Dan Gurney’s All American Racers.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Friday, May 7, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 7, Gary Bettenhausen, 1972 Sunoco McLaren/Offy

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Gary Bettenhausen became the third driver to make Tom Carnegie exclaim, "It's a new
track record!" during qualifying in 1972. His one- and four-lap marks were later
topped by Bobby Unser.


30 Days in May: No. 7, Gary Bettenhausen, 1972 Sunoco McLaren/Offy. Roger Penske added Gary Bettenhausen for the 1972 season so his team could benefit from his oval-racing expertise. Bettenhausen repaid the confidence by winning at Trenton and was leading the USAC Championship standings heading into the Month of May. He was probably the other favorite to win after Bobby Unser, who boosted the pole speed by more than 17 mph.

Unser led easily, then went out after just 31 laps with ignition rotor failure. Bettenhausen took over from there and seemed poised for a sure victory until his ignition failed after 182 laps.

Given his family’s legacy and Bettenhausen’s great admiration among fans and competitors alike, this could’ve been one of the most popular victories in Indianapolis 500 history. Instead, Mark Donohue, another popular driver, collected the Borg-Warner for Penske, which was the first of 18 – and counting.

This particular postcard was included in a set that folded out and included photos of several of the top drivers of the day as well as scenes from Gasoline Alley, the old museum and more.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Thursday, May 6, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 6, Roger McCluskey, 1971 Sprite Kuzma/Ford

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

This postcard is a little worse for wear after about 50 years. I taped this on a wall
in my room one May. You can see the results. Oops.
30 Days in May: No. 6, Roger McCluskey, 1971 Sprite Kuzma/Ford. An underrated but respected veteran, Roger McCluskey didn’t have a lot of luck at Indianapolis. His ninth-place finish in 1971 was his first top 10 in 11 tries. His sponsor, Sprite, was quite active in the 500 during this era. In addition to sponsoring cars, the soft drink also awarded a trophy and $6,000 to the pole winner. Together, this was known as the “Sprite and Six” award.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

30 Days in May: No. 5, Lloyd Ruby, 1972 Wynn’s Atlanta/Foyt

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Lloyd Ruby was one of the most popular drivers ever at the Speedway, usually ranked
high on "should have won" lists. He finished sixth in 1972.
30 Days in May: No. 5, Lloyd Ruby, 1972 Wynn’s Atlanta/Foyt. The Atlanta car was so named because it was built there in a facility adjoining Gene White Racing. The men behind the effort included two former Team McLaren employees, and the McLaren influence is apparent. Early on, they were dubbed “Scarlett O’Hara McLarens.”

A total of three Atlantas were built for 1972 – two going to the Gene White team for Lloyd Ruby and Cale Yarborough, with the other intended for A.J. Foyt.

Ruby practiced in both the Atlanta and a Lola, which eventually was qualified by Sam Sessions.

The 1972 race ended up being one of the better results for Hard-Luck Lloyd as he finished sixth, two spots behind Sessions in the aforementioned Lola. Yarborough was 10th to cap a very successful day for the Gene White team.

The Atlantas soldiered on for a few more seasons. Jim McElreath practiced in the Foyt Atlanta in 1973, and it was qualified by George Snider for the 1974 Indianapolis 500. This Atlanta was distinguished by its flat, nose that was similar to the 1972 Lola.

According to oldracingcars.com, the Foyt Atlanta eventually morphed into the Boyd-Robeson entry that several drivers tried unsuccessfully to qualify for the 1977 500.

Eldon Rasmussen bought at least one Atlanta for the 1973 season and reworked it into his Ras-Car, which he continuously updated and campaigned for several years.

Larry McCoy also drove a Ras-Car/Atlanta at the Speedway. He and Rasmussen made their Indy debuts in the 1975 500.

The Atlanta was one of 12 marques in the 1972 Indianapolis 500, which seems rather mind-boggling today. Perhaps even more unbelievable is that eight of those chassis were brand-new.

So congratulations to Mike Underwood, Eamon Fullalove and Graeme Bartils for bringing us the Atlanta during a time when innovation ruled the Speedway.

#Indy500 @IMS @IMSMuseum @IndyCar