If you joined us for 30 Days in
May earlier this year, you’ll see some familiar drivers and cars from that countdown.
We’ve also added some new entries for 23 Days in August. So let’s celebrate
some notable drivers and cars from the glorious past of the Indianapolis 500!
National champion Joe Leonard had to sweat it out a bit before his place
in the lineup for the 1973 Indianapolis 500 was secure. |
23 Days In August: No. 1, Joe
Leonard, 1973 Samsonite Parnelli/Offy. For 1973, Joe Leonard had a brand-new
Parnelli chassis designed by Maurice Philippe as well as the same sponsor
(Samsonite) and number (1, for winning the 1972 national championship). For
whatever reason, Leonard had a tough time getting up to a comfortable speed in
qualifying. He waved off twice, then accepted a somewhat precarious 189.954 mph
average on his third strike on the second day of time trials.
A.J. Foyt found himself in a similar predicament as his four-lap
average of 188.927 was the 29th fastest of the 30 cars qualified
after the first weekend. (Leonard was 28th.)
Fortunately, each had a backup car and started working up to speed
during the next week of practice, Foyt in the No. 84 Gilmore Racing Coyote
(which was handed over to George Snider at literally the last minute) Leonard
in the No. 41 Samsonite Parnelli.
As it turned out, enough cars qualified a bit slower to give Leonard
and Foyt a little breathing room.
On Race Day, Leonard was able to dodge the melee created by Salt
Walther’s horrendous crash on the first lap. When the race finally resumed two
days later after persistent rain, Leonard overcame a spin but was sidelined by
a bad hub after 91 laps and finished 18th.
Sadly, the 1973 500 was Leonard’s last race at Indianapolis. He
suffered devastating foot and ankle injuries during the 1974 California 500 at
Ontario Motor Speedway and never raced again. His injury also signaled the end
of the Vel’s Parnelli Jones “Super Team” with Al Unser and Mario Andretti. Expected
to dominate USAC racing starting in 1972, Leonard’s national championship that
year was one of the few major highlights.
Jan Opperman replaced Leonard at Indianapolis and Pocono, but
essentially the operation became a two-driver team that started to dwindle even
further. Unser and Andretti were together for 1975’s three 500-mile races, but
then it was down to just Unser for 1976 with sponsorship from American Racing
Wheels. For 1976, Andretti joined Roger Penske’s team, running some USAC races
while he pursued a World Championship in Formula One.
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