Deaths of driver and track worker leave unanswered questions. Championship race car drivers that died at tracks other than indy. All fatalities are related to championship car races at the speedway unless. Five of those one driver, two riding mechanics and two spectators occurred in a threeday span in 1909. May 26, 2016 indy car racings clown prince was a huge name in the sport. Aug 08, 2016 notable driver deaths in the past five years.
Some of the worst crashes in indianapolis 500 history the. Notable deaths in motor sports the past five years usa today. The car in which clay weatherly was killed was the same car that johnny hannon wrecked on may 21st. Notable deaths john andretti 19632020, nascar and indycar racer. All fatalities are related to championship car races at the speedway unless otherwise noted. Formula racing is any of several forms of openwheeled singleseater motorsport. Jan 14, 2010 all the fatal accidents of the indy 500 in history. Oct 16, 2011 indycar driver dan wheldon died following a massive 15 car wreck during sundays las vegas indy 300. The three most recent indy car related deaths have come on two temporary canadian tracks. Hein died of head injuries when he was hit by driver willy t. Aug 11, 2014 former racer and worker on car 45 mark tychoniewicz defended stewart on facebook saying the driver of car 45 saw ward at the last second and barely missed him and noted that stewart had even less. Aug 28, 2019 race car driver jessi combs, who earned the title of fastest woman on four wheels after she set a record with a jetpowered car, died tuesday while trying to beat a land speed record, officials. Two drivers lost their lives in indycar crashes this past decade, dan. A separate list compiles drivers who have died of a medical condition while driving or shortly thereafter and another section shows nondriver deaths.
Deaths expose fears for strength of us foodsupply chain. Around 2 million drivers in car accidents experience permanent injuries every year. Most recently, driver scott brayton, who had won the pole position, died due to a skull fracture sustained during a practice run while testing a backup car in 1996. Adam pettys fatal crash was one of the saddest car crashes in nascar history because of a similar issue. Sprint car driver jason johnson has died following a crash at beaver dam raceway in wisconsin, race officials said sunday.
American automobile association 1916, 19201941, 19461955. Browse through latest information on your favorite indycar drivers, including full biographies, latest news, highres photos and high quality videos. The names of teams of the champ car and indy car drivers that crashed, as well as the date of the fatal accidents, are also included. Dan wheldon, 33, became the first driver to be killed in an indycar wreck since paul dana was killed back in march of 2006 at homesteadmiami speedway when he was killed in a massive 15car wreck. Oct 16, 2011 dan wheldon died after his car bust into flames during a 15 car pileup sunday at the las vegas indy 300. Race car driver jessi combs, who earned the title of fastest woman on four wheels after she set a record with a jetpowered car, died tuesday while trying to beat a land speed record, officials. Nov 30, 2017 james malloy may 23, 1932 may 18, 1972, was an american racecar driver. Clip another car s wheels, or enter a corner too hard, and you may find yourself upside down in short order. May 22, 2018 deaths before the indy 500 was created.
The series was known as the indy racing league until the beginning of the 2003 season. He retired three times before a 1959 indy crash sent his car sliding 33 feet into the infield upside down. In 1905 the aaa established the national driving championship. Jul 12, 2017 the most spectacular, deathdefying crashed in indy 500 history. Two killed, one injured in toronto indycar crash the.
Weatherly was desperate to find a ride so he could compete in his first indy 500. The most spectacular, deathdefying crashed in indy 500 history. Dan wheldon killed in 15 car accident at las vegas motor speedway circuit british driver dan wheldon has been killed following a 15 car accident at the las vegas 300 indycar series. List of fatalities at the indianapolis motor speedway wikipedia. Stan fox indy 500 crash in 1995 stan fox suffers a huge crash with eddie cheever at indy 500 stan fox, his legs exposed, sits in his airborne car after the front end was torn off while slamming into the first turn wall on the opening lap of the 1995 indianapolis foxs legs were uninjured, but he was hospitalized with serious head injuries. A total of 23 drivers have been killed during practice or qualifying runs at the indy 500.
Dan wheldon, 33, became the first driver to be killed in an indycar wreck since paul dana was killed back in march of 2006 at homesteadmiami speedway when he was killed in a massive 15 car wreck. James malloy fatal crash at indy 500 may 14, 1972 all. List of deaths due to car accidents at the indianapolis 500. Oct 02, 2019 1959 indianapolis 500 thursday, january 01, 1959 latest photos. A somber look at the unfortunate driver, spectator, team member, and rescue worker deaths due to car crashes over the years at the indy 500. A separate list compiles drivers who have died of a medical condition while driving or shortly thereafter and another section shows non driver deaths. Jeff krosnoffs car spun, smashed and scattered today, killing the 31yearold driver and a course worker with three laps left in the toronto molsonindy auto race. More often than not, the driver climbs out of the wreck unaided, and returns the next week or later that same night. The most recent driver to be killed in an indycar series event was justin wilson at the 2015 abc supply 500. Indycar driver dan wheldon died following a massive 15 car wreck during sundays las vegas indy 300. The premier series of nascar has seen 28 driver fatalities, the most recent of which occurred in february 2001 when dale earnhardt was killed during the daytona 500.
Nascar driver tony stewart kills kevin ward in sprintcar. This article lists the people who have been fatally injured in american championship car racing during testing, practice, qualifying, or races since 1916, categorized into drivers, riding mechanics, and nonparticipants. Mike spence fatal accident at indy 500 may 7, 1968. Indycar racings clown prince was a huge name in the sport. Part of the excitement of sprint car racing is the danger. The story of the last spectator death at the indy 500. On sunday morning, may 14th, he turned in a lap at 186mph and was going into the 3rd turn when he lost control of the car. The list covers deaths that occurred on the national championship trail. Read 9 most tragic auto racing deaths and other more, sports lists articles from total pro sports. British indycar driver justin wilson died on monday after suffering a severe head injury during a wreck in the closing laps of a race the previous day at pocono raceway in pennsylvania, indycar off. He participated in 37 formula one world championship grands prix, debuting on 8 september 1963. Champ car, now called indycar, was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in american championship car racing for many decades, associated primarily with the indianapolis 500.
Jan 31, 2020 deaths expose fears for strength of us foodsupply chain. He managed to talk leon duray into letting him use the rebuilt hannon car. List of indycar fatalities driver deaths in motorsport. Dan wheldon, 33, became the first driver to be killed in an indycar wreck. Dead at age 33, the britishborn dan wheldon was, at the time he was killed, one of indys top drivers, having won the indianapolis 500 race two times. The following is a list of the teams that currently compete or used to compete in the ntt indycar series. Dan wheldon died after his car bust into flames during a 15car pileup sunday at the las vegas indy 300.
Crashes are inevitable in this high stakes, high speed competition. The same day that allan simonsen died at the 20 running of the 24 hours of le mans, twotime german vln endurance racing champion wolf silvester died because of a heart attack suffered during the vln race at the nurburgring. Due to the inherently dangerous nature of auto racing, many individuals, including drivers, crew. Jessi combs, race car driver and fastest woman on four.
It was a big attraction when the philly area was a hotbed of indy car racing. Nov 30, 2017 mike spence fatal accident at indy 500 may 7, 1968. May 25, 2016 this may 30, 1973, file photo, shows swede savage amid the burning wreckage of his race car after a crash during the indianapolis 500 auto race in indianapolis, ind. A couple of thousand race fans watched the 1964 race on a closedcircuit show in agriculture hall at the allentown fairgrounds.
Remembering deaths corner langhorne speedway frank. Krosnoff and avrin on sunday and track worker jean hein of montreal in the inaugural vancouver molson indy in 1990. Krosnoff and avrin on sunday and track worker jean hein of montreal in the inaugural vancouver molsonindy in 1990. Izod indy car driver dan wheldon was killed in a 15car crash at las vegas motor speedway.
The lists show indycar or champ car fatalities that occurred in events making up the national championship, which has been held by the following sanctioning bodies. Even after andretti left indycar for the nascar sprint cup series after his 10thplace finish in the 1994 indy 500, he never lost his. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 27 championship points. Circuit of the americas open test february 12, 2020 02122020 circuit of the americas open test. Indy pro 2000 cooper tires usf2000 championship shop. Dan wheldon killed in 15car accident at las vegas motor speedway circuit british driver dan wheldon has been killed following a 15. This article lists drivers who have been fatally injured while competing in or in preparation for testing, practice, qualifying races sanctioned by the national association for stock car auto racing nascar. Even after andretti left indycar for the nascar sprint cup series after his 10thplace finish in. Driver killed in indycar wreck was a student of crashes.
There have been 14 drivers that have died while racing in the indy 500 dating back to 1919. Jeff krosnoff september 24, 1964 july 14, 1996 with three laps to go in the molson indy toronto jeffs car made wheeltowheel contact with the car of stefan johansson, sending it into. There were skid marks for 75 feet and car parts scattered 150 yards away. The tire that changed karen kurtenbachs life weighed 18. Some of the worst crashes in indianapolis 500 history. Remembering deaths corner langhorne speedway franks place. The most spectacular, deathdefying crashed in indy 500. Indy 500 deaths the incredible crash of driver swede. Indycar drivers who died racing indy motor speedway. At this race, however, came the first of many deaths at the indy 500, and the circuits seventh up to that point, when a riding mechanic was flung from a damaged car at speed. Circuit of the americas open test february 12, 2020 02122020.
Indycar driver dan wheldon was killed in a 2011 crash at las vegas motor. He had no time to apply the brakes and the thermo king eagle veered right and crashed almost headon into the wall. Many of the fatal indy car accidents at races that occured during the american championship car racing since 1982 are listed here. Overall, indy car, or championship car, racing has virtually vanished from the. The 10 most tragic auto racing deaths in history goliath.
The three most recent indycarrelated deaths have come on two temporary canadian tracks. Oct 17, 2011 read 9 most tragic auto racing deaths and other more, sports lists articles from total pro sports. For drivers who competed in the cartchamp car racing series from 19792008, see category. Jan 30, 2020 notable deaths john andretti 19632020, nascar and indycar racer. Car accident statistics a breakdown of facts, crashes result in, distracted driving, and typical causes of accidents that result in death. Five of those one driver, two riding mechanics and two spectators occurred in a threeday span. May 22, 2019 a total of 23 drivers have been killed during practice or qualifying runs at the indy 500.
Today we look at these brave drivers who died doing what they love. When weatherly qualified the car, the team signalled love and kisses on the black chalk. Top sprint car driver bryan clauson died one day after a crash while leading the belleville midget nationals in kansas. He was also the first driver to be killed in indycar competition since paul dana died in an accident during practice for the 2006 toyota indy 300 at homestead. Justin wilson, a british racecar driver who was struck by debris from another car during the closing laps of the penultimate race in the indycar series season, died monday, racing officials said. American automobile association 1916, 19201941, 19461955 united states auto club 19561995 championship auto racing teams 19792007 indy racing league since 1996. Indianapolis motor speedway, prestolite trophy race, race, suffered a suspected rearaxle failure resulting in his car flipping end over end. Las vegas dan wheldon, the 2011 indianapolis 500 winner and one of the most popular drivers in openwheel racing, died sunday at las vegas motor speedway in a horrific multicar crash on lap 11 of the indycar series season finale. Full extent of injuries to indycar driver robert wickens. Andrettis uncle is former indy 500 winner mario andretti, and he is the cousin of former racers michael and jeff. Drivers ntt indycar series, indy lights, indy pro 2000. Top sprint car driver bryan clauson died one day after a. The full extent of the injuries robert wickens suffered in his huge indycar accident at pocono last month have been revealed following surgeries to his legs and hands. Death a grim chapter in storied history of the indy 500.
The following is a list of 73 individuals killed at the indianapolis motor speedway. Yesterdays heartbreaking death of dan wheldon at the las vegas indy 300 serves as a. Ribbs after helping pushstart another driver on the course. Indycar driver justin wilson died monday night from a head injury suffered when a piece of debris struck him at pocono raceway in pennsylvania over. Officials decided to call the race, but the drivers, many sobbing openly. Here are the most memorable crashes in indianapolis.