List of IndyCar fatalities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 non-participants. 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:

  • American Automobile Association (1916, 1920–1941, 1946–1955)
  • United States Auto Club (1956–1995)
  • Championship Auto Racing Teams (1979–2007)
  • Indy Racing League (since 1996)

The National Championship, which was split from 1979 to 2007, has featured regular races, non-points paying (non-championship) rounds, competitions sanctioned by entities that did not stage the National Championship in the same year (such as the Automobile Club of America), and the AAA Big car meetings held in the 1946 season.

The most recent driver to be fatally injured in an IndyCar Series event was Justin Wilson at the 2015 ABC Supply 500.

Driver fatalities[]

Driver Date of crash Sanction Track[note 1] Event Team/Owner Car/Entry Session
 Bob Burman (USA)[1] April 8, 1916 AAA Grand Boulevard (Corona) Corona Grand Prize[note 2] Peugeot Race
 Carl Limberg (USA)[2] May 13, 1916 AAA Sheepshead Bay Speedway Metropolitan Trophy Delage Race
  (USA)[3] August 27, 1916 AAA (Kalamazoo) 100-mile race[note 2] Sunbeam Race[note 3]
  (USA)[4] November 18, 1916 ACA Santa Monica Road Race Course American Grand Prize Marmon Race
  (USA)[5][note 4] December 2, 1916 AAA Uniontown Speedway Universal Trophy[note 2] Premier Race
 Gaston Chevrolet (USA)[7] November 25, 1920 AAA Los Angeles Speedway 250-mile race Frontenac Race
 Eddie O'Donnell (USA)[7][note 5] Duesenberg
  (USA)[9] October 1, 1921 AAA San Joaquin Valley Classic Frontenac Race
 Roscoe Sarles (USA)[10] September 17, 1922 AAA Kansas City Speedway 300-mile race Cliff Durant Miller Race
 Howdy Wilcox (USA)[11] September 4, 1923 AAA Altoona Speedway 200-mile race Duesenberg Race
 Joe Boyer (USA)[12][note 6] September 1, 1924 AAA Altoona Speedway Fall Classic Duesenberg – Duesenberg SC Race
 Jimmy Murphy (USA)[14] September 15, 1924 AAA New York State Fairgrounds 150-mile race Miller Race
 Ernie Ansterburg (USA)[15] October 16, 1924 AAA Charlotte Speedway 250-mile race Duesenberg Practice
  (USA)[16] April 22, 1925 Long Island Motor Parkway Private test Wells's Hornet Testing
 Ray Cariens (USA)[17][note 7] November 29, 1925 AAA 250-mile race Miller – Miller SC Race
 Herbert Jones (USA)[19][note 8] May 27, 1926 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Miller – Miller SC "Elcar" Qualifying
  (UK)[21] July 4, 1926 AAA Rockingham Speedway Independence Day Sweepstakes Duesenberg Qualifying
 Fred Comer (USA)[22] October 12, 1928 AAA Rockingham Speedway International Motor Classic Mike Boyle Miller FD – Miller SC "Boyle Valve" Race
 Bill Spence (USA)[23] May 30, 1929 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Duesenberg – Duesenberg SC Race
 Ray Keech (USA)[24] June 15, 1929 AAA Altoona Speedway 200-mile race Yagle Miller – Miller SC "Simplex Piston Ring" Race
  (USA) May 25, 1930 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Cyrus Marshall and Paul Marshall Duesenberg Special Race
 Joe Caccia (USA)[25] May 26, 1931 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Alvin Jones Duesenberg "Jones & Maley" Practice
 Jimmy Gleason (USA)[26] September 12, 1931 AAA New York State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Duesenberg Qualifying
 Milton Jones (USA)[27] May 27, 1932 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Milton Jones Miller Practice
 Bill Denver (USA)[28] May 28, 1933 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Ray Brady ? – Studebaker "Brady & Nardi" Qualifying
 Mark Billman (USA)[29] May 30, 1933 Duesenberg "Kemp-Mannix" Race
 Lester Spangler (USA)[29] Harry Hartz Miller
 Peter Kreis (USA)[30] May 25, 1934 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Harry Hartz Miller FD – Miller "Miller-Hartz" Practice
  (USA)[31] September 9, 1934 AAA New York State Fairgrounds 100-mile race George Simmons Oakland "Simmons" Race
 Johnny Hannon (USA)[32] May 21, 1935 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Leon Duray Stevens – Miller "Bowes Seal Fast" Practice
 Stubby Stubblefield (USA)[32] Phil Shafer ? – Buick "Victor Gasket" Qualifying
 Clay Weatherly (USA)[33] May 30, 1935 Leon Duray Stevens – Miller "Bowes Seal Fast" Race
 Al Gordon (USA)[34] January 26, 1936 AAA Ascot Motor Speedway 125-mile race[note 2] Bill White Wetteroth – Offenhauser Race
 Billy Winn (USA)[35] August 20, 1938 AAA Illinois State Fairgrounds 100-mile race[note 2] Miller Race
 Floyd Roberts (USA)[36] May 30, 1939 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Lou Moore Wetteroth – Offenhauser "Burd Piston Ring" Race
 George Bailey (USA)[37] May 7, 1940 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Gulf Oil Miller RE4D – Miller SC "Gulf-Miller" Practice
 Lou Webb (USA)[38] September 2, 1940 AAA New York State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Joe Marks Marks – Offenhauser Race
  (USA)[39] June 22, 1941 AAA Langhorne Speedway 100-mile race[note 2] Herman Hoppe ? – Riley Qualifying
  (USA)[40] April 14, 1946 AAA Williams Grove Speedway 10-lap Big car race Heat race
  (USA)[41] June 16, 1946 AAA Flemington Fair Speedway Big car race Bagley – Hal D. O. "Burd Piston Ring" Heat race
 Bus Wilbert (USA)[42] August 11, 1946 AAA Funk's Speedway 20-lap Big car race Race
 George Robson (CAN)[43] September 2, 1946 AAA Lakewood Park 100-mile race Cliff Bergere Wetteroth – Offenhauser "Noc-Out Hose Clamp" Race
 George Barringer (USA)[43] Ervin Wolfe Shaw – Offenhauser "Wolfe-Tulsa"
 Al Putnam (USA)[44] September 15, 1946 AAA Indiana State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Richard Palmer Stevens – Offenhauser Qualifying
 Shorty Cantlon (USA)[45] May 30, 1947 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Lou Rassey Snowberger FD – Miller "Auto Shippers" Race
 Ralph Hepburn (USA)[46] May 16, 1948 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Lou Welch Kurtis 2000 – Novi SC "Novi Grooved Piston" Practice
 Ted Horn (USA)[47] October 10, 1948 AAA DuQuoin State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Ted Horn Enterprises Horn – Offenhauser Race
 George Metzler (USA)[48][note 9] May 28, 1949 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Lee Glessner Shaw – Offenhauser Practice
 Bill Sheffler (USA)[50][note 10] June 19, 1949 AAA New Jersey State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Bill Sheffler Bromme – Offenhauser Practice
 Rex Mays (USA)[52] November 6, 1949 AAA Del Mar Fairgrounds 100-mile race Ervin Wolfe Kurtis 2000 – Offenhauser Race
 Walt Brown (USA)[53] July 29, 1951 AAA Williams Grove Speedway Indianapolis Sweepstakes[note 2] Jack Robbins Wetteroth D – Offenhauser Qualifying
 Johnny McDowell (USA)[54] June 8, 1952 AAA Wisconsin State Fair Park Rex Mays Classic Roger Wolcott Kurtis Kraft – Offenhauser Qualifying
 Joe James (USA)[55][note 11] November 2, 1952 AAA Santa Clara County Fairgrounds 100-mile race Bob Estes Watson – Offenhauser Race
 Chet Miller (USA)[57] May 15, 1953 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Jean Marcenac Kurtis FD – Novi SC "Novi Governor" Practice
 Carl Scarborough (USA)[58][note 12] May 30, 1953 Lee Elkins Kurtis Kraft/Wetteroth D – Offenhauser "McNamara" Race
 Bob Scott (USA)[59] July 5, 1954 AAA Darlington Raceway Independence Day Sweepstakes Ray Brady Kurtis 4000 – Offenhauser Race
 Manny Ayulo (USA)[60][note 13] May 16, 1955 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Peter Schmidt Kurtis 500C – Offenhauser Practice
 Bill Vukovich (USA)[62] May 30, 1955 Lindsey Hopkins Race
 Jack McGrath (USA)[63] November 6, 1955 AAA Arizona State Fairgrounds Bobby Ball Memorial Jack Hinkle Kurtis 4000 – Offenhauser Race
 Keith Andrews (USA)[64] May 15, 1957 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Giuseppe Farina Kurtis 500G – Offenhauser Practice
 Pat O'Connor (USA)[65] May 30, 1958 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Chapman Root Kurtis 500G – Offenhauser "Sumar" Race
 Art Bisch (USA)[66][note 14] July 4, 1958 USAC Lakewood Speedway 100-mile race Peter Salemi Kuzma – Offenhauser "Central Excavating" Race
 Jimmy Reece (USA)[68] September 28, 1958 USAC Trenton Speedway 100-mile race George Bignotti Kurtis 500G – Offenhauser "Bowes Seal Fast" Race
 Marshall Teague (USA)[69] February 11, 1959 USAC Daytona International Speedway Speed record attempt Chapman Root Kurtis 500D – Offenhauser "Sumar Streamliner"[note 15] Testing
 George Amick (USA)[71] April 4, 1959 USAC Daytona International Speedway Daytona 100 George Bignotti Epperly – Offenhauser "Bowes Seal Fast" Race
 Dick Linder (USA)[72] April 19, 1959 USAC Trenton Speedway Race of Champions Jake Vargo Kurtis 4000D – Offenhauser Race
 Jerry Unser (USA)[73][note 16] May 2, 1959 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 H. H. Johnson Kuzma – Offenhauser "Helse" Practice
 Bob Cortner (USA)[75] May 19, 1959 Cornis Engineering Cornis – Offenhauser
 Van Johnson (USA)[76] July 19, 1959 USAC Williams Grove Speedway Indianapolis Sweepstakes[note 2] Jake Vargo Kurtis 4000D – Offenhauser Race
 Ed Elisian (USA)[77] August 30, 1959 USAC Wisconsin State Fair Park 200-mile race Ernest Ruiz Christiansen – Offenhauser "Travelon Trailer" Race
 Jimmy Bryan (USA)[78] June 19, 1960 USAC Langhorne Speedway 100-mile race Leader Card Watson – Offenhauser Race
 Tony Bettenhausen (USA)[79] May 12, 1961 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Doug Stearly Watson – Offenhauser "Stearly Motor Freight" Practice
 Al Keller (USA)[80] November 19, 1961 USAC Arizona State Fairgrounds Bobby Ball Memorial Bruce Homeyer Phillips – Offenhauser "Konstant Hot" Race
 Hugh Randall (USA)[81] July 1, 1962 USAC Langhorne Speedway Langhorne 100 Jake Vargo Kurtis 4000D – Offenhauser Race
 Eddie Sachs (USA)[82] May 30, 1964 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 DVS Halibrand Shrike – Ford "American Red Ball" Race
 Dave MacDonald (USA)[82] Mickey Thompson Thompson 63 – Ford "Sears Allstate"
 Bill Horstmeyer (USA)[83] August 22, 1964 USAC Illinois State Fairgrounds Tony Bettenhausen Memorial Bill Horstmeyer Kuzma – Offenhauser "M. A. H." Race
 Bobby Marshman (USA)[84][note 17] November 27, 1964 Phoenix International Raceway Tire test Lindsey Hopkins Lotus 29 – Ford "Pure Oil Firebird" Testing
 Chuck Rodee (USA)[86] May 14, 1966 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Leader Card Watson – Offenhauser "Wynn's" Qualifying
 Mike Spence (UK)[87] May 7, 1968 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 STP Lotus 56 – Pratt & Whitney Turbine "STP Oil Treatment" Practice
 Ronnie Duman (USA)[88] June 9, 1968 USAC Wisconsin State Fair Park Rex Mays Classic Peter Salemi Gerhardt – Offenhauser TC "Central Excavating" Race
 Jim Malloy (USA)[89][note 18] May 14, 1972 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Gerhardt Eagle – Offenhauser TC "Thermo King" Practice
  (USA)[91] March 12, 1973 FasTrack International Speedway Private test Page Racing Eagle – Offenhauser TC Testing
 Art Pollard (USA)[92] May 12, 1973 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Bob Fletcher Eagle – Offenhauser TC "Cobre Firestone" Practice
 Swede Savage (USA)[93][note 19] May 30, 1973 Patrick Racing Eagle – Offenhauser TC "STP Oil Treatment" Race
 Gordon Smiley (USA)[95] May 15, 1982 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Bob Fletcher March 81C – Cosworth Qualifying
 Jim Hickman (USA)[96][note 20] July 31, 1982 CART Wisconsin State Fair Park Provimi Veal Tony Bettenhausen 200 Rattlesnake Racing March 81C – Cosworth Practice
 Jovy Marcelo (PHL)[98] May 15, 1992 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Euromotorsport Lola T91/00 – Cosworth DFS Practice
 Scott Brayton (USA)[99] May 17, 1996 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Team Menard Lola T95/00 – Menard V-6 Practice
 Jeff Krosnoff (USA)[100] July 14, 1996 CART Toronto street circuit Molson Indy Toronto Arciero-Wells Racing Reynard 96i – Toyota Race
 Gonzalo Rodríguez (URY)[101] September 11, 1999 CART Laguna Seca Raceway Honda Grand Prix of Monterey Team Penske Lola B99/00 – Mercedes Practice
 Greg Moore (CAN)[102] October 31, 1999 CART California Speedway Marlboro 500 Forsythe Racing Reynard 99i – Mercedes Race
 Tony Renna (USA)[103] October 22, 2003 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Firestone tire test Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force – Toyota Testing
 Paul Dana (USA)[104] March 26, 2006 IRL Homestead–Miami Speedway Toyota Indy 300 Rahal Letterman Racing Panoz – Honda Practice
 Dan Wheldon (UK)[105] October 16, 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Motor Speedway IZOD IndyCar World Championship Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara IR-05 – Honda Race[note 3]
 Justin Wilson (UK)[106][note 21] August 23, 2015 IndyCar Pocono Raceway ABC Supply 500 Andretti Autosport Dallara DW12 – Honda Race

Breakdown[]

Fatalities among riding mechanics[]

✝ indicates that the driver was killed in the same collision.

Mechanician Driver Date of crash Sanction Track[note 1] Event Team/Owner Car/Entry Session
 Erick Schrader (USA)[1]  Bob Burman (USA) ✝ April 8, 1916 AAA Grand Boulevard (Corona) Corona Grand Prize[note 2] Peugeot Race
 Roxie Pallotti (USA)[2]  Carl Limberg (USA) ✝ May 13, 1916 AAA Sheepshead Bay Speedway Metropolitan Trophy Delage Race
 Dan Colombo (USA)[108]  Aldo Franchi (ITA) July 15, 1916 AAA Omaha Speedway 150-mile race Peugeot – Sunbeam "Peusun" Race
 Marion Arnold (USA)[3]   (USA) August 27, 1916 AAA (Kalamazoo) 100-mile race[note 2] Stutz Race
 Bert Shields (USA)[109][note 23]  Gil Andersen (USA) September 4, 1916 AAA First International Sweepstakes Stutz Race
 Ralph Hitlich (USA)[111][note 24]  Wilbur D'Alene (USA) October 14, 1916 AAA Speedway Park Grand American Auto Race Crawford – Duesenberg Race
 Charles Swartz (USA)[113]   (USA)[note 25] November 10, 1916 AAA/ACA Santa Monica Road Race Course Mercer Practice
 Gaston Weigle (FRA)[5]   (USA) ✝ December 2, 1916 AAA Uniontown Speedway Universal Trophy[note 2] Premier Race
 Lyall Jolls (USA)[7]  Eddie O'Donnell (USA) ✝ November 25, 1920 AAA Los Angeles Speedway 250-mile race Duesenberg Race
 Harry Barner (USA)[9]   (USA) ✝ October 1, 1921 AAA San Joaquin Valley Classic Frontenac Race
 Paul Marshall (USA)[115]  Cy Marshall (USA) May 30, 1930 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 George Henry Duesenberg Race
 William Berry (USA)[116]  Doc MacKenzie (USA) June 8, 1930 AAA Michigan State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Ambler Ambler – Buick Qualifying
 Clarence Grove (USA)[25]  Joe Caccia (USA) ✝ May 26, 1931 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Alvin Jones Duesenberg "Jones & Maley" Practice
 Harry Cox (USA)[117]   (USA) May 25, 1932 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Alvin Jones Duesenberg "Jones & Maley" Qualifying
 Bob Hurst (USA)[28]  Bill Denver (USA) ✝ May 28, 1933 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Ray Brady ? – Studebaker "Brady & Nardi" Qualifying
 G. L. Jordan (USA)[29]  Lester Spangler (USA) ✝ May 30, 1933 Harry Hartz Miller Race
 Bob Hahn (USA)[30]  Peter Kreis (USA) ✝ May 25, 1934 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Harry Hartz Miller FD – Miller "Miller-Hartz" Practice
 Leo Whitaker (USA)[32]  Stubby Stubblefield (USA) ✝ May 21, 1935 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Phil Shafer ? – Buick "Victor Gasket" Qualifying
 Spider Matlock (USA)[34][note 26]  Al Gordon (USA) ✝ January 26, 1936 AAA Ascot Motor Speedway 125-mile race[note 2] Bill White Wetteroth – Offenhauser Race
 Albert Opalko (USA)[118]  Frank McGurk (USA) May 28, 1937 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Murrell Belanger Stevens – Miller "Belanger-Miller" Qualifying
 Lawson Harris (USA)[119]  Babe Stapp (USA) September 20, 1939 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tire test Mike Boyle Testing

Fatalities among non-participants[]

This section includes racers participating in an event who were killed while on the sidelines.

Name Date of crash Sanction Track[note 1] Event Session Role Course of events
 W. H. Speer (USA) April 8, 1916 AAA Grand Boulevard (Corona) Corona Grand Prize[note 2] Race Policeman Due to tire damage, Bob Burman's racer skidded, turned over and dashed into a crowd of people, several of whom were injured. Burman, his mechanician Erick Schrader, and a policeman died.[1]
 Harold Edgington (USA) November 18, 1916 ACA Santa Monica Road Race Course American Grand Prize Race Spectator With his left front wheel having collapsed, missed a slight turn. His auto slid along the roadside and struck several people, three of them fatally. Jackson died when he was pinned against a tree.[4]
 Leslie Jenkins (USA) Camera operator
 Lena Juratsch (USA) Street vendor
 Hughie Hughes (UK) December 2, 1916 AAA Uniontown Speedway Universal Trophy[note 2] Race Driver lost control of his racer, smashed through the guard rail and slammed into the press stand, injuring several of its occupants and crushing to death Hughie Hughes, who had crashed out of the race himself and was standing by the press box. Galvin, who succumbed two days later, and Gaston Weigle, his mechanician, were also killed.[5]
 Bert Shoup (USA) May 30, 1923 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Race Spectator Tom Alley, relief driving for Earl Cooper, slid, rolled over and penetrated a fence, killing a 16-year-old spectator and hurting two other boys and himself.[120]
 Russ Hughes (USA) November 29, 1923 AAA Beverly Hills Speedway 250-mile race Pre-race Photographer Attempting a start before the race, Harry Hartz hit a photographer, a team owner, and a mechanic, killing the former two and badly injuring the latter.[121]
 George Wade (USA) Team owner
 Dan Shaw (USA) October 12, 1925 AAA Rockingham Speedway Autumn Classic Practice Mechanic A broken steering knuckle caused car to overturn and strike his mechanic, who was standing in the pits. Spooner survived a concussion.[122]
 Wilbur Brink (USA) May 30, 1931 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Race Bystander Billy Arnold's racer lost a wheel, which flew over the retaining wall and fatally hit an 11-year-old boy who was off IMS's property.[123]
 Otto Rohde (USA) May 28, 1937 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Spectator After the gas tank was punctured, Overton Phillips lost control of his burning auto and veered into the pit area where he collided with another machine, killing two attendants, one of whom died five days later, and hurting three other people including himself.[118][124]
 George Warford (USA)
 Everett Spence (USA) May 30, 1938 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Race Spectator Having impacted a retaining wall, Emil Andres's racer rolled over, losing the right front wheel, which shot through the air before fatally striking a spectator standing on a truck.[125]
 Sam Stovall (USA) April 14, 1946 AAA Williams Grove Speedway 30-lap Big car race Feature race Spectator A man, who was hit by a car while he was crossing the track near completion of the race, succumbed to his injuries two days later.[40][126]
 Peter Stupurak (USA) October 15, 1950 AAA California State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Race Spectator Tony Bettenhausen ran into and climbed up the rear of Walt Faulkner's racer, flipped over and smashed through a fence, hurting four spectators, one of whom died the next day.[127]
 Lawrence Syrell (USA) September 12, 1953 AAA New York State Fairgrounds 100-mile race Race Spectator Trying to thread his way through Jimmy Bryan's spinning car and the fence, Chuck Stevenson hopped the outside wall, killing one spectator and injuring another 14.[128]
 Clay Smith (USA) September 6, 1954 AAA DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Ted Horn Memorial Race Mechanic Rodger Ward, after losing a tire and locking wheels with Chuck Stevenson, spun into the pit area where he overturned, killing a mechanic and hurting eight other people.[129]
 John Masariu (USA) May 30, 1961 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Race Firefighter A fire truck, while maneuvering in the vicinity of Eddie Johnson's parked racer, which was burning, ran over and killed a firefighter.[130]
 Red Stainton (USA) April 13, 1969 USAC Hanford Motor Speedway California 200 Race Mechanic Fuel leaking from Art Pollard's car was ignited during a pit stop so that two attendants were burned, one of whom leapt back into the path of Mario Andretti's auto. The mechanic sustained head injuries and died two days later.[131][132]
 Armando Teran (USA) May 30, 1973 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Race Team member Rushing to the scene of Swede Savage's crash, a fire truck ran into and killed a crewman for Graham McRae.[93]
 Lyle Kurtenbach (USA) May 24, 1987 USAC Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Race Spectator A tire which had come off Tony Bettenhausen Jr.'s racer was catapulted into the stands by Roberto Guerrero's car and fatally struck a spectator in the head.[133]
 Jean-Patrick Hein (CAN) September 2, 1990 CART Vancouver street circuit Molson Indy Vancouver Race Marshal Having pushed Ross Bentley's stalled racer out of a chicane area, three track workers jumped into the path of Willy T. Ribbs's car, which was coming around the corner. After colliding with its rear, two of them were flung through the air and sustained minor injuries. The third was hit and overrun by the left rear wheel, succumbing to head injuries several hours after being operated on.[134][135]
 Gary Avrin (CAN) July 14, 1996 CART Toronto street circuit Molson Indy Toronto Race Marshal Because Jeff Krosnoff's racer had touched wheels with that of Stefan Johansson, it was catapulted into the air and fatally struck a track worker, who was positioned behind the wall lining the track, while on its way into the catch fence where it disintegrated on impact, the cockpit coming to a stop against the opposite wall. Krosnoff was killed, too. Another marshal was slightly hurt.[100]
 Kenneth Fox (USA) July 26, 1998 CART Michigan Speedway U.S. 500 Race Spectator On lap 175, Adrián Fernández slammed into the outside wall in the fourth turn. His right front wheel was torn off and hurled over the fence into the stands, killing three spectators and injuring six others.[136]
 Sheryl Laster (USA)
 Michael Tautkus (USA)
 Barry Mobley (USA) May 1, 1999 IRL Lowe's Motor Speedway VisionAire 500K Race[note 3] Spectator On the 59th lap, Stan Wattles crashed into the outside wall in turn four, shearing off both right-side wheels. John Paul Jr.'s car hit one of them, propelling it over the fence into the stands. As a result, three spectators were killed and eight others, two of whom were children, suffered injuries. The race was abandoned before completing the necessary 104 laps to be official.[137][138]
 Jeffrey Patton (USA)
 Randy Pyatte (USA)

See also[]

  • List of fatalities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c The name of the track at the time of the crash is displayed.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Non-championship event
  3. ^ a b c The race was abandoned and voided after the fatal crash.
  4. ^ Galvin died on December 4, 1916, two days after his crash.[6]
  5. ^ O'Donnell died on November 26, 1920, the day after his crash.[8]
  6. ^ Boyer died on September 2, 1924, the day after his crash.[13]
  7. ^ Cariens died on December 1, 1925, two days after his crash.[18]
  8. ^ Jones died on May 28, 1926, the day after his crash.[20]
  9. ^ Metzler died on June 3, 1949, six days after his crash.[49]
  10. ^ Sheffler died on June 28, 1949, nine days after his crash.[51]
  11. ^ James died on November 5, 1952, three days after his crash.[56]
  12. ^ Having stopped in the pits, Scarborough collapsed and died of heat exhaustion.[58]
  13. ^ Ayulo died on May 17, 1955, the day after his crash.[61]
  14. ^ Bisch died on July 6, 1958, two days after his crash.[67]
  15. ^ The Formula Libre-classified car featured streamlined fenders over the wheels and a canopy enclosing the driver.[70]
  16. ^ Unser died on May 17, 1959, fifteen days after his crash.[74]
  17. ^ Marshman died on December 3, 1964, six days after his crash.[85]
  18. ^ Malloy died on May 18, 1972, four days after his crash.[90]
  19. ^ Savage died on July 2, 1973, thirty-three days after his crash.[94]
  20. ^ Hickman died on August 1, 1982, the day after his crash.[97]
  21. ^ Wilson died on August 24, 2015, the day after his crash.[107]
  22. ^ The current, last, or best known name of the track is displayed.
  23. ^ Shields died on September 30, 1916, twenty-six days after his crash.[110]
  24. ^ Hitlich died on October 31, 1916, seventeen days after his crash.[112]
  25. ^ Horsman, who had not been officially entered in the event and did not observe the starter's flag indicating the end of the practice session,[113] was released from hospital a week later.[114]
  26. ^ Matlock died on January 27, 1936, the day after his crash.[34]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c ""Bob" Burman, speed marvel, killed in race". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. April 9, 1916.
  2. ^ a b "Two men killed in motor race at Sheepshead" (PDF). The New York Times. May 14, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  3. ^ a b "Two killed in race as 11 cars pile up" (PDF). The New York Times. August 28, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  4. ^ a b "Racing auto leaps track; four killed" (PDF). The New York Times. November 19, 1916. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  5. ^ a b c "Noted auto racers are killed at Uniontown". The Pittsburg Press. December 3, 1916.
  6. ^ "Frank Galvin, noted driver, dies of hurts". The Morning Herald. Uniontown, Pennsylvania. December 5, 1916. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31.
  7. ^ a b c "Death crowns winning auto racing king". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. Associated Press. November 26, 1920.
  8. ^ "O'Donnell is dead from accident that killed Chevrolet". The Pittsburg Press. United Press. November 26, 1920.
  9. ^ a b "Racing driver and mechanic fatally hurt". The Bisbee Daily Review. October 2, 1921.
  10. ^ "Roscoe Sarles killed in race at Kansas City". The Spartanburg Herald. September 18, 1922.
  11. ^ "Wilcox is killed on Altoona Speedway". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. September 5, 1923.
  12. ^ "Joe Boyer is fatally injured trying to overcome lead". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. September 2, 1924.
  13. ^ "Joe Boyer, injured in race, dies at hospital in Altoona". Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian. United Press. September 2, 1924.
  14. ^ "Jimmy Murphy, veteran automobile speed artist, is killed in wreck". The Spartanburg Herald. Associated Press. September 16, 1924.
  15. ^ "Auto driver is killed on new Charlotte track". The Spartanburg Herald. October 17, 1924.
  16. ^ "Killed testing auto he built for racing" (PDF). The New York Times. April 23, 1925. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-12.
  17. ^ Grayson, Harry (November 30, 1925). "Elliott wins Culver race; shatters world speed mark". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Universal Service.
  18. ^ "Automobile racer dies from injuries". The Evening Record. Ellensburg, Washington. Associated Press. December 2, 1925.
  19. ^ "Driver injured qualifying for 500-mile race". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. May 28, 1926.
  20. ^ "Injuries in trial spin fatal to race driver". The Evening News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. May 29, 1926. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31.
  21. ^ "Auto racer killed". The Reading Eagle. Associated Press. July 5, 1926.
  22. ^ "Fred Comer killed, four others hurt in Rockingham auto races". Nashua Telegraph. Associated Press. October 13, 1928.
  23. ^ Dunkley, Charles W. (May 31, 1929). "Wm. Spence dies when car skids". Sarasota Herald. Associated Press.
  24. ^ "Ray Keech wins Altoona race in death". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. June 16, 1929.
  25. ^ a b "Auto race driver killed in trial". Nashua Telegraph. Associated Press. May 26, 1931.
  26. ^ "Jimmy Gleason killed in crash at Syracuse". The Reading Eagle. Associated Press. September 13, 1931.
  27. ^ "Second death on speedway in trials for Memorial Day race". The Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau, Missouri. May 28, 1932.
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