Don Branson

Don Branson

Born	(1920-06-02)June 2, 1920
Died	November 12, 1966(1966-11-12) (aged 46)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1959–1960
Teams	Phillips
Entries	2
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	3
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1959 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1960 Indianapolis 500

Don Branson (June 2, 1920 – November 12, 1966) was an American racecar driver.

Career

Born in Rantoul, Illinois, Branson was killed in a racing crash at Ascot Park in Gardena, California along with fellow sprint car driver Dick Atkins. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series and also in sprint cars, racing champ cars in the 1956–1966 seasons with 129 starts, including the 1959–1966 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 85 times, with 7 victories.

Branson was also the 1959 and 1964 USAC Sprint Car Series Champion.

Awards

He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1994 and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Indy 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1959	9	10	143.312	12	24	112	0	Torsion bar
1960	7	8	144.753	11	4	200	0	Running
1961	3	2	146.843	3	33	2	0	Bent Valves
1962	14	11	147.312	11	12	200	0	Running
1963	4	3	150.188	4	5	200	0	Running
1964	5	9	152.672	12	12	187	0	Clutch
1965	4	18	155.501	16	8	197	0	Flagged
1966	4	9	160.385	12	23	0	0	Crash FS
Totals						1098	0

Starts	8
Poles	0
Front Row	2
Wins	0
Top 5	2
Top 10	3
Retired	4

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	WDC	Points
1959	Bob Estes	Phillips	Offenhauser L4	MON	500 24	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	POR	ITA	USA		NC	0
1960	Bob Estes	Phillips	Offenhauser L4	ARG	MON	500 4	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	POR	ITA	USA	21st	3