Pat O'Connor (racing driver)
Born | North Vernon, Indiana, United States | October 9, 1928
---|---|
Died | May 30, 1958 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | (aged 29)
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | American |
Active years | 1953–1958 |
Teams | Deidt, Kurtis Kraft, Schroeder |
Entries | 6 (5 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Career points | 0 |
Pole positions | 1 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 1953 Indianapolis 500 |
Last entry | 1958 Indianapolis 500 |
Pat O'Connor (October 9, 1928 – May 30, 1958) was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a 15-car pileup, after sustaining a fatal head injury after rolling his car and catching fire on the first lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500.
He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May 1958, adding to the legend of the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx.
1958 Indianapolis 500
Dick Rathmann and Ed Elisian started the race on the front row, with Jimmy Reece on the outside of the front row. Elisian spun in turn 3 of the first lap and collided with Rathmann's car, sending them both into the wall, and starting a 15-car pileup.
According to A. J. Foyt, O'Connor's car hit Reece's car, sailed fifty feet in the air, landed upside down, and burst into flames. Although O'Connor was incinerated in the accident, medical officials said that he was probably killed instantly from a fractured skull.[1]
Widely blamed for the accident, Elisian was suspended by USAC for the accident (reinstated a few days later), and was shunned by many in the racing community.
Following the accident, race officials announced that they would change the starting procedure, abandoning the single-file trip down pit lane that was used in 1957 and 1958. Also, for the 1959 Indy 500, metal roll bars welded to the frame behind the driver's head were mandated, and helmets were required to pass safety certification by Speedway medical officials.[2]
Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Pos | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1952 | INDY |
MIL |
RAL |
SPR |
MIL |
DET |
DUQ DNQ |
PIK |
SYR |
DNC |
SJS |
PHX |
- | 0 | |
1953 | INDY DNQ |
MIL DNQ |
SPR |
DET |
SPR |
MIL |
DUQ DNQ |
PIK |
SYR |
ISF 7 |
SAC |
PHX 8 |
32nd | 110 | |
1954 | INDY 21 |
MIL 5 |
LAN DNQ |
DAR 10 |
SPR DNQ |
MIL 19 |
DUQ DNQ |
PIK |
SYR DNQ |
ISF DNQ |
SAC DNQ |
PHX DNQ |
LVG 9 |
25th | 200 |
1955 | INDY 8 |
MIL 18 |
LAN 5 |
SPR DNQ |
MIL 26 |
DUQ 9 |
PIK |
SYR 4 |
ISF 5 |
SAC 5 |
PHX 5 |
7th | 800 | ||
1956 | INDY 18 |
MIL 11 |
LAN DNQ |
DAR 1 |
ATL 17 |
SPR 5 |
MIL 21 |
DUQ DNQ |
SYR 13 |
ISF 2 |
SAC 15 |
PHX DNQ |
11th | 680 | |
1957 | INDY 8 |
LAN DNQ |
MIL 4 |
DET |
ATL |
SPR DNQ |
MIL 3 |
DUQ 8 |
SYR 2 |
ISF 10 |
TRE 1 |
SAC 15 |
PHX 2 |
4th | 1,250 |
1958 | TRE 13 |
INDY 29 |
MIL |
LAN | ATL | SPR | MIL | DUQ | SYR |
ISF |
TRE | SAC | PHX | - | 0 |
Indianapolis 500 results
|
|
World Championship career summary
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Pat O'Connor participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once but scored no World Championship points, as his best finish was eighth (twice).
Awards
He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995.
See also
References
- ^ Indy 500 deadly accidents, 1958 Archived 2013-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ we feel the blues when we lose Archived 2007-02-02 at the Wayback Machine