Drivers
Drivers killed before the first Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
Drivers killed in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
Fourteen drivers have died as a result of racing in the "500". Ten races involved accidents claiming the lives of drivers.
Drivers killed during testing, practice or qualifications
- 1910
- 1911
- 1926
- 1931
- 1932
- 1933
- 1934
- 1935
- 1940
- 1948
- 1949
- 1953
- 1955
- 1957
- 1959
- 1961
- 1966
- 1968
- 1972
- 1973
- 1982
- 1992
- 1996
- 2003
- Tony Renna (Firestone private testing session in October)
Crew
Riding mechanics killed in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
Riding mechanics killed in practice
- 1931
- 1932
- Harry Cox (Benny Benefield, driver)
- 1933
- Bob Hurst (William Denver, driver)
- 1934
- 1935
- 1937
- 1939
Track personnel killed in Race
- 1937
- George Warford (firefighter); Indianapolis, Indiana
- Otto Rhode (pit crew member), Toledo, Ohio.
- 1961
- John Masariu (firefighter); Danville, Indiana - On the 127th lap of the 1961 race, driver Eddie Johnson spun out, but did not suffer significant damage and he was not injured. A safety fire truck went to his aid. Masariu, who was a basketball coach at nearby Ben Davis High School and was serving as a safety worker, fell off the back of the fire truck. A moment later, the truck accidentally backed over him, and he was injured fatally.
- 1973
- Armando Teran (pit crew member); Santa Monica, California - In the moments following Swede Savage's crash, Teran was struck by a fire truck going northbound on pit road. Teran was working as a sign board man on Graham McRae's pit crew. USAC outlawed vehicles from traveling opposite the direction of the cars during the race as a result.
Spectators
Spectators killed at the Race
- 1909
- 1923
- Bert Shoup; Lafayette, Indiana
- 1938
- 1960
- Fred Linder; Indianapolis, Indiana (homemade scaffolding in the infield collapsed)
- William Craig, Zionsville, Indiana (homemade scaffolding in the infield collapsed)
- 1987
- Lyle Kurtenbach; Rothschild, Wisconsin (Tony Bettenhausen lost a wheel in the third turn. Moments later, Roberto Guerrero hit the tire with his nose cone, and the tire was launched into the air. The tire went over the catchfence, and into the top row of the "K" grandstand, striking and killing Kurtenbach instantly. The resulting damage to Guerrero's car, a broken nosecone and more importantly, a broken clutch master cylinder, directly led to Guerrero losing the race. His car became stuck in gear, and stalled exiting the pits on his final pit stop.)
Bystander killed outside the track
- 1931
- Wilbur Brink; Indianapolis, Indiana - Brink was a 12-year old boy playing in his yard across the street from the track. As the result of an accident during the race, a wheel bounced over the fence and struck him, killing him instantly.
External links
References
- ^ HEAT KILLS DRIVER; Scarborough Dies After Vukovich Auto Takes Indianapolis 500, by Frank Blunk New York Times, May 31st, 1953, page S1.
- ^ Dr. Stephen Olvey, "Rapid Response", 2006, page 35
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