Dean Vetrock
Encyclopedia
Dean Vetrock is a former American
racing driver from Racine, Wisconsin
. He competed primarily in the Formula 5000
series and then its successor, the F5000-based Can-Am formula. In June 1981 Vetrock and his friend Larrie Ervin entered an aging chassis in the USAC "Gold Crown" Championship Car race at the Pocono Raceway
and were invited to enter a car in the 1982 Indianapolis 500
. By participating in the Pocono race, Vetrock was also suspended from racing in CART
for 60 days despite never racing in a CART event, though the decision was later reversed. Vetrock and Ervin purchased a newer chassis for the Indy 500 and were given a garage stall that A. J. Foyt Enterprises
typically used to store its tools. However, they blew their only race engine on the second day that the car was on track without completing a practice lap. Vetrock returned to Can-Am, eventually retiring in the late 1980s and Ervin retired from race team ownership.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racing driver from Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
. He competed primarily in the Formula 5000
Formula 5000
Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...
series and then its successor, the F5000-based Can-Am formula. In June 1981 Vetrock and his friend Larrie Ervin entered an aging chassis in the USAC "Gold Crown" Championship Car race at the Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
and were invited to enter a car in the 1982 Indianapolis 500
1982 Indianapolis 500
The 66th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 30, 1982. Gordon Johncock, who had previously won the rain-shortened 1973 race, was the winner...
. By participating in the Pocono race, Vetrock was also suspended from racing in CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
for 60 days despite never racing in a CART event, though the decision was later reversed. Vetrock and Ervin purchased a newer chassis for the Indy 500 and were given a garage stall that A. J. Foyt Enterprises
A. J. Foyt Enterprises
A.J. Foyt Enterprises is a racing team in the IZOD Indycar Series and formerly NASCAR. It is owned by four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A. J. Foyt. Foyt Enterprises won IRL titles in 1996 with Scott Sharp and 1998 with Kenny Bräck, the latter driver also winning the Indianapolis 500 for the team...
typically used to store its tools. However, they blew their only race engine on the second day that the car was on track without completing a practice lap. Vetrock returned to Can-Am, eventually retiring in the late 1980s and Ervin retired from race team ownership.