Hemelgarn Racing
Encyclopedia
Hemelgarn Racing was a racing team in the Indy Racing League owned by Ron Hemelgarn. The team won the 1996 Indianapolis 500
and 2000 Series Championship with driver Buddy Lazier
. Along with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Hemelgarn were unique in having competed in at least one race in every season of the Indy Racing League's existence.
series with largely outdated equipment and 3 different drivers. In 1986 the team bought new March Engineering
chassis and participated full-time with Jacques Villeneuve
and part-time with Scott Brayton
, putting both in the field of the team's first Indianapolis 500
. Arie Luyendyk
replaced Villeneuve in 1987 and finished 7th in CART points. In 1988 Brayton raced full-time for the team while 3 other drivers competed in partial schedules. 1989 saw 7 different drivers behind the wheel of a Hemelgarn car as the team struggled to find consistency. Buddy Lazier joined the team in 1990 and competed in his first 6 CART races with the team, but failed to qualify for the Indy 500
, however Billy Vukovich III
did qualify his Hemelgarn car for the "500", finishing 24th in a 2 year-old Lola-Buick
. Hemelgarn teamed up with Dale Coyne Racing
to field a car at Road America
and the Molson Indy Toronto for Lazier in 1991. However, that was the team's only races other than the Indy 500
, where it fielded cars for Lazier, Indy legend Gordon Johncock
, and Stan Fox
. In 1992 the team only participated in the Indy 500
as costs to run the series rapidly increased. 1993 saw the team only field a car for pay driver
Brian Bonner
in a pair of road races. 1994 and 1995 again saw Hemegarn only run the Indy 500, fielding a pair of cars for Fox both years and Jeff Andretti
in '94
and Jim Crawford
in '95
, although Crawford failed to make the field.
and Stephan Gregoire
in the Indy 500. Lazier scored the first win of his IndyCar
career and Hemelgarn's first as a team in a gutsy drive while recovering from a back injury in the 1996 Indianapolis 500
. This win solidified Lazier and Delta Faucet with the team for years to come. Lazier was one of the top drivers in the league, consistently scoring top-tens and finishing in the top-ten in points every year. In 2000, Lazier and Hemelgarn put together a dream season, capturing the IRL championship and finishing second in the Indy 500
behind the dominant "500" rookie Juan Pablo Montoya
. The team nearly repeated their championship ways in 2001, with Lazier capturing 4 wins and finishing 2nd in points, albeit well back from champion Sam Hornish, Jr.
.
, the team began to struggle. The influx of former CART
teams had begun and Lazier only managed an 8th place finish in points and only registered a pair of top 5 finishes. 2003
was even worse as the team struggled with underpowered Chevrolet
engines compared to the new Honda
and Toyota powerplants and Lazier finished a dismal 19th in series points, prompting Delta Faucets to leave the team. In 2004
the team was only able to field a car for Lazier in the Indy 500. In 2005
the team returned to full-time competition with new ethanol sponsorship brought by driver Paul Dana
who was injured after 3 races and replaced by Jimmy Kite
. In 2006
the ethanol sponsorship left and it appeared unlikely that the team would return until late in the off-season when a deal was brokered to bring P.J. Chesson to the team with financial backing from NBA star Carmelo Anthony
. Following the 2006 Indianapolis 500
where Hemelgarn drivers Chesson and Jeff Bucknum
tangled on the second lap and finished in the last two positions, Ron Hemelgarn let his crew go and suspended the team's operations, leaving Chesson without a ride for the rest of the year.
It was unknown if and when Hemelgarn Racing would return to the track until the team filed an entry for the 2007 Indianapolis 500
. Little was heard of the entry until a deal was put together on the Friday before the final weekend of qualifying with Racing Professionals
to jointly field a former Hemelgarn chassis (bought by RP) for Richie Hearn
. Hearn solidly put the car in the field after only 26 laps of practice on Bump Day and finished the race in the 23rd position. In 2008
Buddy Lazier returned to the team for the Indianapolis 500 and made a last minute run on Bump Day to put the car into the field. With little practice, Lazier struggled with the handling of the car and finished 17th five laps down. The team attempted to repeat 2008's relative success in 2009
, but despite running lap times similar to what they had run the previous year, Lazier was not able to wring enough speed from the car to make the field.
In April 2010, SPEED TV's Robin Miller
reported that Hemelgarn Racing had ceased operations.
1993 Scott Brayton
1986-1989 Jeff Bucknum
2006 P.J. Chesson 2006 Paul Dana
2005 Stan Fox
1991-1995 Spike Gehlhausen
1985 Scott Goodyear
1989-1990 Stephan Gregoire
1996 Davey Hamilton
1991; 1995 Richie Hearn
2003, 2007 Ludwig Heimrath
1988-1989 Gordon Johncock
1988-1989; 1991-1992 Ken Johnson
1988 Jimmy Kite
2005 Buddy Lazier
1990-2003; 2008 Arie Luyendyk
1987 Enrique Mansilla
1985 Chris Menninga
2001 Brad Murphey
1996 Tero Palmroth
1989 Michael Roe
1985 Dick Simon
(sponsored car) 1978-1979 Tom Sneva
1988-1989 Lyn St. James
1997 Didier Theys
1989 Johnny Unser
1997-1999 Robby Unser
1989 Jacques Villeneuve
(1986) Rich Vogler
1987 Billy Vukovich, III 1989-1990 Stan Wattles
2000-2001
1996 Indianapolis 500
The 80th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, 1996. This was the first Indy 500 contested by the Indy Racing League, under the overall sanctioning umbrella of USAC. It was the third and final race of the 1996 IRL season. Buddy Lazier won the race, his...
and 2000 Series Championship with driver Buddy Lazier
Buddy Lazier
Robert Buddy Lazier is an American Indycar driver. He won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and has finished in the Top Ten in that race six times...
. Along with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Hemelgarn were unique in having competed in at least one race in every season of the Indy Racing League's existence.
Early days
The team was founded in 1985 and participated part time in the CARTChamp 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...
series with largely outdated equipment and 3 different drivers. In 1986 the team bought new March Engineering
March Engineering
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...
chassis and participated full-time with Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve (elder)
Jacques Villeneuve Sr. also known as Jacquo or Uncle Jacques is a Canadian racer. He is the younger brother of the late Gilles Villeneuve, and uncle to Jacques Villeneuve . He was born in the small town of Berthierville, Quebec, Canada. He is now frequently known as Uncle Jacques because of the...
and part-time with Scott Brayton
Scott Brayton
Scott Everets Brayton was a race car driver from Coldwater, Michigan, on the American open-wheel circuit. He competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the 1981 event...
, putting both in the field of the team's first Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
. Arie Luyendyk
Arie Luyendyk
Arie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk is a Dutch auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indianapolis 500....
replaced Villeneuve in 1987 and finished 7th in CART points. In 1988 Brayton raced full-time for the team while 3 other drivers competed in partial schedules. 1989 saw 7 different drivers behind the wheel of a Hemelgarn car as the team struggled to find consistency. Buddy Lazier joined the team in 1990 and competed in his first 6 CART races with the team, but failed to qualify for the Indy 500
1990 Indianapolis 500
The 74th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 27, 1990. Arie Luyendyk took the lead with 32 laps to go, and earned his first-ever victory in championship-level competition...
, however Billy Vukovich III
Billy Vukovich III
William John Vukovich III , better known as Billy Vukovich III or Bill Vukovich III was an American race car driver. He was a three time starter of the Indianapolis 500...
did qualify his Hemelgarn car for the "500", finishing 24th in a 2 year-old Lola-Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
. Hemelgarn teamed up with Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing is a motorsports team in the IndyCar Series owned by former driver Dale Coyne. It was founded in 1986 with Chicago Bears great Walter Payton as Payton/Coyne Racing. The team fields the No. 18 Acorn Stairlifts and No...
to field a car at Road America
Road America
Road America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series , American Le Mans , SCCA Speed World Challenge Series, ASRA, and AMA Superbike series.- Current track and...
and the Molson Indy Toronto for Lazier in 1991. However, that was the team's only races other than the Indy 500
1991 Indianapolis 500
The 75th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, 1991. Rick Mears won from the pole position, becoming the third four-time winner of the Indy 500, joining A. J. Foyt and Al Unser....
, where it fielded cars for Lazier, Indy legend Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...
, and Stan Fox
Stan Fox
Stan Fox was a United States open wheel race car driver. Fox was one of the last links between the midget car racing world and the Indianapolis 500.-Midget car career:...
. In 1992 the team only participated in the Indy 500
1992 Indianapolis 500
The 76th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 1992. The race is famous for the fierce battle in the closing laps, as race winner Al Unser, Jr...
as costs to run the series rapidly increased. 1993 saw the team only field a car for pay driver
Pay driver
A pay driver is a driver for a professional auto racing team who, instead of being paid by their car owner, drives for free and brings with him either personal sponsorship or personal or family funding to finance the team's operations...
Brian Bonner
Brian Bonner
Brian Bonner , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series.Bonner began his racing career on two wheels, racing motorcycles from 1975 to 1985. He attended a racing school at Lime Rock Park in 1986 and quickly saw success in Formula Ford competition. He then drove in the Firestone...
in a pair of road races. 1994 and 1995 again saw Hemegarn only run the Indy 500, fielding a pair of cars for Fox both years and Jeff Andretti
Jeff Andretti
Jeff Andretti is an American race car driver. He competed in CART, and was the series' Rookie of the Year in 1991.-Racing career:...
in '94
1994 Indianapolis 500
The 78th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 29, 1994. Al Unser, Jr. won from the pole position, his second Indy 500 victory. Much to the surprise of competitors, media, and fans, Marlboro Team Penske arrived at the Speedway with a brand new, secretly-built...
and Jim Crawford
Jim Crawford (driver)
Jim Crawford was a Scottish racing driver. He first came to the racing community's notice when he borrowed Stephen Choularton's Lotus 69 and won on his first outing at Croft Racing Track in the North East of England...
in '95
1995 Indianapolis 500
The 79th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28, 1995. Sanctioned by USAC, it was part of the 1995 CART Indycar season. Jacques Villenueve won in his second start. After dominating the 1994 race and the 1994 IndyCar season, Marlboro Team Penske failed to...
, although Crawford failed to make the field.
IRL Glory Years
With the founding of the Indy Racing League in 1996, the team was eager to return to full time racing and re-signed former Hemelgarn stalwart Buddy Lazier to pilot their full-time entry and fielded additional cars for Brad MurpheyBrad Murphey
Brad Murphey , is a former American-born Australian racecar driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1996 and 1996-1997 seasons for Hemelgarn Racing with 3 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 where he was credited with 23rd place, but never finished a race or led a lap...
and Stephan Gregoire
Stephan Gregoire
Stéphan Grégoire is a French race car driver. Currently living in Carmel, Ind.Gregoire is a veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex Sports Car Series, the Indianapolis 500, and the Indy Racing League. He made 44 IRL starts between 1996 and 2001 with a best finish of 2nd at Pikes Peak...
in the Indy 500. Lazier scored the first win of his IndyCar
American Championship Car Racing
Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
career and Hemelgarn's first as a team in a gutsy drive while recovering from a back injury in the 1996 Indianapolis 500
1996 Indianapolis 500
The 80th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, 1996. This was the first Indy 500 contested by the Indy Racing League, under the overall sanctioning umbrella of USAC. It was the third and final race of the 1996 IRL season. Buddy Lazier won the race, his...
. This win solidified Lazier and Delta Faucet with the team for years to come. Lazier was one of the top drivers in the league, consistently scoring top-tens and finishing in the top-ten in points every year. In 2000, Lazier and Hemelgarn put together a dream season, capturing the IRL championship and finishing second in the Indy 500
2000 Indianapolis 500
The 2000 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28, 2000.-Recap:Chip Ganassi Racing became the first regular CART series team to break ranks and compete at Indianapolis since the CART/IRL split in 1996, entering 1996 CART series champion Jimmy Vasser and reigning...
behind the dominant "500" rookie Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
. The team nearly repeated their championship ways in 2001, with Lazier capturing 4 wins and finishing 2nd in points, albeit well back from champion Sam Hornish, Jr.
Sam Hornish, Jr.
Racing League]] championships. He currently drives the #12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge Challenger for Penske Racing part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He also drives the #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford when Travis Kvapil is unable to drive the car....
.
Struggles and Closure
As 2002 came2002 in IRL
The 2002 Indy Racing League season was one of transition, with many CART teams participating in a partial IRL schedule while retaining "lame duck" status in their original series with their CART engine suppliers Toyota and Honda...
, the team began to struggle. The influx of former 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...
teams had begun and Lazier only managed an 8th place finish in points and only registered a pair of top 5 finishes. 2003
2003 in IRL
The 2003 IRL IndyCar Series season brought some of the biggest changes in its history. The league adopted the name IndyCar Series, after a settlement with CART prohibiting its use, had expired...
was even worse as the team struggled with underpowered Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
engines compared to the new Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
and Toyota powerplants and Lazier finished a dismal 19th in series points, prompting Delta Faucets to leave the team. In 2004
2004 in IRL
The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season was dominated by two teams, Andretti Green Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing. While there was great parity in 2003 between Honda and Toyota powered teams, in 2004 Honda began to outshine Toyota bringing their teams Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing down with...
the team was only able to field a car for Lazier in the Indy 500. In 2005
2005 in IRL
The 2005 IRL IndyCar Series season began on Sunday, March 6 and ended on Sunday, October 16. The season, which consisted of 17 races, was the 10th season of the IRL since it split from CART in 1995....
the team returned to full-time competition with new ethanol sponsorship brought by driver Paul Dana
Paul Dana
Paul Dana was an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.-Early life:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Dana graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Before becoming a race driver, he worked as a mechanic, a private racing coach, a driving...
who was injured after 3 races and replaced by Jimmy Kite
Jimmy Kite
Jimmy Kite is an American race car driver. He debuted in the Indy Racing League in 1997 and has competed in over 30 IRL races, including five Indianapolis 500s...
. In 2006
2006 in IRL
The 2006 IRL IndyCar Series season began on March 26 and concluded on September 10. Sam Hornish, Jr. won his third IndyCar Series championship. Hornish also won the 90th Indianapolis 500, passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final lap less than from the finish line.- 2006 IndyCar Series schedule...
the ethanol sponsorship left and it appeared unlikely that the team would return until late in the off-season when a deal was brokered to bring P.J. Chesson to the team with financial backing from NBA star Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
. Following the 2006 Indianapolis 500
2006 Indianapolis 500
The 90th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 28, 2006. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the race by passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final straightaway, about 450 feet from the finish line...
where Hemelgarn drivers Chesson and Jeff Bucknum
Jeff Bucknum
Jeff Bucknum is an American race car driver. Jeff is the son of Formula One and Championship Car racer Ronnie Bucknum....
tangled on the second lap and finished in the last two positions, Ron Hemelgarn let his crew go and suspended the team's operations, leaving Chesson without a ride for the rest of the year.
2007 Indianapolis 500
The 91st Indianapolis 500 ran on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the 12th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and marked the fifth race of the 2007 IndyCar Series season just after the 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 and just before the 2007 ABC Supply...
. Little was heard of the entry until a deal was put together on the Friday before the final weekend of qualifying with Racing Professionals
Racing Professionals
Racing Professionals is a racing team owned by Indy Racing League IndyCar Series driver Jon Herb. Herb formed the team in the middle of the 2001 season and competed in a total of eight races at the end of that season and the 2002 season. In 2004 the team fielded a car for Herb in three events in...
to jointly field a former Hemelgarn chassis (bought by RP) for Richie Hearn
Richie Hearn
Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks...
. Hearn solidly put the car in the field after only 26 laps of practice on Bump Day and finished the race in the 23rd position. In 2008
2008 Indianapolis 500
The 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race was run on Sunday May 25, 2008 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, USA. Scott Dixon of New Zealand won the race from the pole position. It was the thirteenth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and served as the showcase event of...
Buddy Lazier returned to the team for the Indianapolis 500 and made a last minute run on Bump Day to put the car into the field. With little practice, Lazier struggled with the handling of the car and finished 17th five laps down. The team attempted to repeat 2008's relative success in 2009
2009 Indianapolis 500
The 93rd Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday May 24, 2009, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It was the 14th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and the premier event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season....
, but despite running lap times similar to what they had run the previous year, Lazier was not able to wring enough speed from the car to make the field.
In April 2010, SPEED TV's Robin Miller
Robin Miller (journalist)
Robin Lee Miller is an American motorsports journalist. He was an Indy car pit crew member and drove in the USAC midget series in the 1970s...
reported that Hemelgarn Racing had ceased operations.
Drivers that have competed for Hemelgarn Racing
Brian BonnerBrian Bonner
Brian Bonner , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series.Bonner began his racing career on two wheels, racing motorcycles from 1975 to 1985. He attended a racing school at Lime Rock Park in 1986 and quickly saw success in Formula Ford competition. He then drove in the Firestone...
1993 Scott Brayton
Scott Brayton
Scott Everets Brayton was a race car driver from Coldwater, Michigan, on the American open-wheel circuit. He competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the 1981 event...
1986-1989 Jeff Bucknum
Jeff Bucknum
Jeff Bucknum is an American race car driver. Jeff is the son of Formula One and Championship Car racer Ronnie Bucknum....
2006 P.J. Chesson 2006 Paul Dana
Paul Dana
Paul Dana was an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.-Early life:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Dana graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Before becoming a race driver, he worked as a mechanic, a private racing coach, a driving...
2005 Stan Fox
Stan Fox
Stan Fox was a United States open wheel race car driver. Fox was one of the last links between the midget car racing world and the Indianapolis 500.-Midget car career:...
1991-1995 Spike Gehlhausen
Spike Gehlhausen
Daniel William "Spike" Gehlhausen , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in 11 seasons , with 79 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1976, 1978-1980, and 1984...
1985 Scott Goodyear
Scott Goodyear
Scott Goodyear is a former race car driver from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Goodyear ran the IRL and Champ Car series during his career from 1987, winning the Michigan 500 in 1992 and 1994...
1989-1990 Stephan Gregoire
Stephan Gregoire
Stéphan Grégoire is a French race car driver. Currently living in Carmel, Ind.Gregoire is a veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex Sports Car Series, the Indianapolis 500, and the Indy Racing League. He made 44 IRL starts between 1996 and 2001 with a best finish of 2nd at Pikes Peak...
1996 Davey Hamilton
Davey Hamilton
Davey Jay Hamilton is a race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. He has made 50 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second 3 times...
1991; 1995 Richie Hearn
Richie Hearn
Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks...
2003, 2007 Ludwig Heimrath
Ludwig Heimrath
Ludwig Heimrath, Jr. - born September 9, 1956 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Started his driving career racing Go-karts and Formula Fords. In 1979 and 1980 he won the Ontario Formula Ford Championship winning seven races in total. In 1981 and 1982, he competed in selected International Motorsport...
1988-1989 Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...
1988-1989; 1991-1992 Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson
-Sports personalities:*Ken Johnson , defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, played 1970–1977*Ken Johnson , defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs...
1988 Jimmy Kite
Jimmy Kite
Jimmy Kite is an American race car driver. He debuted in the Indy Racing League in 1997 and has competed in over 30 IRL races, including five Indianapolis 500s...
2005 Buddy Lazier
Buddy Lazier
Robert Buddy Lazier is an American Indycar driver. He won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and has finished in the Top Ten in that race six times...
1990-2003; 2008 Arie Luyendyk
Arie Luyendyk
Arie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk is a Dutch auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indianapolis 500....
1987 Enrique Mansilla
Enrique Mansilla
Enrique Mansilla is an Argentine former racing driver born in San Pablo. He was a fierce rival and teammate of Ayrton Senna in British Formula Ford 1600 in 1981. In 1982 he drove in British Formula Three for West Surrey Racing, nearly winning the championship despite much of his funding...
1985 Chris Menninga
Chris Menninga
Chris Menninga , is a retired racecar driver who has raced in open wheel racing.Menninga started in the Barber Dodge Pro Series where he raced from 1995 to 1997, winning a race and finishing fourth in points his final year. He then moved to Indy Lights driving for Conquest Racing in 1999 finishing...
2001 Brad Murphey
Brad Murphey
Brad Murphey , is a former American-born Australian racecar driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1996 and 1996-1997 seasons for Hemelgarn Racing with 3 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 where he was credited with 23rd place, but never finished a race or led a lap...
1996 Tero Palmroth
Tero Palmroth
Tero Palmroth , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1988-1992 seasons with 12 career starts, including the 1988-1991 Indianapolis 500. His best CART finish was in 12th position at the 1990 Indianapolis 500.-Indy 500 results:-External Links:*]...
1989 Michael Roe
Michael Roe (driver)
Michael Roe is a former racing driver from Naas, Ireland.Roe began racing in Formula Ford and won the 1978 Formula Ford Festival. The following year he drove in British Formula Three and finished in 9th place in his rookie campaign with 2 podium finishes for David Clark's team...
1985 Dick Simon
Dick Simon
Dick Simon is one of the oldest men to ever have raced in the Indianapolis 500. He was 55 years old during his final Indy 500 start in 1988. A multiple starter and top-ten finisher in the race, he also became a car owner, founding Dick Simon Racing helping to begin the IndyCar careers of Stéphan...
(sponsored car) 1978-1979 Tom Sneva
Tom Sneva
Tom Sneva is a former Indy Car driver who was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Nicknamed "The Gas Man," Sneva was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 three...
1988-1989 Lyn St. James
Lyn St. James
Lyn St. James is a retired professional IndyCar driver with 8 CART and 5 Indy Racing League starts to her name. She is just one of seven women who successfully qualified for the Indianapolis 500, and became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award...
1997 Didier Theys
Didier Theys
Didier Theys is an Belgian sports car driver. He is a two-time overall winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona ; a winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring ; the Sports Racing Prototype driver champion of the Grand-American Road Racing Association and the winner of the 24 Hours of Spa...
1989 Johnny Unser
Johnny Unser
Johnny Unser is a former race car driver. He is the son of open wheel driver Jerry Unser, cousin of Al Unser, Jr. and Robby Unser, nephew of Al Unser and Bobby Unser, and first cousin once removed of Alfred Unser. He made 5 starts in CART in 1993 and 1994 with a best result of 15th...
1997-1999 Robby Unser
Robby Unser
Robby Unser is a former Indy Racing League driver and eight time winner of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. He was the IRL rookie of the year in 1998. Robby made two starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 5th in 1998. He also finished second twice in the 1998 season, his best...
1989 Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve (elder)
Jacques Villeneuve Sr. also known as Jacquo or Uncle Jacques is a Canadian racer. He is the younger brother of the late Gilles Villeneuve, and uncle to Jacques Villeneuve . He was born in the small town of Berthierville, Quebec, Canada. He is now frequently known as Uncle Jacques because of the...
(1986) Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler was a champion sprint car and midget car driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989.-Racing career:...
1987 Billy Vukovich, III 1989-1990 Stan Wattles
Stan Wattles
Stan Wattles , is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1996-2001 seasons with 19 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1998-2000. He placed 8th in two races, and led his 2 laps in his first, in 1996 at Walt Disney World Speedway, but never led in his other contests...
2000-2001