Pete DePaolo
Encyclopedia
Pete DePaolo was an American race car driver. He won the 1925 Indianapolis 500
.
win. He drove his first Indianapolis 500 in 1922 (finishing 4th!).
He pulled out to a huge lead in the 1925 Indianapolis 500
. His fingers became badly blistered around the midpoint of the race, and car owner Fred Duesenberg
pulled DePaolo out of the car. DePaolo had his hands repaired in the infield care center, and returned in the car after missing 21 laps. He had dropped to fifth. He raced his way to the win on his way to the series drivers championship. The race was the first Indianapolis 500 to average over 100 miles per hour (101.270 mph). Pete did not consider this to be his greatest win (since he was replaced for 21 laps).
He began his only team in 1927. He finished second in the Indianapolis 500, and added two wins on his way to the series drivers championship.
He decided to retire after he was in a coma for 11 days after crashing in Spain
in 1934.
's 1935 Indianapolis 500 victory.
He was a successful NASCAR
team owner from 1955 to 1957. His drivers finished second, third, and second in the final points standings. The drivers accumulated 21 wins and 109 Top 10 finishes in 178 starts.
1925 Indianapolis 500
Results of the 1925 Indianapolis 500 held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1925....
.
Racing career
Pete saw his first race in 1919, where he watched his uncle Ralph DePalmaRalph DePalma
Ralph De Palma was an Italian-American racecar driving champion, most notably winner of the 1915 Indianapolis 500. His entry at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame estimates that he won about 2000 races...
win. He drove his first Indianapolis 500 in 1922 (finishing 4th!).
He pulled out to a huge lead in the 1925 Indianapolis 500
1925 Indianapolis 500
Results of the 1925 Indianapolis 500 held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1925....
. His fingers became badly blistered around the midpoint of the race, and car owner Fred Duesenberg
Fred Duesenberg
Frederick Samuel Duesenberg was a German-born American automobile pioneer designer, manufacturer and sportsman.-Life:...
pulled DePaolo out of the car. DePaolo had his hands repaired in the infield care center, and returned in the car after missing 21 laps. He had dropped to fifth. He raced his way to the win on his way to the series drivers championship. The race was the first Indianapolis 500 to average over 100 miles per hour (101.270 mph). Pete did not consider this to be his greatest win (since he was replaced for 21 laps).
He began his only team in 1927. He finished second in the Indianapolis 500, and added two wins on his way to the series drivers championship.
He decided to retire after he was in a coma for 11 days after crashing in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1934.
Indy 500 results
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Car owner
He was car owner and team manager for Kelly PetilloKelly Petillo
Cavino Michele "Kelly" Petillo, was an American race car driver....
's 1935 Indianapolis 500 victory.
He was a successful NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team owner from 1955 to 1957. His drivers finished second, third, and second in the final points standings. The drivers accumulated 21 wins and 109 Top 10 finishes in 178 starts.
| Owner(s) Name | Pete DePaolo |
| Racing Series | NASCAR Grand National NEXTEL Cup The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J... |
| Number of Championships | 0 |
| Number of Wins | 21 |
| Car Number(s) | 12, 22, 87, 97, 98, 99, 297 |
| Notable Driver(s) | Bill Amick Bill Amick Bill Amick was a NASCAR Grand National and West Coast driver from Portland, Oregon. He has one win, nineteen top 5's, twenty-seven top 10's, and five poles in Grand National.-Driving career:... Buck Baker Buck Baker Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:... Ralph Moody Ralph Moody Ralph Moody was one of early drivers of NASCAR. However, he eventually became the most famous as team co-owner of Holman Moody.-Background:... Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch (born May 28, 1926, in Menomonie, Wisconsin, is a former NASCAR driver.-Early career:He started his racing career as a car owner in Oakland, California. One week, his driver did not show up, and he raced the car to a third place finish... Fireball Roberts Fireball Roberts Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:... Curtis Turner Curtis Turner Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying... Joe Weatherly Joe Weatherly Joseph "Joe" Weatherly was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National championships in 1962 and 1963, three A.M.A... |
| Notable Sponsor(s) | DePaolo Engineering, Southeastern Dealers |
| Manufacturer | Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
| Shop Location | |
| Year Opened | 1955 |
| Year Closed | 1957 |
Awards
- He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaThe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in 1995. - He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of FameNational Sprint Car Hall of Fame & MuseumThe National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is a Hall of Fame and museum for sprint car drivers, owners, mechanics, builders, manufacturers, promoters, sanctioning officials and media members....
in 1995.
Writer
- He wrote his biography in the book Wall Smacker, published in 1935
- DePaolo was an Associate Editor at Speed Age magazine when he wrote an eight part series "I Drove The Boards" from July 1951 through August 1952.