From the first race in 1911, dramatic months of May have characterized the Indianapolis 500. Few, however, match the 1995 version for controversy, milestone events and gut-wrenching happenings.
“When I started racing,” recalled racer-turned-chief-mechanic Danny Oakes shortly before his death in 2007, “my mother told me, ‘Danny, you’re going to get killed in those damn race cars. You’re going to die just like all the rest of them.’
Depending on one’s perspective, car builder, owner and mechanic Wally Meskowski was either a cantankerous individual — much like a bear fresh out of hibernation — or a dedicated and focused professional unwilling to settle for second best with his creations.
Johnny Thomson was on a roll in 1959. He’d won the pole at Indianapolis while setting a one-lap record. He led 39 laps during the Indianapolis 500 and finished third.
