PHOENIX — Three-time Indianapolis 500 winning team owner Pat Patrick died on Jan. 5. He was 91 years old.
Patrick was one of the most influential team owners of his era and he played a vital role in the leadership and direction of Indy car racing during the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.
Patrick Racing was formed in 1970 with Johnny Rutherford driving and steadily became one of the sport’s key teams. Patrick, along with Roger Penske, played the key roles in the formation of Championship Auto Racing Teams in 1979.
Gordon Johncock drove a Patrick car to victory in the rain-shortened Indianapolis 500 in 1973, giving the team owner his first triumph in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Patrick Racing began building its own American-made chassis in 1982, with Johncock driving the car to a narrow victory over Rick Mears in the Indianapolis 500.
Patrick added another Indy triumph in 1989 with Emerson Fittipaldi behind the wheel.
Patrick fielded cars for the Indianapolis 500 from 1970 through 1995 and again in 2004.
Others to drive Patrick-owned Indy cars included Mario Andretti, Pancho Carter, Wally Dallenbach Sr., Chip Ganassi, Roberto Guerrero, Danny Ongais, Scott Pruett, Danny Sullivan, Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., Jimmy Vasser and Rich Vogler.
He was elected to the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018.