Editor’s Note: In a nod to our 91 years of history, each week SPEED SPORT will look back at the top stories from 20, 40 and 60 years ago as told in the pages of National Speed Sport News.
20 Years Ago — 2006
News: It wouldn’t be the Indianapolis 500 if there wasn’t talk about a merger between the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series.
IRL CEO Tony George reaffirmed Friday that while he is talking with Champ Car’s Kevin Kalkhoven, there are significant details that must· be discussed before any reconciliation between the rival series could become final.
“Is it close? In one word or less, no,” George said. “It’s moving along at its own pace.”
George believes there are some overzealous and overanxious proponents of a merger who have tried to make it look like reunification was imminent when it’s really not.
“My guess is it was somewhat planned or intentional, and I’m not sure what the intention was,” George said. “That is why I think early on I’ve tried to quell expectations of an early resolution to a very complicated situation.”
While IRL owner Chip Ganassi believes the sides are on the brink of a merger, George and Kalkhoven remain diligent in their talks.
“That’s part of what Chip does, and it’s my job to listen and it’s my job to do what I think is in the best interests of the sport generally and the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway specifically,” George said. “There are certain journalists who like to throw a wet blanket on things and keep beating down on things, but the reality is there is some momentum building.
“Unification, for the right reasons if done the right way, would be just what open-wheel racing needs. But it would be a gross error on our part to do it for the wrong reasons and for the wrong way.”
Winners: Sam Hornish, Jr. pulled off an incredible move yards from the checkered flag to win Sunday’s 90th Indianapolis 500, driving another dagger into the heart of an Andretti.
Hornish earned his first Indy 500 triumph and a record 14th for team owner Roger Penske. Hornish was the loth different driver Penske has led to victory.
Coming down the final straightaway, Hornish dove to the inside of Marco Andretti and crossed the finish line .0635 seconds ahead of the rookie for the second-closest finish in Indy 500 history.
“I thought it was over when I didn’t get by Marco going into turn three,” said Hornish, who nearly passed Andretti on lap 198 but was forced to drop back. “For his first time to finish second, he had a heck of a ride. He should be proud of that.”
When Hornish got out of his Dallara-Honda, he took a big swig of milk, then doused it over his head in celebration.
“I love it, nothing better right now,” said Hornish, who became the 65th different winner of the race. “It’s been a long month, and not everything went our way today, but we had a plan and we were fast when we needed it.”
Michael Andretti finished third in his comeback Indy 500. He led with five laps to go before being overtaken by son Marco. Hornish drove by Michael’s Dallara-Honda and went after Marco.
Hornish closed too rapidly with two laps to go and nearly ran into Marco’s back in the third turn.
”I thought I blew it,” Hornish said. ”I had a good run on him and got to the inside. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. I figured I came all this way; give myself one more shot at it.”
”I almost won this thing,” Marco Andretti said. “I knew I had a shot at it. I thought I won it on the last lap.
“I don’t know where that speed came from. I guess they were saving it. I defended my line once and I thought I had it. … It’s a bummer: Second is nothing.”
40 Years Ago — 1986
News: The 70th annual Indianapolis 500-MIIe Race will be run at 11 a.m. this Saturday.
That announcement was made Monday evening at about 7 o’clok by Joseph R. Cloutier. president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, after two days of frustration resulted in the first postponement of the race in 70 years without a wheel turning.
lrv Brodsky, public relations director for ABC Sports, said that ABC will carry the race live, beginning with pre-race activity at 11a.m. (EDT).
The speedway announcement said that promoters of the CART PPG Indy Car World Series Miller American race at Milwaukee, Wis., had agreed to reschedule their race for Sunday, June 8.
That will mean major races on three conecutive weekends for the Indy Car drivers. The Portland Rose Festival 200 is slated Sunday June 15 as there Is no way that could rescheduled as it is the climatic event of the festival.
There may be a change In talent few the ABC telecast because veteran Jim McKay is reported to have a conflicting assignment.
Winners: ”It was neat out there tonight, and if I can win on a mile I can handle It anywhere,” said a dejected Jack Hewitt after his sensational victory in the 10-lap “Hulman Hundred” Valvoline/SIIver Crown USAC Championship Dirt Car Race, Friday night.
Hewitt’s rousing victory lane Interview included a tribute to his little buddy Jac Haudenschild, who won the World of Outlaws show here several weeks earlier with … It’s a pair of Jacks on the mile that did lt.”
Driving the Bob Hampshire owned and mechaniced Challenger No. 13 sponsored by Summer Days Tanning Salon/Pennzoll/J. W. Hunt, Hewitt took the lead on the 26th circuit and ran away from a very formidable field. With a strong englne furnished by Frank Laame of B&B Automotive, Hewitt won by a full straightaway.
Top prize was $8,000 from a purse of $37,000.
Early In the going, Hewitt, who started sixth, did a complete spin in the fourth turn and lost three positions to fifth but kept going. This caused a bunch of the front runners to take quick evasive action. About this, Hewitt later said, “I felt bad about it, but I got a little squirrely with a full load of fuel. Once the fuel burnt off some, and with my McCreary Tires, I could run high, low and even in the middle.”
Eventual second-place finisher Billy Engelhart, in the G&R/McGonigals Bulck-Cadillac No. 37, led the first lap by a scant margin over Larry Rice in the Richardson Building Rentals No.5.
60 Years Ago— 1966
News: No one sang “God Save the Queen” at Indianapolis Monday for the British finale to the golden anniversary 500-mile race as Graham Hill of England dodged through a wreck-strewn track to become the first rookie to win the 500-mile classic since George Souders turned the truck in 1927. Jim Clark of Scotland placed second, a half-lap behind his countryman.
And, for a few minutes before the last curtain, it appeared that all the major bows would be taken by the British drivers. For Jackie Stewart of Dunbarton, Scotland, was out front with victory apparently assured when his car stopped after turning into the homestretch on the 190th lap. He had to push it to the pits and never returned.
Graham needed skill, daring and a liberal helping of luck to win a race which was supposed to have the fastest ever and wound up as a dash through an obstacle course.
Only six cars of a starting field of 33 made it to the finish line and practically all of the pre-race favorites fell victim to crackups or engine trouble long before the end.
It was the smallest number ever to finish a 500, eclipsing the 1958 finish of eight.
Instead of speed records, this 500 saw crackup record. The tone was set seconds after the starter ‘s green flag fell, when 17 cars piled up in a chain-reaction collision and 11 of them were knocked out of the race.
Almost miraculously, no drivers were seriously hurt, but 14 spectators were injured either by flying wheels or in the near-panic that followed.
Winners: The man picked to win in 1965 was just a year late getting in to the winner’s circle as Rollie Beale of Toledo, Ohio, drove the No. 8 Don-Ken Spl., a Chevy-powered machine owned by Kenny Lay of Toledo, to victory here Saturday night at Sun Valley Speedway in the 18th Annual Little 500 national championship sprint car classic before a sellout house of more than 14,500 — the largest crowd in the history of the race.
ln 1965, Beale survived challenge after challenge from several competitors and roared home victorious with a seven-lap margin over Bill White of Temple, Texas, and the No. 72 H. P Looper Chevy Spl., out of Fort Worth, Texas, in two hours, 13 minutes, 18.53 seconds.
Four different drivers led the race at various stages with Beale moving to the front to stay on the 338th lap of the 508-lap endurance test which is sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Ass’n.
No serious accidents and not even a single injury marred the beautifully-run race although a multitude of spinouts did bring out the yellow flag for a total of 71 laps and thereby deprive Beale of a shot at the race record running time of 2:10:05.41 established by Johnny White in 1963.
White, although not possessing the top speed or Beale or Richert, worked his way steadily up through the field and finished one lap ahead of Richert for runnerup money.
Another steady performer, Ray EIliott of Lockport, Ill., in the No. 77 Bob Lockard Chevy Spl., nosed out Tommy York of Mishawaka, Ind., and the No. 27 Warren Null Chevy Spl., for fourth money as 19 cars were running when the checkered flag was dropped on Beale.
