With most of the motorsports world on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve decided to highlight some of the sport’s legends on a daily basis. We begin each story within the pages of National Speed Sport News.
“The Gasman,” Tom Sneva, is one of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s most enduring figures.
Sneva, a native of Washington, finished second in the Indianapolis 500 three times before finally winning the race in 1983 while driving for George Bignotti.
Sneva survived several violent crashes during his career to become one of the speedway’s most famous personalities. He made 18 starts in the annual Memorial Day weekend classic.
Sneva also won the pole for the Indianapolis 500 three times.
Sneva, who won 13 Indy car races during his career, also competed in various other forms of the sport, racing in the NASCAR Cup Series and in the Int’l Race of Champions.
Sneva won twice in 1977 and became the first Team Penske driver to win a championship.
His brother, Jerry, also competed in the Indianapolis 500.
Tom Sneva’s first Indy car victory came at Phoenix Raceway in 1979 and his final win was in the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas in 1984.
Always known for being fast during qualifying, Sneva earned the nickname, “The Gasman,” and was the first driver to qualifier at 200 mph or faster at Indianapolis in 1977.
He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.
