SPEED SPORT has been reporting on and covering motorsports happenings from all over the world for 85 years, so we thought it would be fun to take a look back in the archives to see what happened 10, 25 and 50 years ago each week.
So check out what SPEED SPORT was covering 10, 25 and 50 years ago this week in Looking Back!
10 Years Ago (June 3, 2009): Tony George was embroiled in a Hulman-George “Family Feud” with his three sisters, with his position as CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway at stake. News of George’s impending decision about his future broke before management at the speedway was prepared to address it. George denied that he had been ousted as CEO following reports that he’d been removed from the position.
Other Happenings: Scott Dixon used a consistent approach to win the ABC Supply Co. Inc./A.J. Foyt 225 at The Milwaukee Mile; Kevin Swindell won the Pepsi Knoxville Midget Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway while Chad McDaniel perished from injuries suffered in a crash that same evening at Knoxville; Dale Blaney earned a pair of All Star Circuit of Champions triumphs at Eldora Speedway.
25 Years Ago (June 1, 1994): Al Unser Jr. took home $7.8 million for his victory in the Indianapolis 500. It appeared as if it would be his Penske teammate, Emerson Fittipaldi, who would win the event until Fittipaldi crashed while trying to lap Unser. Unser would go on to take his second Indianapolis 500 triumph as a result.
Other Happenings: Jeff Gordon secured his first victory in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway; Jim Childers left Anderson Speedway $18,000 richer after winning the Little 500; Damon Hill won the Spanish Grand Prix and dedicated the victory to the late Aryton Senna; Robbie Stanley died following a crash in a USAC event at Indiana’s Winchester Speedway.
50 Years Ago (June 4, 1969): Mario Andretti drove a Brawner Hawk turbocharged Ford owned by STP President Andy Granatelli to victory in the 53rd running of the Indianapolis 500. Andretti was nearly flawless, setting an average speed record of 156.867 mph on his way to victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He took home a record $205,727 for the victory.
Other Happenings: Bobby Isaac took his seventh Grand National triumph of the season at Middle Georgia Raceway; Bruce McLaren led a McLaren one-two sweep in Can-Am Challenge Cup Series competition at Mosport Park; Butch Hartman won the USAC stock car race held at the KK Sports Arena in Kaukauna, Wis.; Dutch Hoag won the inaugural Amos Fancuilli Memorial at Shangri-La Speedway.