A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill
Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race
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A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race
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Exciting Moments In Racing
While the Vukovich incident was probably the most dramatic event in Indy Car racing history, one of the most exciting events in the history of drag racing was in 1990 at Pomona, California. With the NHRA Championship on the line, Gary Ormsby and Joe Amato met in the final round of the last race of the season. The winner would be decided depending on who won the race, on whether someone set top speed of the meet, whether someone broke the national record plus a few more variables. Ormsby, knowing Amato was having faster elapsed times all day, tried to cut the tree and then lost traction. In a highly charged atmosphere, Amato sped on to victory and the best elapsed time of the meet and a career best as well. Here then, in 16 bit stereo, is that final round for the NHRA Top Fuel Championship. Note: While this was truly a great event, it was recently upstaged by the finals at Pomona in 2006 when Schumacher Racing won the top fuel crown on the last run of the day setting the National ET Record in the process making it the most exciting run at the most exciting event in Drag Racing history. (6.9 MB and not recommended for dial up users)
In 1956 Paul Russo driving the fabulous red Novi blew a tire entering the Southwest Turn while leading the race. The car spun into the wall and after it stopped Russo jumped out of the car and ran across the track to the infield. This is a cropped and slow motion view of the dramatic moment.
In 1989 Al Unser Sr. driving for Roger Penske set one and four lap track records while qualifying for the race. Here, from the Southwest Turn, is that run.
He's won the Brickyard 400 and the NASCAR Championship twice -- but he has never won The Big One. This might have been Tony Stewart's best chance but in an instant it was all over. Tony Stewart Drops Out of 1998 Indy 500 While Leading From ABC Sports
This film features the great Roger Penske when he drove cars instead of owning them and in this race he took the checkered flag -- a sports car event at Laguna Seca Raceway in 1964. This was almost the last race Penske ever drove. Note how the aggressive Penske, driving the 66 car, bulls his way through Laguna's turn nine letting nothing, including other cars, get his way to victory lane. (The move is documented from two angles.) And it couldn't have been an easy win either as the field was laden with stars and you will recognize many of those familiar faces.
Immediately after she finished her first Indianapolis 500 in 2005 Danica Patrick was interviewed just after getting out of the car. Here is that interview.
This is one of the reasons Rick Mears was such a great and memorable driver. Time after time he set lap records at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway either in practice or Time Trials. Here in 1989 he breaks another one lap record at IMS during practice. The next day her won the Pole Position for the '89 race.
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