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Talk:List of IndyCar fatalities

Latest comment: 12 years ago by ICE77 in topic Improper article name
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Improper article name edit

Latest comment: 12 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion

The article says "This is a list compiling drivers who have been fatally injured in American Championship Car Racing, since 1982. The list recognizes "Indy car" or "Champ car" fatalities under the following sanctioning bodies: * Championship Auto Racing Teams (1979-2008) * Indy Racing League (1996-present)".

The naming of this article is improper because it sounds to imply that this is the list for deaths in Champ Car World Series (2004-2008). This article should be properly renamed or split into two articles (one for CART/CCWS and one for IndyCar). Besides, the timeframes do not match: first the article first says 1982 and then it shows 1979-. Also, Indy Racing League should probably replaced by IndyCar since the two are not synonyms and the first includes the second plus another minor category.

ICE77 (talk) 18:43, 17 October 2011 (UTC)Reply

Comments edit

  • The list could be incomplete. Especially test run fatalities, and riding mechanics and non-participants who died of their injuries at a later time may be missing.
  • Possible fatality:
Joe Unser [1] is a driver death if his fatal wreck is to be classified as a test crash rather than a road accident [2] [3] [4].
Driver Date of incident Sanction Track Event Team/Owner Car/Entry Session
  Joe Unser (USA) February 20, 1930 US 85, south of Littleton, Colorado Private test Coleman Coleman FD – Miller Testing
  • Have the Championship/Indy cars used in the AAA National Championship been distinguishable from other vehicle types such as stock cars from the beginning? If not, maybe only deaths having occurred when distinct Championship/Indy cars were used should be listed, considering the title of the article.
  • 1905 could be added as another year in which the AAA sanctioned the National Championship but that season only featured contests of ten miles at most and there were no deaths anyway.
  • While the AAA did not hold a National Championship from 1909 to 1915 and from 1917 to 1919, retrospectively created championships for those periods have been recognized as genuine for decades.[1] Deaths that have occurred in events selected to be part of those "championships" are listed below:

Driver fatalities

Driver Date of incident Sanction Track[note 1] Event Team/Owner Car/Entry Session
  William Bourque (CAN)[2] August 19, 1909 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Prest-O-Lite Trophy Knox Race
  Ralph Ireland (USA)[3] August 21, 1911 AAA Elgin Road Race Course Staver-Chicago Practice
  Dave Buck (USA)[4] August 26, 1911 Elgin National Trophy Pope-Hartford Race
  Jay McNay (USA)[5] November 20, 1911 AAA/ACA Savannah-Effingham Raceway Case Practice
  David Bruce-Brown (USA)[6] October 1, 1912 AAA/ACA Wauwatosa Road Race Course Fiat Practice
  Harry Knight (USA)[7] July 4, 1913 AAA Columbus Driving Park 200-mile race Kinnear "Rovan" Race
  Spencer Wishart (USA)[8] August 22, 1914 AAA Elgin Road Race Course Elgin National Trophy Mercer Race
  Jack Callaghan (USA)[9][note 2] February 7, 1915 AAA Ascot Park 100-mile race Duesenberg Race
  C. C. Cox (USA)[11][note 3] July 3, 1915 AAA Sioux City Speedway 300-mile race Duesenberg "Ogren" Race
  Billy Carlson (USA)[13][note 4] July 4, 1915 AAA Tacoma Speedway Montamarathon Trophy Maxwell Race
  Joe Cooper (USA)[15] August 7, 1915 AAA Des Moines Speedway 300-mile race Sebring Six Race
  Harry Grant (USA)[16][note 5] September 27, 1915 AAA Sheepshead Bay Speedway Astor Cup Maxwell Practice
  Walter Melcher (USA)[18] March 15, 1919 AAA Santa Monica Road Race Course 250-mile race Hudson Race
  Arthur Thurman (USA)[19] May 31, 1919 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Arthur Thurman Duesenberg Race
  Louis LeCocq (USA)[19] Roscoe Sarles Duesenberg "Roamer"
If Tom Kincade [5], Harry Martin [6], and Albert Johnson [7] died in test runs being conducted in preparation for Championship/Indy car racing, their entries could be added to the list above.
Driver Date of incident Sanction Track[note 1] Event Team/Owner Car/Entry Session
  Tom Kincade (USA)[20] July 6, 1910 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Private test National Testing
  Harry Martin (USA)[21] June 26, 1913 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Private test Stutz Testing
  Albert Johnson (USA)[note 6] October 4, 1915 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Private test Packard Testing

Fatalities among riding mechanics

✝ indicates that the driver was killed in the same incident.
Mechanician Driver Date of incident Sanction Track[note 1] Event Team/Owner Car/Entry Session
  Harry Holcomb (USA)[2]   William Bourque (CAN) ✝ August 19, 1909 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Prest-O-Lite Trophy Knox Race
  Claude Kellum (USA)[23]   Charlie Merz (USA) August 21, 1909 Wheeler-Schebler Trophy National Race
  James Bates (USA)[24]   Herbert Lytle (USA) September 29, 1909 AAA Riverhead Road Race Course 10-lap race Apperson Race
  Milton Bacon (USA)[25]   Harold Stone (USA) October 1, 1910 AAA Long Island Motor Parkway Vanderbilt Cup Columbia Race
  Charles Miller (USA)[25]   Louis Chevrolet (USA) Marquette-Buick
  Sam Dickson (USA)[26]   Arthur Greiner (USA) May 30, 1911 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Amplex Race
  Sam Jacobs (USA)[4]   Dave Buck (USA) ✝ August 26, 1911 AAA Elgin Road Race Course Elgin National Trophy Pope-Hartford Race
  Henry Maxwell (USA)[5][note 7]   Jay McNay (USA) ✝ November 20, 1911 AAA/ACA Savannah-Effingham Raceway Case Practice
  Tony Scudellari (ITA)[6][note 8]   David Bruce-Brown (USA) ✝ October 1, 1912 AAA/ACA Wauwatosa Road Race Course Fiat Practice
  Milton Michaelis (USA)[7]   Harry Knight (USA) ✝ July 4, 1913 AAA Columbus Driving Park 200-mile race Kinnear "Rovan" Race
  Jack Jenter (USA)[8][note 9]   Spencer Wishart (USA) ✝ August 22, 1914 AAA Elgin Road Race Course Elgin National Trophy Mercer Race
  Fritz Walker (GER)[30][note 10]   Jack Gable (USA) October 22, 1914 AAA Galesburg District Fairgrounds 100-mile race Burman – Wisconsin Race
  Paul Franzen (USA)[13]   Billy Carlson (USA) ✝ July 4, 1915 AAA Tacoma Speedway Montamarathon Trophy Maxwell Race
  Maurice Keeler (USA)[15]   Billy Chandler (USA) August 7, 1915 AAA Des Moines Speedway 300-mile race Duesenberg Race
  Robert Bandini (USA)[19]   Louis LeCocq (USA) ✝ May 31, 1919 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Roscoe Sarles Duesenberg "Roamer" Race
  Emilio Jandelli (USA)[32]   Ray Howard (USA) July 3, 1919 AAA Sheepshead Bay Speedway Independence Auto Derby Peugeot Practice

Fatalities among non-participants

This section lists people who have been fatally injured in close connection to the racing taking place at an event while not occupying a race car including participants being on the sidelines.
Name Date of incident Sanction Track[note 1] Event Session Role Course of events
  Omar Jolliffe (USA) August 21, 1909 AAA Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race Spectator When the right front tire blew out, Charlie Merz lost control of his car, which broke through the outer fence, crashed into a crowd and rolled over. Claude Kellum, his mechanician, was thrown out and died along with two spectators. Others were injured.[23]
  James West (USA)
  Arthur Otis (USA) August 31, 1909 ACA Merrimack Valley Course Practice Passer-by A passer-by who had entered the foggy race track was struck and killed by Joe Matson's racer.[33]
  Peter McKittrick (USA) October 23, 1909 AAA Portola Road Race Circuit Portola Road Race Race Spectator Howard Hall was rounding a turn when a tire flew off his car and knocked down a spectator, who suffered a brain injury and remained in a semiconscious state until his death on December 14, 1909.[34][35]
  Lewis Smith (USA) February 16, 1914 AAA/ACA Santa Monica Road Race Course Practice Spectator With its steering knuckle braking, the racer driven by Dave Lewis skidded on a turn, crashed into a crowd and overturned, killing a spectator and hurting Lewis and four others.[36]
  Robert Pollock (USA) July 1, 1914 AAA Tacoma Speedway Practice Spectator Having entered the track and walking along its rim, a spectator was hit and killed by the onrushing S. F. Brock, whose car somersaulted before tumbling into an embankment.[37]
If Brock was specifically practicing for the InterCity 100-mile race [8], which was not part of the (retrospectively created) 1914 championship trail [9], Pollock's entry would have to be removed.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d The name of the track at the time of the fatal incident is displayed.
  2. ^ Callaghan died on February 8, 1915, the day after his crash.[10]
  3. ^ Cox died on July 4, 1915, the day after his crash.[12]
  4. ^ Carlson died on July 5, 1915, the day after his crash.[14]
  5. ^ Grant died on October 7, 1915, ten days after his crash.[17]
  6. ^ Johnson died on October 5, 1915, the day after his crash.[22]
  7. ^ Maxwell died on December 3, 1911, thirteen days after his crash.[27]
  8. ^ Scudellari died on October 8, 1912, a week after his crash.[28]
  9. ^ Jenter died on August 26, 1914, four days after his crash.[29]
  10. ^ Walker died on October 28, 1914, six days after his crash.[31]

References

  1. ^ Capps, Don (March 29, 2010). "Case history: John Glenn Printz and the struggle for the past" (PDF). Rear View Mirror. Vol. 7, no. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-03-30 – via Forix.autosport.com/8w.
  2. ^ a b "Two perished in auto race". The Evening Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. Associated Press. August 20, 1909.
  3. ^ "Driver killed on Elgin track, a St. Louisan". The St. Louis Star. August 22, 1911. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  4. ^ a b "Two men lose lives in Elgin auto race; National car winner". The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. Associated Press. August 27, 1911. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  5. ^ a b "Vanderbilt race driver killed at Savannah". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. November 20, 1911. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  6. ^ a b "Auto racer is killed during speed trial". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 2, 1912.
  7. ^ a b "Autoist killed in race at Columbus". The Saturday Evening Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. July 5, 1913.
  8. ^ a b "Wishart killed when his racer tears off road". The Sun. New York City. August 23, 1914. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  9. ^ "Callaghan still unconscious fights for life". The Los Angeles Times. February 8, 1915. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  10. ^ "Callaghan is Ascot's victim". The Los Angeles Times. February 9, 1915. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  11. ^ "Cox's injuries serious". Sioux City Sunday Journal. July 4, 1915. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  12. ^ "Cox, Ogren pilot, dies". The Sioux City Journal. July 5, 1915. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  13. ^ a b "Franzen killed in race" (PDF). The New York Times. July 5, 1915. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  14. ^ "Auto driver dies" (PDF). The New York Times. July 6, 1915. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  15. ^ a b "Joe Cooper and a mechanician killed in race". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August 8, 1915.
  16. ^ "Auto driver Grant severely burned" (PDF). The New York Times. September 28, 1915. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  17. ^ "Harry Grant dies of burns" (PDF). The New York Times. October 8, 1915. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  18. ^ "Auto racer is killed when car upsets". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. March 16, 1919.
  19. ^ a b c "3 die in auto race at Indianapolis" (PDF). The New York Times. June 1, 1919. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  20. ^ "Driver killed on auto track". The San Francisco Call. July 7, 1910.
  21. ^ "Death cost of failure to obey". The Indianapolis Star. June 27, 1913. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  22. ^ "Auto tester is killed in speedway accident". The Indianapolis News. October 5, 1915. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  23. ^ a b "Death claims further toll". The Evening Sentinel. Rochester, Indiana. August 23, 1909.
  24. ^ "All records broken; spill costs one life". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. Associated Press. September 30, 1909.
  25. ^ a b "Alco again wins Vanderbilt Cup but race's death toll is high" (PDF). The New York Times. October 2, 1910. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  26. ^ "One man killed at Indianapolis". The Norwalk Hour. May 31, 1911.
  27. ^ "Maxwell dies of injuries". The Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. December 4, 1911.
  28. ^ "Scudelari dies". The Times-Tribune. Alexandria, Indiana. United Press. October 8, 1912. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  29. ^ "Jenter, Wishart mechanician, follows him in death; will be brought here for burial". Trenton Evening Times. August 26, 1914. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  30. ^ "Ralph Mulford first in race". The Rock Island Argus. October 23, 1914. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  31. ^ "Auto racer dead". The Daily Gate City. Keokuk, Iowa. United Press. October 28, 1914. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  32. ^ "Auto racer killed at Sheepshead Bay" (PDF). The New York Times. July 4, 1919. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-01.
  33. ^ "Fatal injury to man at Lowell". The Day. New London, Connecticut. August 31, 1909.
  34. ^ "Flying tire may cost man's life". Oakland Tribune. October 24, 1909. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  35. ^ "Victim of flying auto tire dies". The San Francisco Call. December 15, 1909.
  36. ^ "One killed and five hurt at practice spin". San Francisco Chronicle. February 17, 1914. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  37. ^ "Spectator killed". The Tacoma Times. July 2, 1914. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01.
  • If it is possible to identify all Championship/Indy car events held in years in which no National Championship was staged, a list of fatalities that have occurred in those events could be made. The same goes for the deaths during Championship/Indy car meetings which were held in championship years but not as part of the National Championship trail (not even as non-championship rounds) if such meetings exist.
  • In case a fatal crash has occurred in practice for an event consisting of at least two independent races, the race the driver was practicing for has not been specified with the race(s) in which the driver was entered being uncertain. In such cases, the "Event" column has been left blank.
  • If a fatal crash has occurred on a warm-up lap leading to a qualifying attempt, the "Session" column shows the fatality to have happened during "Qualifying." The following entries seem to fall into that category (there may be more):
Jack Foley: [10]
Harry Cox: "The men [...] were making a practice spin preparing to try to qualify for the 500-mile race ..." [11]; "The two were warming up the entry of Alvin R. Jones preparing for the fifth day's qualifying trials ..." [12]
Bill Denver/Bob Hurst: [13]/[14]; "Denver had made one circuit of the track, preparatory to trying to qualify the car." [15]
Al Putnam: [16]; "Putnam [...] was making his third warm-up circuit ..." [17]
Walt Brown: "Brown was preparing to take a time trial [...] at the time of the accident." [18]
Chuck Rodee: [19]
Gordon Smiley: [20]; "... warming up to qualify ..."; "We were set to take the green (starting flag for qualifying) on that lap ..." [21]
  • Other sites do not agree with Wikipedia or each other about the nationalities of the following racers:
  William Bourque:  [22]  [23]
  Gaston Chevrolet:  [24]  [25]
Jack Foley:  [26]  [27]
Emilio Jandelli:  [28]  [29]
  Hughie Hughes:  [30]  [31]
  • Links to/summaries of alternative versions of the way accidents have transpired could be added for the sake of balance.
  • Non-championship events could be highlighted by colored cell backgrounds, replacing the footnotes used for that purpose.

--Fluidfellow (talk)

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