Indy Starting Crash

September 6, 2008 12:33 AM

One year at the Indianapolis 500, there was a huge pileup during the start which took out a lot of cars. As I remember it, it was such a mess, with so many cars wrecked, that they called off the race for the rest of that day, and started over the next day. And they allowed every car which was still operational to race, even those which hadn't qualified, just to get enough cars for a reasonable field. What year was that?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (4 answers total)

Nothing comes up (through 1989) that matches your description. There are some years that come close, though:

1958: A huge wreck in turn three on the opening lap wipes out several cars, and driver Pat O'Connor is fatally injured. Jimmy Bryan goes on to win. Little-known rookie A.J. Foyt spins out and finishes 16th.

1966: Eleven of the 33 starters, a whole third of the field, are eliminated in a first lap accident. Only seven cars, the fewest finishers ever, are still running by the end of the race.

And a bunch of rain delay years. 1967 was delayed 'til the next day, and 1986 saw the race delayed almost a week.
posted by carsonb at 1:16 AM on September 6, 2008

1973. Brutal first lap crash. Salt Walther and various spectators badly burned. No fatalities. Then it rained.

Race resumed the next day. Two people were killed. Swede Savage who crashed while leading ... and a mechanic on pit lane who was hit by an ambulance heading in the wrong direction.

No one cares who won that year.
posted by philip-random at 1:44 AM on September 6, 2008

Oh hey. Had that one open in a tab, dunno what happened. Thanks anyway for the opportunity to read up on Indy 500 history.
posted by carsonb at 1:48 AM on September 6, 2008

I think 1966 was the one I was thinking of.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:48 AM on September 6, 2008