Indy in the 70's: 1971

[SWC75]

Al Unser repeated as champion this year, the 4th driver to do so, (Wilbur Shaw 39-40, Mauri Rose 47-48, and Bill Vukovich 1953-54 preceded him: Helio Castroneves 01-02 would follow him). This race is probably most famous for the crash of the pace car, which was being driven by a local car dealer rather than a former race car driver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=OTNDPmIO4Lw
Somebody had removed a cone placed where the driver was supposed to break and he came in too fast. I recall Chris Schenkel was in that car reporting live and had to go to the hospital with a broken shoulder. Astronaut John Glenn was in the car, too. But was uninjured.

Drivers and other persons not previously mentioned:
- Bruce McLaren was a New Zealander, like Donahue an engineers and very successful car builder and owner. He’d started out with Jack Brabham’s team. He had some success n Formula 1, winning four races but no titles. He eventually formed his own team and helped the careers of drivers like Dennis Hulme, Mark Donohue and Peter Revson. They totally dominated the Can-Am sports car series. He was a key figure in the development of “ground effects”, features on the car that caused the air to press it to ground so it could handle better at high speeds. Unfortunately he died testing one of his cars on 6/2/70 and was no longer around to compete at Indy in 1871. But Hulme, Revson and Donohue were there to carry on his legacy.
- Mike Mosley had a rough Indy in ’71, crashing twice in practice and once in the race. He wound up in the hospital. Wikipedia: “He was known for a "charger" driving style and for his smooth driving technique. Many of his peers felt Mosley never had the opportunity to showcase his talent due to second-rate equipment.” He ran at Indy every year from 1968-83, his best finish being 3rd in 1979. He was killed in an off-road accident in Riverside, California in 1984.
- George Bignotti was the most famous chief mechanic at Indy, preparing cars for 7 champions.
- Roger Penske is probably the most famous car owner of all time. He had some success as a driver back in the 60’s. But his real fame was as an owner and a highly successful businessman. His cars have won no fewer than 15 Indy 5000s and he has become a billionaire through his car and truck enterprises. His first Indy winner was with Mark Donahue- but not this year.
- Peter Revson was another Hollywood handsome driver. Born to wealth, “He was a young, handsome bachelor who was described as a "free spirit" who passed up an easy life for one of speed and danger.” By 1971 he was establishing himself as one of the world’s top drivers. But the danger he sought caught up with him and he was killed testing a car at the South African Grand Prix in 1974. His second place finish in 1971 was the best he ever did at Indy.
- Larry Dixon was the dominant USAC sprint-car racer of his era with 43 wins. The bets eh could do in 13 tries at Indy was finish 9th.
- Rick Muther went to Indy 10 times, qualified three of them but never finished higher than 15th. But he died in his sleep in 1995, perhaps a better way to go than a lot of these guys.
- This was the least of 11 tries at Indy for Bud Tingelstad. His 7th place finish was his second best ever, behind a 6th in 1964.
- This was the first of 11 Indys for Steve Krisiloff, who finished in the top 10 5 times. He retired to become Vice President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Harlan Fengler ran at Indy once- in 1923, finishing 16th. He was chief steward of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1958-74. That meant he signaled the start of each race- when he was satisfied the cars were lined up properly.
- Denny Zimmerman was Rookie of the Year in 1971, finishing 8th. He finished 19th the next year and never qualified again.
- J.C. Agajanian wanted badly to be a race car driver but his father wouldn’t let him because ti was too dangerous, (especially back in the 1930’s). So he became an owner- probably the most famous before Penske, winning four poles and two titles from 1948-71. He was famous for his 10 gallon hat, (he son said he never knew his Dad was bald), and his love for the number 98, which kept turning up on his cars. This was his last Indy as an owner.
- I remember Jim Hurtubise from this article in Sports Illustrated years ago:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1093654/index.htm
He was a throw-back who liked driving the old front-engined Indy roadsters that were by 1971, totally out-moded. When his hands had to be virtually re-constructed after an accident, he old the doctors: "Just make 'em so I can hold a steering wheel. "He was at Indy every year from 1960-81 but only qualified 10 times, missing out in 12 of the last 15 due to his out-moded machinery. He’d finished 3rd in 1961 and second in 1964 but other than that never cracked the top 10. He didn’t care. He did things his way.
- Bob Harkey was at Indy 6 times, qualified 6 times but never finished higher than 8th.
- Denis Hulme was Bruce McLaren’s fellow New Zealander and great friend. Hulme, who started out racing barefoot before being convinced that was not a good idea, retired from racing in 1974, possibly influenced by the deaths of his friends McLaren and Revson. He got involved in truck racing in New Zealand in 1986 and was killed in a crash there in 1992.
- Gordon Johncock had a long career at Indy, competing from 1965-1992 and winning the race in 1973 and 1982.
- David Hobbes was an Englishman known more for Formula 1 and Lemans but who competed at Indy four times, his best finish being 5th in 1974.
Here is Mario Andretti being interviewed by a young reporter named David Letterman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU-PDAQWcXg

Unfortunately, U-Tube doesn’t have ABC’s “full” race coverage but I did find a couple of more clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1KFLa9FHKU

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do6Cyl7L9oE