- Tony Bettenhausen
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Tony Bettenhausen Born September 12, 1916 Died May 12, 1961 (aged 44) Formula One World Championship career Nationality 
AmericanActive years 1950–1960 Teams Kurtis Kraft, Deidt, Kuzma, Epperly, Watson Races 11 Championships 0 Wins 0 Podiums 1 Career points 11 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 1 First race 1950 Indianapolis 500 Last race 1960 Indianapolis 500 Melvin E. "Tony" Bettenhausen (September 12, 1916 Tinley Park, Illinois – May 12, 1961 Indianapolis, Indiana) was an American racing driver, who won the National Championship in 1951 and 1958.
Bettenhausen was nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express" in honor of his hometown. [1] He was nicknamed "Tunney" after heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney. "Tunney" later became "Tony." [2]
Bettenhausen was part of the midget car "Chicago Gang" with Emil Andres, Cowboy O'Rourke, Paul Russo, Jimmy Snyder, and Wally Zale. [3] They toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
Contents
Racing career
Midget cars
He won the track championship at the Milwaukee Mile in 1942, 1946, and 1947. He was the Chicago Raceway Park champion in 1941, 1942, and 1947.
He won the 1959 Turkey Night Grand Prix, and the Hut Hundred in 1955 and 1956.
Indy cars
He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1941 and 1946-1961 seasons with 121 starts, including 14 in the Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 74 times, with 21 victories.
He won the National Championship in 1951 after recording eight victories and two second place finishes in fourteen events. He announced his retirement from all racing but the Indianapolis 500 after the season. [2] He decided to return full-time for the 1954 season. He was involved in a midget car wreck in Chicago, suffering head injuries after striking a concrete wall. He was in critical condition for several days. [2]
He prearranged to co-drive with Chicago Gang friend Paul Russo in the 1955 Indianapolis 500. They finished second. [3]
In 1958 he became the only driver to win the national championship without a win. [2] He was assured the title with a second place finish at Phoenix. He finished second in the national championship to Rodger Ward in 1959.
Bettenhausen was killed in 1961 in a crash at Indianapolis while testing a car for Paul Russo.
Indy 500 results
Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1946 42 26 123.094 13 20 47 0 Rod 1947 29 25 120.980 17 18 79 0 Timing gear 1948 6 22 126.396 10 14 167 0 Clutch 1950 14 8 130.947 16 31 30 0 Wheel bearing 1951 5 9 131.950 30 9 178 0 Spun T4 1952 27 30 135.384 17 24 93 0 Stalled 1953 98 6 136.024 20 9 196 0 Crash T3 1954 10 21 138.275 19 29 105 0 Bearing 1955 10 2 139.985 13 2 200 0 Running 1956 99 5 144.602 5 22 160 0 Crash T1 1957 27 22 142.439 9 15 195 0 Flagged 1958 33 9 143.919 10 4 200 24 Running 1959 1 15 142.721 18 4 200 0 Running 1960 2 18 145.214 9 23 125 0 Rod Totals 1975 24 Starts 14 Poles 0 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 3 Top 10 5 Retired 10 Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points 1950 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Moore Kurtis Kraft 2000 Offenhauser L4 GBR MON 500
5 †SUI BEL FRA ITA 21st = 1 1951 Mobiloil / Rotary Engineering Deidt Tuffanelli Derrico Offenhauser L4 SUI 500
9BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Blue Crown Spark Plug / Earl Slick Deidt Tuffanelli Derrico Offenhauser L4 SUI 500
24BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 J.C. Agajanian Kuzma Offenhauser L4 ARG 500
9 *NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 1954 Automobile Shippers / Casaroll Kurtis Kraft 4000 Offenhauser L4 ARG 500
15 ‡BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0 1955 H.A. Chapman Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
2 џBEL NED GBR ITA 13th = 3 1956 Belanger Motors Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
22BEL FRA GBR GER ITA NC 0 1957 Novi Racing Kurtis Kraft 500F Novi V8 ARG MON 500
15FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0 1958 Jones & Maley Cars Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500
4BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR 17th 4 1959 Hoover Motor Express Epperly Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 MON 500
4NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA 16th 3 1960 Lindsey Hopkins Watson Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
23NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0 - † Indicates shared drive with Joie Chitwood after retiring his own car.
- * Indicates shared drive with Chuck Stevenson and Gene Hartley.
- ‡ Indicates shared drive with Duane Carter, Marshall Teague and Jimmy Jackson after retiring his own car.
- џ Indicates shared drive with Paul Russo.
Racing family
Bettenhausen was the father of Gary Bettenhausen, Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. and Merle Bettenhausen.
Awards
- He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1985.
- He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991.
- He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1997.
References
- ^ Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
- ^ a b c d Biography at the International Motorsport Hall of Fame
- ^ a b Biography for Paul Russo at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
External Links
Categories:- 1916 births
- 1961 deaths
- American racecar drivers
- Indianapolis 500 drivers
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees
- People from Tinley Park, Illinois
- Racecar drivers from Illinois
- Racecar drivers killed while racing
- Sports deaths in Indiana
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