1964 Indianapolis 500
Encyclopedia
The 1964 Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....

 on Saturday, May 30, 1964. It was won by A.J. Foyt, but is best known for a fiery seven-car, second-lap accident that resulted in the deaths of Eddie Sachs
Eddie Sachs
Edward Julius Sachs, Jr, born May 28, 1927 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, died May 30, 1964 in Speedway, Indiana was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing." He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular."...

 and Dave MacDonald
Dave MacDonald
David George MacDonald was an American road racing champion noted for his successes driving Corvettes and Shelby Cobras in the early 1960s. His promising career ended abruptly after a crash in the 1964 Indianapolis 500 in which he was one of two drivers killed in a fiery inferno that directly led...

. It is also the last race won by a front-engined "roadster", as all subsequent races have been won by mid-engined cars.

MacDonald-Sachs crash

MacDonald was driving a car owned and designed by Mickey Thompson
Mickey Thompson
Marion Lee "Mickey" Thompson was an American off-road racing legend. He won many championships as a racer, and later formed sanctioning bodies SCORE International and Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group . He also raced in dragsters and land speed record automobiles.Thompson was born in Alhambra,...

, the #83 "Sears-Allstate Special". It was a rear-engined car that first raced in 1963, updated with a streamlined body for 1964. The fuel was housed within rubber bladders inside of an enclosed tank that ran between the tires on the left side. The car also featured Sears "Allstate" tires, manufactured by Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co. It was far ahead of its time, but was badly designed, poorly built, and difficult to drive. It handled badly, a condition made worse when the body was modified to accommodate the USAC-mandated 15 inches (381 mm) tires. Graham Hill
Graham Hill
Norman Graham Hill was a British racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion. He is the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship.Graham Hill and his son Damon are the only father and son pair both to...

 tested the vehicle before Indy, but refused to drive it in 1963. Masten Gregory
Masten Gregory
Masten Gregory was a racing driver from the United States. He raced in Formula One between and , participating in 43 World Championship races, and numerous non-Championship races....

 crashed earlier in the month due to aerodynamic lift. Other drivers took the advice of Gregory and stayed away from the Thompson cars. Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....

 told MacDonald on Carb Day, "Get out of that car mate, just walk away." The car was also offered to Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...

, who turned it down over his lack of experience and the fact that the vehicle was only for Indy. According to long-time motor sports journalist Chris Economaki
Chris Economaki
Christopher "Chris" Constantine Economaki is an American motorsports commentator, pit road reporter, and journalist. Chris Economaki has been given the title "The Dean of American Motorsports." Microsoft chose Economaki to author the auto racing history portion of its Encarta...

, MacDonald never practiced with a full load of fuel due to Thompson's focus on high speeds.

In the first lap of his first Indy 500 race in 1964, MacDonald passed at least 5 other cars. As Sachs passed Johnny Rutherford
Johnny Rutherford
For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S...

 and Sachs, Rutherford noticed that MacDonald's car was handling poorly, even throwing grass and dirt up from the edge of the track. Rutherford later said that, watching the behavior of MacDonald's car, he thought, "Whoa, he's either gonna win this thing or crash."

On the second lap, MacDonald's car spun coming off the fourth turn. As the car began to slide he came across the track and hit the inside wall, igniting the gasoline in his fuel tanks (up to 100 US gallons) and resulting in a massive fire. His car then slid back across the track, causing seven more cars to be involved. Ronnie Duman
Ronnie Duman
Ronnie Duman , was an American racecar driver.Born in Dearborn, Michigan, Duman died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during a fatal crash in the Rex Mays 150 at the Milwaukee Mile. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1961-1968 seasons, with 63 career starts, including the 1964-1968...

 crashed, spun in flames and hit the pit lane wall, and was burned. Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...

 hit another car, and Johnny Rutherford's car on its left rear tire, and crashed into the outside wall. Chuck Stevenson
Chuck Stevenson
Charles "Chuck" Stevenson was an American racecar driver.- AAA and USAC Championship Car series :...

 and Norm Hall
Norm Hall
Norm Hall , was an American racecar driver.Born in San Francisco, California, Hall died in Pittsboro, Indiana. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1961, 1964, and 1965 seasons, with 17 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1961 and 1964...

 also crashed.

Sachs aimed for an opening along the straight-away wall that was soon closed by MacDonald's burning car. He hit MacDonald's car broadside causing a second explosion and died instantly of blunt force injuries. Despite Sachs' body being trapped in the burning car, his driver's suit was only scorched and he received slight burns on his face and hands. The car was covered with a tarp before being towed to the garage area for removal of his body. A lemon that had been on a string around Sachs' neck was found inside of Rutherford's engine compartment after the crash.

MacDonald was pulled from the wreck and taken into the infield hospital. Though badly burned, he was conscious and alert. His lungs were seared from flame inhalation, causing acute pulmonary oedema. He died at 1:20 in the afternoon.

The crash was well documented in film and still images, and shown worldwide. For the first time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 was stopped because of an accident. Partially in response to media pressure, USAC mandated that cars carry less fuel and crafted the rules to effectively eliminate the use of gasoline, effective for the 1965 season. This resulted in a change to methanol, a less volatile fuel. Another response to the crash was the 1965 introduction of the Firestone "RaceSafe" fuel cell, with technology used in military helicopters.
Finish Start No Name Qual Rank Laps Led Status
1 5 1   A.J. Foyt 154.672 6 200 146 Running
2 3 2   Rodger Ward
Rodger Ward
Rodger M. Ward was an American racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion.-Early history:...

156.406 3 200 0 Running
3 7 18   Lloyd Ruby
Lloyd Ruby
Lloyd Ruby was an American racecar driver.Ruby raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1958-1977 seasons, with 177 career starts, including every Indianapolis 500 race during 1960-1977. He finished in the top ten 88 times, with 7 victories. His best Indy finish was 3rd in 1964...

153.932 8 200 0 Running
4 21 99   Johnny White
Johnny White
Johnny White , was an American racecar driver.Born in Warren, Michigan, White died in Indianapolis, Indiana. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1963 and 1964 seasons, with 11 career starts, including the 1964 Indianapolis 500...

150.893 28 200 0 Running
5 13 88   Johnny Boyd
Johnny Boyd
Johnny Boyd was an American racecar driver.Born in Fresno, California, Boyd drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1954 to 1966 with 56 starts...

151.835 18 200 0 Running
6 19 15   Bud Tingelstad
Bud Tingelstad
Bud Tingelstad was an American racecar driver.Born in Frazee, Minnesota, Tingelstad drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1960-1971 seasons with 120 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in each year except 1961 and 1970. He finished in the top ten 56 times, with his one...

151.210 26 198 0 Flagged
7 12 23   Dick Rathmann
Dick Rathmann
Dick Rathmann was an American racecar driver....

151.860 17 197 0 Flagged
8 27 4   Bob Harkey
Bob Harkey
Bob Harkey , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1963-1979 seasons, with 85 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1964, 1971 and 1973-1976...

151.573 19 197 0 Flagged
9 32 68   Bob Wente
Bob Wente
Bob Wente, was an American racecar driver.-Midget car:...

149.869 31 197 0 Flagged
10 20 16   Bobby Grim
Bobby Grim
Robert "Bobby" Grim was an American racecar driver.Born in Coal City, Indiana, Grim died of cancer in Indianapolis, Indiana. He drove in the and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1958-1969 seasons with 66 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races each year from 1959-1968 except 1965...

151.038 27 196 0 Flagged
11 30 3   Art Malone
Art Malone
Arthur Malone "Colonel" is a retired American racecar driver.-Career:Malone is known primarily as a drag racer and was the 1963 AHRA Top Fuel World champion.In 1959, he drove for Don Garlits...

151.222 25 194 0 Flagged
12 9 5   Don Branson
Don Branson
Don Branson was an American racecar driver.Born in Rantoul, Illinois, Branson was killed in a racing crash at Ascot Park in Gardena, California. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series and also in sprint cars, racing champ cars in the 1956-1966 seasons with 129 starts, including the...

152.672 12 187 0 Clutch
13 10 53   Walt Hansgen
Walt Hansgen
Walt Hansgen was a racecar driver from the United States. His racing career began as a road racing driver...

152.581 13 176 0 Flagged
14 11 56   Jim Hurtubise
Jim Hurtubise
In 1957, Hurtubise started his NASCAR career running two races. Over the next twenty years, he would race 36 races, winning one race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and amassing eleven top ten finishes.-Award:...

152.542 14 141 0 Oil Pressure
15 8 66   Len Sutton
Len Sutton
Len Sutton was an American racecar driver. He is best known for finishing second at the 1962 Indianapolis 500.-Early racing career:...

153.813 9 140 0 Magneto
16 33 62   Bill Cheesbourg
Bill Cheesbourg
Bill Cheesbourg was an American racecar driver.Cheesbourg started racing jalopies in Tucson and successfully moved into midgets racing all over Arizona after World War II...

148.711 33 131 0 Engine
17 6 12   Dan Gurney
Dan Gurney
Daniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...

154.487 7 110 0 Tire wear
18 18 14   Troy Ruttman
Troy Ruttman
Troy Ruttman was an American race car driver. He was the older brother of NASCAR driver Joe Ruttman.Ruttman won the Indianapolis 500 in 1952, and , he is the youngest winner of the race....

151.292 24 99 0 Spun T3
19 23 54   Bob Veith
Bob Veith
Bob Veith was an American racecar driver.Veith drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing from 1955 to 1968 with 63 starts...

153.381 10 88 0 Piston
20 25 52   Jack Brabham
Jack Brabham
Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in , and . He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....

152.504 15 77 0 Fuel Tank
21 26 28   Jim McElreath
Jim McElreath
Jim McElreath , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Racing career:He raced in the 1961-1983 seasons, with 178 combined career starts, including 15 in the Indianapolis 500 in 1962-1970, 1973–1974, and 1977-1980. He finished in the top ten 101 times, with five victories...

152.381 16 77 0 Filter system
22 28 77   Bob Mathouser
Bob Mathouser
Bob Mathouser , was an American racecar driver.Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Mathouser died in Los Angeles, California. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1961-1966 seasons, with 30 career starts, including the 1964 Indianapolis 500...

151.451 21 77 0 Brakes
23 4 98   Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones
Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indy 500 in a turbine car...

155.099 4 55 7 Pit fire
24 1 6   Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....

158.828 1 47 14 Suspension
25 2 51   Bobby Marshman
Bobby Marshman
Bobby Marshman , was an American racecar driver.Born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Marshman died in San Antonio, Texas from injuries sustained in a tire test in Phoenix, Arizona. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1961-1964 seasons, with 49 career starts, including each...

157.857 2 39 33 Oil Plug
26 24 84   Eddie Johnson
Eddie Johnson (auto racer)
Eddie Johnson was an American racecar driver.Born in Richmond, Virginia, Johnson died in a plane crash near Cleveland, Ohio. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1950-1952 and 1955-1966 seasons with 33 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in all of those...

152.905 11 6 0 Fuel Pump
27 15 86   Johnny Rutherford
Johnny Rutherford
For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S...

151.400 23 2 0 Crash FS
28 29 95   Chuck Stevenson
Chuck Stevenson
Charles "Chuck" Stevenson was an American racecar driver.- AAA and USAC Championship Car series :...

150.830 29 2 0 Crash FS
29 14 83   Eddie Sachs
Eddie Sachs
Edward Julius Sachs, Jr, born May 28, 1927 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, died May 30, 1964 in Speedway, Indiana was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing." He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular."...

151.464 20 1 0 Crash FS (fatal)
30 17 25   Dave MacDonald
Dave MacDonald
David George MacDonald was an American road racing champion noted for his successes driving Corvettes and Shelby Cobras in the early 1960s. His promising career ended abruptly after a crash in the 1964 Indianapolis 500 in which he was one of two drivers killed in a fiery inferno that directly led...

151.439 22 1 0 Crash FS (fatal)
31 16 64   Ronnie Duman
Ronnie Duman
Ronnie Duman , was an American racecar driver.Born in Dearborn, Michigan, Duman died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during a fatal crash in the Rex Mays 150 at the Milwaukee Mile. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1961-1968 seasons, with 63 career starts, including the 1964-1968...

149.744 32 1 0 Crash FS
32 22 9   Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...

154.865 5 1 0 Crash FS
33 31 26   Norm Hall
Norm Hall
Norm Hall , was an American racecar driver.Born in San Francisco, California, Hall died in Pittsboro, Indiana. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1961, 1964, and 1965 seasons, with 17 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1961 and 1964...

150.094 30 1 0 Crash T4
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