Lee Wallard was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 race car driver. In the 1951 Indianapolis 500

1951 Indianapolis 500

The 1951 Indianapolis 500 an automobile race which was held on Wednesday, May 30, 1951 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the opening race of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail and the second race of the 1951 World Championship of Drivers....

 Wallard drove the Number 99 Belanger Special to victory, at age 40. Tony Bettenhausen

Tony Bettenhausen

Melvin E. "Tony" Bettenhausen was an American racing driver, who won the National Championship in 1951 and 1958....

 had passed up the car, because he wanted to drive a newer front-wheel drive vehicle.. A week after winning the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...

, Wallard was injured during an auto race in Reading, PA. He suffered from severe burns when his race car caught fire in the home stretch of that race. He required 27 skin grafts.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1948 1948 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1948 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Monday, May 31, 1948.... 91 28 128.420 5 7 200 0 Running 1949 1949 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1949 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Monday, May 30, 1949.... 6 20 128.912 7 23 55 19 Gears 1950 1950 Indianapolis 500 The 1950 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race which was held on Tuesday, May 30, 1950 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the third round of the 1950 World Drivers' Championship... 8 23 132.436 5 6 136 0 Running 1951 1951 Indianapolis 500 The 1951 Indianapolis 500 an automobile race which was held on Wednesday, May 30, 1951 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the opening race of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail and the second race of the 1951 World Championship of Drivers.... 99 2 135.039 5 1 200 159 Running 1954 1954 Indianapolis 500 The 1954 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held on Monday, May 31, 1954 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was the second round of the 1954 World Drivers' Championship.- Classification :- Notes :... 99 - - - - - - Did not qualify Totals 591 178

Starts 4 Poles 0 Front Row 1 Wins 1 Top 5 1 Top 10 3 Retired 1