On May 30, 1958, thousands of racing fans poured into the infield at dawn to claim the best seats of the Indianapolis 500, unaware that they were going to witness one of the most notorious wrecks in racing history. Seconds after the green flag, a game of chicken spiraled out of control into a fiery 16-car pile-up that claimed the life of 29-year-old Indiana native and rising star Pat O'Connor. The other drivers escaped death, but the tragic 1958 Indy 500 seemed to leave its mark on them: the surviving drivers were hounded by accidents and terrible crashes, and most would die at tracks around the country. But the tragedy also prompted new regulations and safety precautions like roll bars that would ultimately save hundreds of lives. In The Curse of Indy 500: 1958's Tragic Legacy, veteran sportswriter Stan Sutton profiles the ill-fated race and the careers of the drivers involved, highlighting their lives in the dangerous world of auto racing.
By:
Stan Sutton
Imprint: Red Lightning Books
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781684350018
ISBN 10: 1684350018
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 19 March 2018
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgments 1. A Convoluted Account of the Crash 2. A Race-Day Shootout 3. May was Busting Out All Over 4. O'Connor's Eternal Home 5. The City of Railroads 6. Deadly Summer of '58 7. Safety Wasn't First 8. Daytona Enters the Picture 9. No Average Day at the Teach 10. Champion of the Dirt 11. How Fast is Too Fast 12. O'Connor Victim of Jinx 13. Jerry Unser Unlucky Trend Setter 14. The Good and Bad of Ed Elisian 15. Journeymen Drivers Also Victimized 16. Death Common at Langhorne 17. The Short Career of Bobby Ball 18. Speedway Claims Bettenhausen 19. Tony's Legacy Continues 20. Check Out Those Helmets 21. Keller in Vukovich Crash 22. Thomson Known for Bravery 23. Among All Else, Foyt is Survivor 24. Sachs Almost Won in '61 25. The Little Car that Could 26. Everyone Loved the Novi 27. Innocent Victims 28. Sport Loses Two Good Men 29. He Was a Wonderful Gentleman 30. Fire and Fear are Synonymous 31. Just Get Over It 32. Danger Highest on Short Tracks 33. '58 Drivers Can't Escape Fate 34. Dodge Loses in Photo Finish 35. Phrase Almost Prophetic 36. Later that Night he was Gone 37. Jud Larson, A Breed Apart 38. A New Rival for Indy 39. Ward's Time Finally Arrives 40. Dick is Jim and Jim is Dick 41. Ward Walks Away 42. Major Celebrities Missed Race 43. Dick, the Other Rathmann 44. Hollywood Comes to Indy 45. Fans Fall to Their Death 46. Goldsmith was Multi-dimensional 47. The Lady Lost her Life 48. Indy Among Top 10 Dangerous Tracks 49. The Former Winner's Last Race 50. Death Wasn't Only Bad Result 51. Most Great Indy Drivers Survived 52. Mario Survives Spectacular Flip 53. The Most Deadly Sport? 54. The Trials of Cal Niday 55. Weyant the Oldest Survivor 56. Stewart Pushes for Safety 57. He was Still Alive 58. Lower Leg Injuries were Prevalent 59. Flying Starts Can Be Frightening 60. Getting Out While Getting's Good 61. Major Survivable Crashes 62. No Chance of Survival 63. Bill Cheesbourg, One of a Kind 64. Sutton Retired After Seeing Kenyon Wreck 65. Turner Did a Turnover 66. Boyd Saw A Lot of Action 67. Speed and Safety May Not Mix
Stan Sutton is a member of the Indiana Sports Writers and Sportscasters Hall of Fame. During his career, Sutton worked for six newspapers in the Midwest, including 25-years with the Courier-Journal. He is author (with John Laskowski)of Tales from the Indiana Hoosiers Locker Room and (with Landon Turner)Tales from the 1980-81 Indiana Hoosiers.
Reviews for The Curse of the Indy 500: 1958's Tragic Legacy
"""In all, the book offers an exciting story of the 1958 Indy 500 and a thought-provoking discussion of its aftermath."" * Daily Journal *"
