Dick Rathmann

Dick Rathmann
Born (1924-01-06)January 6, 1924
Los Angeles, California
Died February 1, 2000(2000-02-01) (aged 76)
Melbourne, Florida
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
128 races run over 5 years
Best finish 3rd - 1953 Grand National Series season
First race 1951 Carrell Speedway race
Last race 1955 Langhorne Speedway race
First win 1952 Martinsville Speedway race
Last win 1954 Santa Fe Speedway race
Wins Top tens Poles
13 79 13
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality United States American
Active years 1950, 19561960
Teams Watson, Kurtis Kraft, Lesovsky
Entries 6 (5 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 2
Pole positions 1
Fastest laps 0
First entry 1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry 1960 Indianapolis 500

Dick Rathmann (born James Rathmann; January 6, 1924 – February 1, 2000) was an American racecar driver.

He drove in the AAA Championship Car series in the 1949 and 1950 seasons with 4 starts, including the 1950 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, in 6th position at Milwaukee in 1950.

In 1951, he moved to NASCAR, where he was a very successful Grand National driver through 1955.

In 1956, he returned to the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1964 seasons with an additional 41 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1956 and 1958-1964. He finished in the top ten 21 more times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1959 at Daytona.

Dick sat on the pole for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. On the first lap, he and fellow front-row starter Ed Elisian raced into turn 3 and started a chain-reaction accident which involved 15 cars and cost the life of Pat O'Connor. With that accident, Rathmann became the first Indy pole-sitter to complete no laps. This feat has been repeated only twice in Indy history, first by Roberto Guerrero and then by Scott Sharp.

Dick was the elder brother of 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. Jim and Dick switched names in 1946 so that his younger brother could enter a race while underage. For what was supposed to be a short time, he adopted the name "Dick" and his brother adopted the name "Jim." The name change stuck for life.

In 2009, Rathmann was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.[1]

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Dick Rathmann participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once and accumulated a total of 2 World Championship points.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1950 45 18 130.928 17 32 25 0 Stalled
1956 18 4 144.471 6 5 200 0 Running
1957 73   140.780 Withdrew
1958 97 1 145.974 1 27 0 0 Crash T3
1959 73 4 144.248 5 20 150 0 Fire in pit
1960 97 4 145.543 6 31 42 0 Brake Line
1961 97 6 146.033 8 13 164 0 Fuel Pump
1962 9 13 147.161 13 24 51 0 Magneto
1963 22 17 149.130 14 10 200 0 Running
1964 23 12 151.860 17 7 197 0 Flagged
Totals 1029 0

Starts 9
Poles 1
Front Row 1
Wins 0
Top 5 1
Top 10 3
Retired 6

References

  1. "West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame". West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  2. "Wheeling, dealing for final spot in Indy 500 is under way". St. Joseph Gazette. 1984-05-24. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
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