Kind Pollard
Art Pollard (born May 5, 1927 in Dragon , † May 12, 1973 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis ) was an American car racing driver .
Career
Art Pollard was one of the most popular pilots in this racing series during his USAC racing career . The driver colleagues, who called him "Roberto" because of his thick black hair, described him as open, friendly, honest and always helpful. The American was also very popular with journalists and viewers. Pollard was socially committed; his main project was engaging with disabled children at LeRue Carter Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis. He also visited the American troops in Vietnam .
He spent his sporting career almost exclusively in the USAC racing series. From 1965 to 1973 he contested 84 races in this championship, of which he won two races. He was also at the start five times in the Indianapolis 500 mile race . In 1967 he drove the gas turbine there - Lotus 56 and finished 13th in the race. His best place in the 500 mile race was seventh overall in 1970 .
1973 he was in Indianapolis one Eagle of Dan Gurney piloted. However, Pollard had a fatal accident in training. Before Turn One he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the outer lane. The car immediately went up in flames and spun into the inner field of the track, where it was almost completely destroyed. Pollard died an hour later in the Indianapolis Methodist Hospital.
literature
- Rick Popely, L. Spencer Riggs: Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Publications International Ltd., Lincolnwood IL 1998, ISBN 0-7853-2798-3 .
Web links
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Pollard, Art |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American racing driver |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 5, 1927 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dragon |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 12, 1973 |
| Place of death | Indianapolis |