Pancho's first name is Duane not Francisco. He is named after his father the late Duane Carter Sr. a great racer in his own right during the 1940's and 50's.
Wow that was a horrible race. So many bad accidents. I'm glad they took the armco off the back strech, Pancho's accident would not have looked as bad if he had not got his car wedged under there.
Yeah, that armco was deadly...if I remember right, AJ Foyt almost lost his right arm there in 1981, and in the early '70's Merle Bettenhausen lost an arm either in a crash there or as a result of the crash...(it's gruesome to think about either way).
@BSNFabricating Correct on both counts - in 1972 Merle Bettenhausen blasted the armco and lost one arm (that race was aired on Car & Track); AJ Foyt was injured there in 1981, then the next year got clobbered on a restart.
@bababacardi Pancho's first name is Duane not Francisco. He is named after his father the late Duane Carter Sr. who was a great racer in his own right during the forties and fifties.
As I recall as I watched it live about 5 minutes later he hobbled away....mostly because he had one leg one inch shorter than the other from a worse crash several years earlier....he was fine and is still involved today as a spotter, I believe.
Pancho was lucky, given what had happened to Chip Ganassi in that same race. In 1985 went on to get pole at Indy in a Buick (only to blow up 6 laps in or so), and then finished first - but did not win - Sanair (he made a pass for the lead on Johnny Rutherford that occurred after the flagman waved the green erroneously on the last lap).
IIRC this was the same race Phil Kreuger, in an underfunded machine, went to sleep after porpoising, losing GE suction and clobbering the wall in the first 30 laps or so. The only video is post impact where Kreuger's head dips as the car comes to rest. I believe he was asleep for several days. It was a nasty rough track in those days.
Yeah, Kreuger had a hard impact into the wall that afternoon. Other incidents included Chet Fillip hitting the wall, and the bizarre double-incident of Gary Bettenhausen getting t-boned, while Al Holbert and Gordon Johncock had some issues up high (I think Gordy did make it through) with Bobby Rahal somewhere in the mix.
1984 Michigan in many ways highlighted the absolute thrill (the finish) and the stark danger (injuries and damaged cars) of Champcar superspeedway racing. (1995 too...)
Carter was uninjured and raced the next weekend.
devildog881966 5 months ago
Pancho's first name is Duane not Francisco. He is named after his father the late Duane Carter Sr. a great racer in his own right during the 1940's and 50's.
phakit 11 months ago
Wow that was a horrible race. So many bad accidents. I'm glad they took the armco off the back strech, Pancho's accident would not have looked as bad if he had not got his car wedged under there.
DavidSkywalker01 3 years ago 6
Yeah, that armco was deadly...if I remember right, AJ Foyt almost lost his right arm there in 1981, and in the early '70's Merle Bettenhausen lost an arm either in a crash there or as a result of the crash...(it's gruesome to think about either way).
BSNFabricating 2 years ago
@BSNFabricating Correct on both counts - in 1972 Merle Bettenhausen blasted the armco and lost one arm (that race was aired on Car & Track); AJ Foyt was injured there in 1981, then the next year got clobbered on a restart.
STP43FAN1 1 year ago
Pancho, what a cool name. I think I'll name my next kid that.
tuco220 3 years ago 4
@tuco220 it's actually not a name, is a diminutive for the real name FRANCISCO
but maybe in english spoken countries Pancho could be used as a name, ask Pancho Sullivan , great surfer.
bababacardi 1 year ago
@bababacardi Pancho's first name is Duane not Francisco. He is named after his father the late Duane Carter Sr. who was a great racer in his own right during the forties and fifties.
phakit 11 months ago
@tuco220 Whats your other kids name?
MurphyMonster 7 months ago
yes that is paul page with bobby unser when they were with nbc and by the way pancho carter walked away from that crash unhurt
sir945 3 years ago
haaaaaaaa!!!!!! is that paul page commentating?
e521soediv 3 years ago
Damn. That had to hurt. What were his injuries.
RealRacer2442 3 years ago
Not entirely sure yet, I'll get back to you on that one.
F1V1 3 years ago
As I recall as I watched it live about 5 minutes later he hobbled away....mostly because he had one leg one inch shorter than the other from a worse crash several years earlier....he was fine and is still involved today as a spotter, I believe.
VooDooRocketry 3 years ago
Pancho was lucky, given what had happened to Chip Ganassi in that same race. In 1985 went on to get pole at Indy in a Buick (only to blow up 6 laps in or so), and then finished first - but did not win - Sanair (he made a pass for the lead on Johnny Rutherford that occurred after the flagman waved the green erroneously on the last lap).
csampang1 3 years ago
IIRC this was the same race Phil Kreuger, in an underfunded machine, went to sleep after porpoising, losing GE suction and clobbering the wall in the first 30 laps or so. The only video is post impact where Kreuger's head dips as the car comes to rest. I believe he was asleep for several days. It was a nasty rough track in those days.
VooDooRocketry 3 years ago
Yeah, Kreuger had a hard impact into the wall that afternoon. Other incidents included Chet Fillip hitting the wall, and the bizarre double-incident of Gary Bettenhausen getting t-boned, while Al Holbert and Gordon Johncock had some issues up high (I think Gordy did make it through) with Bobby Rahal somewhere in the mix.
1984 Michigan in many ways highlighted the absolute thrill (the finish) and the stark danger (injuries and damaged cars) of Champcar superspeedway racing. (1995 too...)
csampang1 3 years ago
@RealRacer2442 i think he didnt have any injuries if so probably a small one.
miles24fig 1 year ago
@RealRacer2442 minor injuries only
erasetoimprove 10 months ago