And he didn't get to celebrate that win for very long either, because as he was being lauded at the victory banquet the night after the frace, his mother died, so Johncock was a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 who never really got to celebrate either victory. And yes, despite the death of Gordon Smiley while warming up for a qualifying attemptand the five-car crash just before the start on the first attempt, the 1982 race was the best ever at Indy.
That's because he never made it to the final start, due to the crash when they first tried to start the race. As a result, only 32 cars actually took the green flag when the race was actually run. They were only listing those that started the race on the final day. That's why Walther was never mentioned on ABC's "Out of the Race" board.
I'm just as surprised as you are that it was rebroadcast, especially since it wasn't rebroadcast with the other old Indy races. But I think it is important that it was rebroadcast because of all that did happen, which is why I think it's one of the most important races in history. Frankly, I didn't think the broadcast of the 1973 race even existed before it was rebroadcast by ESPN Classic in August.
You're obviously referring to Swede Savage's crash, but he was expected to survive his injuries. In fact, he never lost consciousness during his crash, as he was trying to get out of his car, but it was an infusion of blood contaminated with Hepatitis B that killed him, not the burns he suffered. In fact, he had suffered severe head injuries in a crash at Ontario several years earlier that was closer to proving fatal than the burns he suffered at Indy in '73 were expected to be.
The whole month of May was just terrible. Art Pollard lost his life in a horrific accident on May 12...then came the start of the race with "Salt" Walther in that fiery crash broke both legs,several ribs, severely injured his hand, and was badly burned, but survived. STP Crew Member Armando Teran struck by a Safety Truck was pronounced DOA at the hospital. David "Swede" Savage held on for 33 days, before he finally succumbed to his injuries. Just a horrible month at Indy.
Actually, the tone for the horrbile month of May in 1973 was set on May 6 at Talladega, when the worst crash in NASCAR history at the time occurred, when 19 cars were knocked out in a single crash, and a couple of those involved also ran in the Indianapolis 500 that year, Bobby Allison and Gordon Johncock. Dick Simon was also in that race, but was not involvled in that crash. Also, road racing star Peter Gregg was involved in a bad crash early in the World 600.
Did you watch the entire video, because if you did, while you're correct Dave Diles did mention it was a good day for Granatelli, because his car won the race, which it did, but Granatelli even said it was bittersweet, because of the "problems" they had. But nowhere is it mentioned that anyone in the pit area knew the crew member [Armando Teran] had, in fact died. In fact, Jim McKay even mentioned that it's possible that nobody in the pit area knew that Teran had, in fact, died.
By the way, Chris Schenkel apparently forgot to mention that, while this was the shortest race that was scheduled for 500 miles to date, the 1916 race was only scheduled to run 300 miles due to a low car count caused by World War I. Because only 21 cars started that race, as well as the lack of mechanical equipment, as well as the travel restrictions caused by World War I, the 1916 race was scheduled to run just 300 miles, but was run in its entirety.
Actually, Johncock has said that had the race gone the full distance, that he believed his car, like so many others, would have failed. Remember that six or seven cars dropped out of this race with broken connecting rod bolts, including Bobby Allison, A.J. Foyt, and Mike Mosley. Also, Billy Vukovich II, who finished second, said that he was having exhaust trouble, so he might not have finished either, meaing that, had the race gone all the way, Roger McCluskey might have won.
Appropriate that, after winning with a rain out, that Johncock won the most exciting "500" ever, in 1982.
soylentteal 17 hours ago
@soylentteal
And he didn't get to celebrate that win for very long either, because as he was being lauded at the victory banquet the night after the frace, his mother died, so Johncock was a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 who never really got to celebrate either victory. And yes, despite the death of Gordon Smiley while warming up for a qualifying attemptand the five-car crash just before the start on the first attempt, the 1982 race was the best ever at Indy.
cjs3872 17 hours ago
I noticed ABC didn't list Salt Walther on the "out of race" board. I think he was out for a while....
brdtrk 2 weeks ago
@brdtrk
That's because he never made it to the final start, due to the crash when they first tried to start the race. As a result, only 32 cars actually took the green flag when the race was actually run. They were only listing those that started the race on the final day. That's why Walther was never mentioned on ABC's "Out of the Race" board.
cjs3872 2 weeks ago
I'm so suprised this race was rebrodcasted as bad as it was.
ohytr12 2 months ago
@ohytr12
I'm just as surprised as you are that it was rebroadcast, especially since it wasn't rebroadcast with the other old Indy races. But I think it is important that it was rebroadcast because of all that did happen, which is why I think it's one of the most important races in history. Frankly, I didn't think the broadcast of the 1973 race even existed before it was rebroadcast by ESPN Classic in August.
cjs3872 2 months ago
When you have 75 gallons of fuel, divided evenly in the two primary impact zones of the car..YOU HAVE A BOMB!
thevmanvj 3 months ago
@thevmanvj
You're obviously referring to Swede Savage's crash, but he was expected to survive his injuries. In fact, he never lost consciousness during his crash, as he was trying to get out of his car, but it was an infusion of blood contaminated with Hepatitis B that killed him, not the burns he suffered. In fact, he had suffered severe head injuries in a crash at Ontario several years earlier that was closer to proving fatal than the burns he suffered at Indy in '73 were expected to be.
cjs3872 3 months ago
The whole month of May was just terrible. Art Pollard lost his life in a horrific accident on May 12...then came the start of the race with "Salt" Walther in that fiery crash broke both legs,several ribs, severely injured his hand, and was badly burned, but survived. STP Crew Member Armando Teran struck by a Safety Truck was pronounced DOA at the hospital. David "Swede" Savage held on for 33 days, before he finally succumbed to his injuries. Just a horrible month at Indy.
thevmanvj 3 months ago
@thevmanvj
Actually, the tone for the horrbile month of May in 1973 was set on May 6 at Talladega, when the worst crash in NASCAR history at the time occurred, when 19 cars were knocked out in a single crash, and a couple of those involved also ran in the Indianapolis 500 that year, Bobby Allison and Gordon Johncock. Dick Simon was also in that race, but was not involvled in that crash. Also, road racing star Peter Gregg was involved in a bad crash early in the World 600.
cjs3872 3 months ago
"So your star young driver's in the hospital, and your crew member is dead, this must be a good day for you Mr. Granitelli!"
Idiot!
dsriggs 3 months ago
@dsriggs
Did you watch the entire video, because if you did, while you're correct Dave Diles did mention it was a good day for Granatelli, because his car won the race, which it did, but Granatelli even said it was bittersweet, because of the "problems" they had. But nowhere is it mentioned that anyone in the pit area knew the crew member [Armando Teran] had, in fact died. In fact, Jim McKay even mentioned that it's possible that nobody in the pit area knew that Teran had, in fact, died.
cjs3872 3 months ago
@dsriggs the only idiot is you for that stupid comment.
xSoccerxCorex 2 months ago
By the way, Chris Schenkel apparently forgot to mention that, while this was the shortest race that was scheduled for 500 miles to date, the 1916 race was only scheduled to run 300 miles due to a low car count caused by World War I. Because only 21 cars started that race, as well as the lack of mechanical equipment, as well as the travel restrictions caused by World War I, the 1916 race was scheduled to run just 300 miles, but was run in its entirety.
cjs3872 3 months ago
Had the race gone the full 500 miles, chances are Gordon Johncock may have been the only driver whose car was still on the track!
altfactor 3 months ago
@altfactor
Actually, Johncock has said that had the race gone the full distance, that he believed his car, like so many others, would have failed. Remember that six or seven cars dropped out of this race with broken connecting rod bolts, including Bobby Allison, A.J. Foyt, and Mike Mosley. Also, Billy Vukovich II, who finished second, said that he was having exhaust trouble, so he might not have finished either, meaing that, had the race gone all the way, Roger McCluskey might have won.
cjs3872 3 months ago