Lewis Strang

Lewis Strang

Strang at the wheel of his Renault in 1908
Nationality American
Born August 1884
Amsterdam, New York
Died July 20, 1911 (aged 26)
Blue River, Wisconsin
Awards
1908 AAA National Champion (chosen in 1951)

Lewis Strang (August 1884 – July 20, 1911) was an American racecar driver.[1]

Biography

He was born in August 1884 in Amsterdam, New York. Strang was pole sitter for the 1911 Indianapolis 500.

He was killed in a testing accident while driving 5 miles an hour, becoming the first Indianapolis 500 participant to die.[2][3]

Legacy

In 1951, historian Russ Catlin selected Strang as the 1908 National Champion.[4]<

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1911 1 1 — — 29 109 0 Steering
Totals 109 0

Starts 1
Poles 1
Front Row 1
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 0
Retired 1

References

  1. ↑ "Lewis Strang". Early Aviators. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  2. ↑ Brown, Allen (ed.). "Lewis (Louis) Strang". OldRacingCars.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Lewis Strang, Famous Automobile Racer, Who Was Pinned Under His Car When It Turned Turtle Off A Five Foot Embankment. Daring Auto Driver is Killed When Going Only Five Miles an Hour". San Francisco Call. July 20, 1911. Retrieved 2012-10-03. Lewis Strang was killed today when his motor car went into a ditch near blue River, Wis. ... Lewis Strang was 26 years old and was born in New York, but had been connected with the Case company for years. He had driven in practically every race of importance since 1907. In 1907 he was the winner of the circular track mile at Birmingham, Ala., and made a mile record in Nashville. He was a winner in 1908 at Savannah in a road race, also at Lowell, Mass., and at Brighton Beach. In 1909 he was a winner at Ormond Beach, making 100 miles in 94 minutes. In 1910, on the Indianapolis motor speedway, he made a quarter mile record in 8 seconds, making 119 miles an hour, one kilometer, 22 seconds; five miles in 3 minutes 17 seconds.
  4. ↑ Capps, Don (29 March 2010). "Automobile Racing History and History". Rear View Mirror. 8W. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewis Strang.