Pete DePaolo
| Peter DePaolo | |
|---|---|
 DePaolo in 1925 | |
| Born |
August 15, 1898 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | November 26, 1980 (aged 82) |
| Known for | 1925 Indianapolis 500 |
Pete DePaolo (April 15, 1898 – November 26, 1980) was the American race car driver who won the 1925 Indianapolis 500.
Biography
He was born on April 15, 1898 in Roseland, New Jersey. Pete saw his first race in 1919, where he watched his uncle Ralph DePalma win. He drove in the 1922 Indianapolis 500 finishing 4th.
He pulled out to a huge lead in the 1925 Indianapolis 500. His fingers became badly blistered around the midpoint of the race, and car owner Fred Duesenberg pulled DePaolo out of the car. DePaolo had his hands repaired in the infield care center, and returned in the car after missing 21 laps. He had dropped to fifth. He raced his way to the win on his way to the series drivers championship. The race was the first Indianapolis 500 to average over 100 miles per hour (101.270 mph). Pete did not consider this to be his greatest win (since he was replaced for 21 laps).
He began his only team in 1927. He finished second in the 1927 Indianapolis 500, and added two wins on his way to the series drivers championship.
In 1934, DePaolo drove the Harry Miller four wheel drive race car in races throughout Europe and Africa. At the Avus course, near Berlin, while leading the race in a down pour, his engine threw 2 connecting rods which narrowly missed hitting Adolph Hitler in his track side box seat.
He decided to retire after he was in a coma for 11 days after crashing in Spain in 1934. He sang Back Home Again In Indiana in 1971, as of 2014, he was the only driver to sing the song prior to the Indianapolis 500.
He died on November 26, 1980 at age 82.
Indianapolis 500 results
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Car owner
He was car owner and team manager for Kelly Petillo's 1935 Indianapolis 500 victory.
He was a successful NASCAR team owner from 1955 to 1957. His drivers finished second, third, and second in the final points standings. The drivers accumulated 21 wins and 109 Top 10 finishes in 178 starts.
| Owner(s) Name | Pete DePaolo |
| Racing Series | NASCAR Grand National |
| Number of Championships | 0 |
| Number of Wins | 21 |
| Car Number(s) | 12, 22, 87, 97, 98, 99, 297 |
| Notable Driver(s) | Bill Amick Buck Baker Ralph Moody Marvin Panch Fireball Roberts Curtis Turner Joe Weatherly |
| Notable Sponsor(s) | DePaolo Engineering, Southeastern Dealers |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Shop Location | |
| Year Opened | 1955 |
| Year Closed | 1957 |
Awards
- He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1995.
- He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995.
Writer
- He wrote his biography in the book Wall Smacker, published in 1935
- DePaolo was an Associate Editor at Speed Age magazine when he wrote an eight-part series "I Drove The Boards" from July 1951 through August 1952.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pete DePaolo. |
- Biography
- NASCAR owners page at racing-reference.info
- Miscellaneous race highlights
- Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
| Preceded by Joe Boyer Lora L. Corum |
Indianapolis 500 Winner 1925 |
Succeeded by Frank Lockhart |