George Francis "Pat" Flaherty (January 6, 1926 – April 9, 2002) was an American racing driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1956.
Driving career
Early career
Flaherty began racing track roadsters in 1946, and in 1948 relocated to the Midwest to compete in Andy Granatelli's Hurricane Hot Rod Association.
Championship car career
Flaherty drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1950, 1953–1956, 1958–1959, and 1963 seasons with 19 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1950, 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1959. He finished in the top-ten nine times, with victories in 1955 and 1956 at Milwaukee as well as the 1956 Indianapolis 500. Born in Glendale, California, Flaherty died in Oxnard, California.
World Drivers' Championship career
The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.
Flaherty participated in five World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He started on the pole once, won once, and accumulated eight World Drivers' Championship points.
Injury and later life
After winning the 1956 Indianapolis 500, Flaherty was severely injured in a race car crash less than three months later, which prevented him from racing at the 1957 500. Flaherty successfully raced pigeons for over twenty years after he retired from auto racing.Among the toasts made at the wedding reception Saturday..., chicagotribune.com; accessed May 13, 2014. He also built and publicised a portable go-kart track where he would race against all-comers.
Awards and honors
Flaherty has been inducted into the following halls of fame: Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2006)
Motorsports career results
AAA/USAC Championship Car results
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Points 1949 ARL INDYDNQ MIL TRE SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR DET SPR LAN SAC DMR - 0 1950 INDY10 MIL LAN SPR MIL PIK SYR DET SPR SAC PHX BAY DAR 33rd 103.5 1953 INDY22 MIL SPR DET SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX - 0 1954 INDYDNS MIL LAN DARSPR MIL12 DUQDNQ PIK SYR ISFDNQSAC PHX LVG 51st 20 1955 INDY10 MIL3 LAN SPR MIL1 DUQ PIK SYR ISFDNQ SAC PHX 8th 790 1956 INDY1 MIL1 LAN14 DAR5 ATL5 SPR18 MIL DUQ SYR ISF SAC PHX 2nd 1,500 1958 TRE INDYDNQ MIL LAN ATL SPR MIL16 DUQ SYR ISF TRESAC PHX - 0 1959 DAY9 TRE17 INDY19 MIL19 LAN SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 43rd 40 1963 TRE INDY MIL21 LAN TREDNQ SPR MIL DUQ ISF TREDNQ SAC PHX - 0
Indianapolis 500 results
YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired19505911129.60830101350Running19537724135.66827221150Crash NC195438 - - - Ret*1100Crash19558912140.1498102000Running195681145.5961 1st200127Running19596418142.399211916211Crash FSTotals812138
Starts5Poles1Front Row1Wins1Top 51Top 103Retired2
* Shared drive with Jim Rathmann
References
External links
Pat Flaherty - ChampCarStats.com