Patrick James O'Connor (October 9, 1928 – May 30, 1958) was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a 15-car pileup, after sustaining a fatal head injury after rolling his car and catching fire on the first lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500.

Champ Car O'Connor competed in 36 races in his champ car career. He took his first win in 1956 at Darlington Raceway. In 1957, he won the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 and he finished eighth. Later in the year, he won at Trenton Speedway.

O'Connor was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May 1958 (one week before the race), adding to the legend of the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx.

Death

For the 1958 Indianapolis 500, Dick Rathmann and Ed Elisian started the race on the front row, with Jimmy Reece on the outside of the front row. Elisian spun in turn 3 of the first lap and collided with Rathmann's car, sending them both into the wall, and starting a 15-car pileup.

According to A. J. Foyt, O'Connor's car hit Reece's car, sailed fifty feet in the air, landed upside down, and burst into flames. Although O'Connor was incinerated in the accident, medical officials said that he was probably killed instantly from a fractured skull.Indy 500 deadly accidents, 1958 In an interview after the race, winner Jimmy Bryan was quoted for saying "It was a nightmare. I lived with it for 200 laps."

Widely blamed for the accident, Elisian was suspended by USAC for the accident (reinstated a few days later), and was shunned by many in the racing community.

Following the accident, race officials announced that they would change the starting procedure, abandoning the single-file trip down pit lane that was used in 1957 and 1958. Also, for the 1959 Indy 500, metal roll bars welded to the frame behind the driver's head were mandated, and helmets were required to pass safety certification by Speedway medical officials.we feel the blues when we lose

Awards O'Connor was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995.

Legacy Salem Speedway honored him along with Joe James with an annual title event. The 2020 event was part of the USAC Silvercrown series.

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Points 1952 INDY MIL RAL SPR MIL DET DUQDNQ PIK SYR DNC SJS PHX-0 1953 INDYDNQ MILDNQ SPR DET SPR MIL DUQDNQ PIK SYR ISF7 SAC PHX8 32nd 110 1954 INDY21 MIL5 LANDNQ DAR10 SPRDNQ MIL19 DUQDNQ PIK SYRDNQ ISFDNQ SACDNQ PHXDNQ LVG9 25th 200 1955 INDY8 MIL18 LAN5 SPRDNQ MIL26 DUQ9 PIK SYR4 ISF5 SAC5 PHX5 7th 800 1956 INDY18 MIL11 LANDNQ DAR1 ATL17 SPR5 MIL21 DUQDNQ SYR13 ISF2 SAC15 PHXDNQ 11th 680 1957 INDY8 LANDNQ MIL4 DET ATL SPRDNQ MIL3 DUQ8 SYR2 ISF10 TRE1 SAC15 PHX2 4th 1,250 1958 TRE13 INDY29 MIL LAN ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX-0

Indianapolis 500 results

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired195328Failed to Qualify647419543512138.08424211810Spun T219552919139.1952182000Running195673144.98041818739Flagged1957121143.948282007Running195845144.82352900Crash T3 (fatal)Totals76846

Starts5Poles1Front Row2Wins0Top 50Top 102Retired2

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points 1953 Slick Racers Diedt Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 Engle-Stanko Kurtis Kraft 4000 500 Brown Motors Schroeder 500 1954 Hopkins / Motor Racers Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0 1955 Ansted Rotary Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR ITA NC 0 1956 Ansted Rotary Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA NC 0 1957 Ansted Rotary Kurtis Kraft 500G Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0 1958 Sumar / Chapman Root Kurtis Kraft 500G Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500 BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR NC 0

World Championship career summary The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. O'Connor participated in five World Championship races. He started on the pole once but scored no World Championship points, as his best finish was eighth (twice).

See also List of fatalities at Indianapolis

References

External links