Bob sweikert profile with all the results,graphs,team mates and stats. Making his aaa debut in 1950, he steadily improved until winning the indianapolis 500 in 1955, followed by the aaa national championship, despite jimmy bryan winning six races that same year. Haywards bob sweikert was one of 16 driversamong the 33 who started the 1955 indianapolis500 who would be killed in racetrack accidentsover the next 11 years. Robert charles sweikert may 20, 1926 june 17, 1956 was an american racing driver, best known as the winner of the 1955 indianapolis 500 and the 1955. Find everything in one place on bob sweikert including their biography, latest news and updates, high resolution photos, high quality videos and expert analysis.
Profile for racing driver bob sweikert from united states. Juni 1956 in salem, indiana war ein usamerikanischer rennfahrer. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Bob sweikert, usa, racing driver career page, statistics, teams and series, championships photos and videos. Indy winner and american champion of 1955, he died in a crash at salem raceway.
Robert charles bob sweikert was an american racing driver, best known as the winner of the 1955 indianapolis 500 and the 1955. Served in the air force in world war 2 and then became a car salesman and mechanic in hayward, when he decided to enter his roadster that he built himself in a few races in 1947. Sweikert was also the aaa 1955 big car racing champion and finished 6th in. Robert charles sweikert may 20, 1926 june 17, 1956 was an american racing driver, best known as the winner of the 1955 indianapolis 500 and the 1955 national championship, as well as the 1955 midwest sprint car championship the only driver in history to sweep all three in a single season. He won the indianapolis 500 on a dark day that claimed a legend, captured three titles in one season, triumphed in what many say was the greatest dirt race ever and lost his life in the prime of his career. Sweikert, bob historic 2016 inductees hall of fame. A year later, in june 1956, he was killed in a sprint car race at salem, indiana. Broadening his horizons, sweikert drove in the 1956 sebring, florida, 12hours, and after being offered some friendly tips through an interpreter from the great juan manuel fangio, codrove jack ensley s dtype jaguar to a very impressive third place finish behind two factory ferraris. Robert charles bob sweikert may 20, 1926 june 17, 1956 was an american racing driver, best known as the winner of the 1955 indianapolis 500 and the. Bob sweikert packed a lot of memories and success into his 30 years before that tragic day. Current racing series nascar cup series xfinity series gander outdoors truck series arca menards west series arca menards east series arca menards series pintys series whelen modified tour weekly racing series peak mexico series whelen euro series ntt indycar series indy lights series formula one series weathertech sportscar champ. Bob sweikert project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Bob sweikert racing career profile driver database.
Sweikert was a 5time veteran of the indianapolis 500, winning the classic in 1955, an event marred by the death of bill vukovich, sr. Year outdoor indoor 2014 chad nichols 20 floyd alvis 2012 floyd alvis 2011 nick foster jr. Vintage auto vintage cars daytona 24 indy cars auto racing formula one le mans race cars indie. Vintage sports illustrated may 28, 1956 bob sweikert. Bob sweikert packed a lot of memories and success into his 30 years before that.