Pat O'Connor (racing driver)


Patrick James O'Connor 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, 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. 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, 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.

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.

Indianapolis 500 results

Starts5
Poles1
Front Row2
Wins0
Top 50
Top 102
Retired2

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011WDCPoints
1953Slick RacersDiedtOffenhauser L4ARG500
DNQ		NEDBELFRAGBRGERSUIITANC0
1953Engle-StankoKurtis Kraft 4000Offenhauser L4500
DNQ		NC0
1953Brown MotorsSchroederOffenhauser L4500
DNQ		NC0
1954Hopkins / Motor RacersKurtis Kraft 500COffenhauser L4ARG500
21		BELFRAGBRGERSUIITAESPNC0
1955Ansted RotaryKurtis Kraft 500DOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
8		BELNEDGBRITANC0
1956Ansted RotaryKurtis Kraft 500DOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
18		BELFRAGBRGERITANC0
1957Ansted RotaryKurtis Kraft 500GOffenhauser L4ARGMON500
30		FRAGBRGERPESITANC0
1958Sumar / Chapman RootKurtis Kraft 500GOffenhauser L4ARGMONNED500
29		BELFRAGBRGERPORITAMORNC0

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. Pat O'Connor participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once but scored no World Championship points, as his best finish was eighth.