Dick Rathmann

Richard Rathmann
Born	January 6, 1924(1924-01-06) Los Angeles, California
Died	February 1, 2000(2000-02-01) (aged 76)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
128 races run over 5 years
Best finish	3rd - 1953 Grand National Series season
First race	1951 Carrell Speedway race
Last race	1955 Langhorne Speedway race
First win	1952 Martinsville Speedway race
Last win	1954 Santa Fe Speedway race
Wins Top tens Poles 13 79 13

Dick Rathmann

Born	January 6, 1924(1924-01-06)
Died	February 1, 2000(2000-02-01) (aged 76)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1950, 1956–1960
Teams	Watson, Kurtis Kraft, Lesovsky
Races	6 (5 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	2
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	0
First race	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last race	1960 Indianapolis 500

Dick Rathmann (born James Rathmann January 6, 1924 Los Angeles, California – February 1, 2000 Melbourne, Florida) was an American racecar driver.

He drove in the AAA Championship Car series in the 1949 and 1950 seasons with 4 starts, including the 1950 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, in 6th position at Milwaukee in 1950.

In 1951, he moved to NASCAR, where he was a very successful Grand National driver through 1955.

In 1956, he returned to the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1964 seasons with an additional 41 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1956 and 1958-1964. He finished in the top ten 21 more times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1959 at Daytona.

Dick sat on the pole for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. On the first lap, he and fellow front-row starter Ed Elisian raced into turn 3 and started a chain-reaction accident which involved 15 cars and cost the life of Pat O'Connor. With that accident, Rathmann became the first Indy pole-sitter to complete no laps. This feat has been repeated only twice in Indy history, first by Roberto Guerrero and then by Scott Sharp.

Dick was the elder brother of 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. Jim and Dick switched names in 1946 so that his younger brother could enter a race while underage. For what was supposed to be a short time, he adopted the name "Dick" and his brother adopted the name "Jim." The name change stuck for life.

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. Dick Rathmann participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once and accumulated a total of 2 World Championship points.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1950 45 18 130.928 17 32 25 0 Stalled 1956 73 4 144.471 6 5 200 0 Running 1958 97 1 145.974 1 27 0 0 Crash T3 1959 73 4 144.248 5 20 150 0 Fire in pit 1960 97 4 145.543 6 31 42 0 Brake Line 1961 97 6 146.033 8 13 164 0 Fuel Pump 1962 9 13 147.161 13 24 51 0 Magneto 1963 22 17 149.130 14 10 200 0 Running 1964 23 12 151.860 17 7 197 0 Flagged Totals 1029 0

Starts 9 Poles 1 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 1 Top 10 3 Retired 6