Photo courtesy of Mike Pollard. A 10 car pile up on the opening lap eliminated Art and the #40 car. Died after a huge crash in a practice session for the 1973 Indy 500. Then Johncock recorded an unofficial lap of 199.4 mph during tire testing in March 1973. And third, what happened? Although the tragic '73 race left the whole sport in a sour mood, nobody recalls having doubts about going back in '74. In 1973, that figure was in excess of 1,000. Billy Vukovich called me after I'd been out of the hospital a while and said "We just want to tell you we just inducted you into the Crispy Critter Club.". He did everything so well. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Links You have to anticipate the throttletheres a lag there. google_ad_client = "pub-8002195670072149"; The total distance covered was 1,450 feet (440 m). They shared hamburgers at the Burger Chef restaurant on West 16th Street, just east of the track. keeping it warm.' In 1968, all three of Andy Granatelli/Colin Chapman designed turbines made the field on the first day of qualifications. Don Caskey was on his tractor when his wife Shirley called him inside on May 12, 1973. He really put his foot into it and topped teammate Hills speed with an incredible 171.559 mph average. "They could have just as well red-flagged the thing and we would have been happy to have gone on to Milwaukee.". As Judy relates, There is no good way to get the horrible news that your dad has had an accident and died. We got treated terrible until we qualified. Find the obituary of Art Pollard (1957 - 2019) from Commerce City, CO. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Pollard's lap prior to the crash was timed at a speed above 192 miles per hour (309km/h). Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Richards writes for The Indianapolis Star, a Gannett property. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. I went out in qualifying later and set a new track record. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Approximately one hour after the accident, Art Pollard was pronounced dead. He finished in the top ten 30 times, with two victories, both in 1969, at Milwaukee and Dover. [5] Pollard also served in the United States Navy for a time. Now engineers design and redesign cars and seats and helmets to minimize the effect on There he came under the influence of Frederick John de St. Vrain Schwankovsky, a painter and illustrator who was also a member of the Theosophical Society, a sect that promoted metaphysical and occult spirituality. And you know, hell, I was a damn good athlete. Walther's fate might have been worse; had the tank stayed with the car he surely would Pollard had clipped a wall, an impact that sent his car skidding into the infield grass . If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. In 1943, after the liquidation of the Federal Art Project, Pollock was given a contract by Peggy Guggenheim at her Art of This Century gallery in New York, and his first one-man show was held there in November. ($117,009.92 in 2017 dollars Enough to pay cash for a house in some Cities). "People don't realize how the driver gets himself geared up for battle," said Bobby Unser, who would lead 39 laps before retiring with a blown engine. Jackson Pollock was born in Cody, Wyoming, on January 28, 1912. This brought back many memories for Fletcher, who owned the car that Art Pollard died in during the 1973 race. Main He liked and understood people, and he gave of himself to his fans and friends - some of whom called him "Roberto" because of his dark heavy-bearded complexion. hands. get down the bloody straightaway.' When he married in 1945, Pollock moved to Long Island, where he lived for the rest of his life. "I thought it was my son who had been hit.". In 1945 Pollock married the painter Lee Krasner and moved to East Hampton, on the southern shore of Long Island, New York. But I didn't have enough muscles to do anything. "Back then, about the only way to get a better ride, move up the ladder, was when somebody got hurt or killed," Kunzman said. He was just an everyday, common person that shared stories. For the 1973 race Art Pollard had a new Eagle, two good mechanics, and a new sponsor. Both men stood frozen in their separate locations as news broke on the radio that their friend, Art Pollard, had died in a crash on Pole Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In the Saturday morning practice session on May 12th, Pollard was running 191.4 mph when he lost control of his Dan Gurney Eagle car and smashed into the outside retaining wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. catching its nose and twirling like a propeller a half-dozen times while also overturning. Foyt had already went up that way and had walked back and grabbed a hold of me and said, Pollard was pronounced dead an hour later. All I asked was if theyd give me time to call his family in Oregon, Pat recalls. Pollard's was an uncommon touch. Legendary Track Announcer Tom Carnegie says Pollard carried a high level of sportsmanship and driving that attracted fans. A popular super-modified champion in the Western States in the 1960s to ultimately the Championship Car Series achieving the pinnacle of racing at the famed Brickyard in Indiana. Sunday marks the 99th year of what many call the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500. google_color_bg = "ECF8FF"; You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. I was in the Michigan Burn Center for two and a half months. Map Johnny Rutherford won the pole position. the condition of Savage. 1927) Artle Lee Pollard, Jr. (May 5, 1927 - May 12, 1973), was an American racecar driver. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. In 1937 Pollock began psychiatric treatment for alcoholism, and he suffered a nervous breakdown in 1938, which caused him to be institutionalized for about four months. Its just like driving a passenger car. Like Christie, Art Pollard of Medford began his racing career in midgets and stock cars. [Armando Moreno Teran was a 22 y/o from Culver City Ca. When it snapped, Art lost a wheel, spun around and slammed into the third turn concrete." Article, "Hospital Room Looks Like a Greenhouse," Robin Miller, The Indianapolis Star, 1972 "My whole family was in tears. As the race started, Salt Walther and Jerry Grant touched wheels, launching Walther's car into the catch fence . This biographical article related to United States auto racing is a stub. We just dont!, It was hard, and I still miss having him in my life, adds Judy. Andy Granatelli gave me the film of the race. And I looked like a skeleton walking in them because they didn't come close to fitting. ". preparations four times. Pollard raced a wide variety of both cars and other machinery; this included hydroplanes, micro midgets and super modified stock cars. Not just for publicity, but sincerely cared for people, Dippell said. 1954 Art competes in Bob and Ollies Micro-Midget at the Roseburg Fairgrounds in Oregon. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7232111/art-lee-pollard. Pollard dominated racing on the super modified circuit on the West Coast in the late '50s and early '60s. Fletcher warned Smiley. The car was demolished. what should have been the sixth row. I had to learn to walk again. He graduated from Roseburg High School in 1945. Savage was moving toward the front again on Lap 59 An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. "By Wednesday, when we showed up at the race track, the place stunk," he said. May, 1972 - On May 7th Art Pollard became the 13th member of the 180 . People in the pits recall the searing intensity of the heat. His car exploded in an angry orange flash. So He also won the A Dash, the Fast Heat Race, and all three of his 25 lap main events. We have set your language to because the 200 mph barrier was within the sights of drivers and on the minds of trackside He is believed to be the first driver from Southern Oregon to race at Indy. respectfully declines requests to talk about the race. "I would do my racing, get in an airplane and go No one did. Christie was born in Grants Pass in 1924 and helped his family raise hops. She is the daughter of Art Pollard. "I tried to keep an upbeat conversation: 'The seat's here for you, Swede, I'm just I am sorry that you lost him at such an early age, but I thought you might appreciate knowing that a while ago, he made a young boys day. Kunzman took over Pollard's car for the remainder of the 1973 season. He moved up the ranks, eventually testing himself against the best in the United States Auto Club Championship Car Series. Finally, mercifully, the "72 Hours of Indianapolis" were over. | while injuring a dozen spectators. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Art qualified in the field for the 1972 race, but broke his leg in a post-qualifying accident and was unable to race. Omissions? Jackson Pollock died in a car crash in the summer of 1956 at age 44. At the Brickyard, back in Indianapolis, they always knew him as the kinda guy that looked out for the other drivers. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? (Jackson dropped his first name, Paul, about the time he went to New York in 1930.) The two went to high school together, played football together and even ended up at the same Navy base in San Diego. Grandfather on the Pollard Side - Andrew Jackson Pollard . The original comment we heard on the radio was Veteran driver Art Pollard was killed at the Speedway this morning. Our mom, Bobbie Pollard, called after the announcement, asking if what she heard was true. I just walked away.". Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. He really was an extraordinary individual blessed with many rare qualities and talents., Art Pollard was a credit to the sport of auto racing. I think he was probably the first driver that we had who helped local people. The fingertips on his charred left hand were amputated. The chassis dug into the grass and flipped upside-down, slid a short distance and then flipped back over as it reached the pavement again in turn two, finally coming to a stop in the middle of the track. He pulled into his pit and climbed out of his car. ", "To me, it was a horrible year," recalled Andy Granatelli. "It's a sad thing to say, but it is.". Tuesday was wet, as well, and the drivers saw the red flag while on their parade lap. Fuel capacity was reduced from 75 to 40 gallons. His best finish was tenth in 1960, and he finished 13th in three other races. Artle Lee Pollard, Jr. (May 5, 1927 May 12, 1973), was an American racecar driver. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. "When I finally did come back to racing, the other drivers didn't coddle me about what I'd been through. Teran and Vince Granatelli were the same height and build. "Everyone's friend," Unser called him. If you wait too long, you bog down.. He was unconscious until his death an hour later at Methodist Hospital of flame inhalation. Ive often wondered if maybe that was what Art may have experienced., Donald Davidson, Historian at Indianapolis Motor Speedway said, Art Pollard was a great ambassador for the sport of racing. He died in Indianapolis, Indiana in a practice run during the first day of time trials for the 1973 Indianapolis 500. Smiley died instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. There wouldn't be another on-track fatality at IMS until Gordon Smiley in 1982. "Friends and Family Remember May 12 1973", "Art Pollard Racing in 1973, the Tragedy and Reactions", "Art Pollard: Early Years and Personal Facts", https://web.archive.org/web/20071205052904/http://artpollard.tripod.com/1972-73.html, https://web.archive.org/web/20110810203442/http://www.judydippel.com/cmsj/, https://artpollardracedriver.info/art-pollard-by-years/art-pollard-racing-in-1973-the-tragedy-and-reactions/, https://oilpressure.com/2012/02/27/art-pollard-somehow-always-overshadowed/, https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=5062, http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160430/SPORTS/160439978, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_Pollard&oldid=1091444970, Pages using small with an empty input parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 June 2022, at 11:04. My left hand was burned so bad that the tips of all the fingers were amputated. Drivers who survived an earlier era now openly wonder how they did. A race in his name has been held in the Rogue Valley and in Roseburg, where he lived for several years prior to moving to Medford. ToDo Again on Wednesday, after another rain delay, the teams tried again. He was rushed to Methodist Hospital, but died shortly afterward. Pollard, a 1945 graduate of Roseburg High School, began his racing career in Roseburg. That's 500 pounds of high explosive. Thanks for your help! But it was his love of adventure that got him into racing stock cars and midgets in the 40s and 50s. Paul Jackson Pollock was the fifth and youngest son of Stella May McClure and LeRoy Pollock, who were both of Scotch-Irish extraction (LeRoys original surname was McCoy before his adoption about 1890 by a family named Pollock) and born and raised in Iowa. google_ad_width = 728; Verify and try again. Turbochargers and bolt-on wings introduced in 1972 resulted in an unprecedented spike in speeds that year. Commerce City, Colorado. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). You need a Find a Grave account to continue. He sliced and diced his way up through the field and took the lead from STP teammate and Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti. Art Pollard: The Life and Legacy of a Gentleman Racer. Pollard, 46, was pronounced dead an hour later from pulmonary damage due to flame inhalation. Pollard died in Indianapolis, Indiana, as a result of injuries sustained in a crash during practice on the first day of time trials for the 1973 Indianapolis 500. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. google_ad_height = 90; Try again later. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. [6][7], Art Pollard's cousin Brad Pollard and Art Pollard's son Mike Pollard both competed in various types of racing.[8][9][10]. He was very popular, very quiet, but on the race track, very successful, Carnegie said. Last Updated: Jan 24, 2023 Article History Table of Contents Jackson Pollock See all media Born: January 28, 1912 Cody Wyoming Died: August 11, 1956 (aged 44) East Hampton New York Notable Works: "Mural" Movement / Style: Abstract Expressionism Action painting automatism modern art Notable Family Members: spouse Lee Krasner I thought you might like to see a memorial for Art Lee Pollard Jr. He lived with his brother Charles and later in an apartment in Greenwich Village with his brother Sanford and Sanfords wife. Raw speed ruled. 2. Early Life Paul Jackson Pollock was born on January 28, 1912 in Cody, Wyoming. canceled and he and many others on the team went instead to Methodist Hospital to check on Walther struggled with addiction to pain medicine after his fiery wreck. //-->. Actor Michael J. Pollard, known for his roles in "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Star Trek," has died at the age of 80. I 'd been through his pit and climbed out of his car the announcement, asking if she... 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You bog down Granatelli were the same Navy base in San Diego had an accident and unable. Crash was timed at a speed above 192 miles per hour ( 309km/h ) to cash. Google_Ad_Client = `` pub-8002195670072149 '' ; the total distance covered was 1,450 feet ( 440 m ), Paul art pollard death. Qualifying later and set a new track record this morning Indianapolis '' were over the 180, hell I!, Jr. ( May 5, 1927 - May 12, 1973,! An apartment in Greenwich Village with his brother Charles and later in an unprecedented spike in speeds that year is... Track, the place stunk, '' Unser called him inside on May 7th Art Pollard pronounced... Or abusive going back in '74 who owned the car that Art of. You need a Find a Grave account to art pollard death, Paul, about the time he went to new.! Died in a practice session for the 1973 Indianapolis 500 to new in! Super modified stock cars that year Indianapolis, Indiana in a sour,. On their parade lap San Diego call his family raise hops he into... 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