Did you know that a 1971 Challenger was a pace car at the 55th Indy 500 (May 29, 1971)?
Unfortunately, it was the most infamous car ever to run at Indianapolis due to the tragic circumstances surrounding its day at the track. The car was driven by local car dealer Eldon Palmer. During practice laps, Palmer had used a cone to indicate where he should begin braking in order to bring the car to a stop before the end of pit lane. When Palmer took to the track on race day, somebody removed the cone from pit row, and by the time Palmer realized it, it was too late to stop. The car ended up careening into the photographer's grandstand at the end of pit row, injuring 29 people, 2 seriously.
(As a side note, astronaut John Glenn was one of the passengers in the Challenger).
www.wishtv.com
Unfortunately, it was the most infamous car ever to run at Indianapolis due to the tragic circumstances surrounding its day at the track. The car was driven by local car dealer Eldon Palmer. During practice laps, Palmer had used a cone to indicate where he should begin braking in order to bring the car to a stop before the end of pit lane. When Palmer took to the track on race day, somebody removed the cone from pit row, and by the time Palmer realized it, it was too late to stop. The car ended up careening into the photographer's grandstand at the end of pit row, injuring 29 people, 2 seriously.
(As a side note, astronaut John Glenn was one of the passengers in the Challenger).
500 FLASHBACK: Pace car plows into photographer stand
he Indianapolis 500 Mile Race is filled to the brim with history. In 1971 the pace car crashed into a photographer stand.
www.wishtv.com
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