Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. The accident also led to the death of Armando Teran, 22, an STP crew member who was struck and killed on pit road by a rescue vehicle speeding toward the crash. Later in the day, as the winds abated, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Mark Donohue each bettered Savage's time. (Set Number: X17734 TK1 R17 F19 ). He died at age 26 from complications while recovering from injuries suffered in a crash during the 1973 Indianapolis 500, nearly five weeks earlier. It's you, the car and the racetrack.. All Indy 500 Legends. All our drivers now have a 99 percent chance of retiring on their own terms.. Swede Savage fatal crash at Indy 500 (30 May 1973) ALL ANGLES & PICTURES. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Browse and buy images now. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib. The 57th running of the greatest spectacle in racing took three days to complete, mostly because of an unrelenting rain. The choice is something we all made. Thats the short story. Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection while still in the hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) See photos from throughout Swede Savage's career. Even though Savage suffered extensive and complex fractures on his legs, his return to the tracks was considered sure, and Wally Dallenbach was recruited by George Bignotti for Team Patrick-STP as a temporary replacement during his absence. You have to be on the offensive but not stupid about it.. It was Swede's choice. Ralph N. Paulk is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He ultimately started 4th in the race mixed in among racing legends Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue and Johnny Rutherford; drivers who would go on to accumulate a total of eight Indy 500 victories between them. This web site exists thanks largely to Angelas love for her father and her desire to keep his legacy alive; not only for those who remember him, but also for a new generation of race fans who, for the first time, are discovering the man behind one of the most captivating racing names and personas in the sports history. His widow Sheryl, who is six months pregnant, is seated at far right. (AP Photo/File), Special Instructions: WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1973; 5314. He returned to driving in August at the Trans-Am event at Watkins Glen. The 1973 race was a terrible race, Foyt recalled. Special Hot Stove Edition Angela Savage Pit Lane Radio 1/4 LIVE 12N EST JANUARY 3, 2014 BY JOHN G LEAVE A COMMENT (EDIT) Not long after Swede Savages death from an accident at the Indianapolis 500, in 1973, his wife gave birth to their second daughter, Angela Savage. Swede Savage fatal crash Indy 500 1973 - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2023 Google LLC The force of the impact, with the car carrying a full load of fuel, caused the car to explode in a 60-foot-high plume of flame. Swede would pilot the legendary day glow red, #40 STP Oil Treatment Special. However, due to Savage's reputation in the racing world as a highly skilled driver who did not take unnecessary chances, Unser's comments have been attributed to his resentment of Savage's rapid rise in the racing world as opposed to the "hard knocks" experiences of Unser's career. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's car is in flames after a crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. The enhanced safety measures have enabled drivers to walk away from other devastating crashes the past two decades. Diles was later filmed wiping oil off the front of Joe Leonard's car to prove the point, though Bobby Unser (who did not get along well with Savage and often ridiculed the driving ability of the younger driver) disputed that the drivers were running on an unsafe racetrack. Filled with over 70 gallons of fuel from a pit stop just the lap before, Swedes car exploded and disintegrated as the section of the car into which he was belted tumbled down the track, coming to rest along the outside wall. 65 Swede Savage Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Editorial Video Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 65 Swede Savage Premium High Res Photos Browse 65 swede savage stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. On May 5, Swede Savage upped the speed chart to 197.802 mph (318.331 km/h), inching closer to the elusive 200 mph (320 km/h) mark. But the complete Swede Savage story is so much more. United States; Canada; . Angela Rene Savage was born to Swedes young and beautiful widow, Sheryl, just three months after his death. Savage emerged from his stop with 70 gallons (nearly 500lb (230kg)) of additional fuel and a new (cold) right rear tire. The early part of my career I figured my chances of survival would be rather slim after losing so many of my friends including Swede. View Cemetery in his hometown of San Bernardino, California. Swede Savage, 1973 Indy 500 Auto Racing: Indianapolis 500: Aerial view of Swede Savage with medical staff after sustaining injury during crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Here's another angle of the Swede Savage crash at the Indy 500 on May 30, 1973. Rain hampered practice the first. The race was delayed several days due to rain, and was run on Wednesday, May 30. Whenever we would lose a racer, it was as if you would lose a piece of yourself, said Jones, 79, the 1963 Indy 500 winner who, along with Bobby Unser, sorted through the causes of the crash during last weekend's time trials. Swede Laid To Rest . Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. He rejoined in second place, closely behind Al Unser and just ahead of Bobby Unser. RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE of Savage's crash and aftermath happened during Indy 500 1973***DESCRIPTION***Swede Savage was comfortably leading the field by 42nd lap, in the STP-sponsored Eagle - Offenhauser #40 prepared by George Bignotti, when he pitted for refuelling and new tyres on the 55th lap. He won well over a hundred quarter midget races. In the 1973 Indianapolis 500, Savage was entered in an STP-sponsored Eagle-Offenhauser prepared by master mechanic George Bignotti. Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection whilst still in hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. Television footage seems to show the right half of his rear wing had come loose, which would instantly change the downforce on the wheels and could explain the sudden back and forth twitching of the car. He died later that day at a local hospital. Savage did, but died 33 days later in Methodist Hospital Medical Center. When that green flag goes down, you gotta worry about yourself. Savage was interred in the Mountain View Cemetery in his hometown of San Bernardino. In 1968 and 1969, he also raced in NASCAR events. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. His skill behind the wheel was obvious from the beginning. Possibly it happened due to a malfunctioning right rear joint, or by running on an incorrect driving line with cold tires. He was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he would soldier on bravely for thirty-three days, fighting for his life. Foyt admits he barely escaped the 1973 crashes. [9], Savage joked with medical personnel after the wreck, and was expected to live when taken to Methodist Hospital and for some time thereafter. In the 1973 Indianapolis 500, Savage was entered in an STP-sponsored Eagle-Offenhauser (number 40) prepared by master mechanic George Bignotti. The owner of Johncock's, Savage's and McRae's cars, Pat Patrick refused to talk about this race for years, because he had lost a driver and a crewman. A young crew member for Savage's Patrick Racing teammate Graham McRae, Armando Teran, ran out across the pit lane in an effort to come to Savage's aid and was struck by a fire truck rushing up pit road at 60mph (100km/h) (opposite the normal direction of travel) to the crash; Teran was killed instantly. Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. However, he died in the hospital 33 days after the accident. Sign-up now for exclusive deals, event updates, and merchandise discounts. The Gearheads hosted a roundtable of a different sort, discussing the state of the hobby at the 71st Grand National Roadster Show. I think there has to be a little drama. Indianapolis, IN 5/30/1973 In this May 30, 1973, file photo, Swede Savage's car is in flames after a crash during the Indianapolis 500 auto race. The. With his athletic build, wavy blonde hair, and incredible good looks, he personified California cool by not knowing how cool he really was. I felt I wouldn't make a mistake that would kill me, but I knew I could pay for someone else's mistake. (AP Photo), Swede Savage is taken to an ambulance on a stretcher after he crashed his car during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Foyt, who won the tragic-filled 1964 Indy 500, said last week that he believed Savage sustained a head injury a week earlier during a road race in Ontario, Calif., that may have been partly responsible for his crash. Only a couple of hundred yards past the start-line, the blue McLaren - Offy of rookie Salt Walther skidded to the right and hit Jerry Grant's Eagle - Offy, crashing against the wall. Swede raced car #42 and Dan raced an identical car #48. INDIANAPOLIS The images of Swede Savage's fiery wreck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway still burn brightly in the memories of those who witnessed it 40 years ago this Memorial Day weekend. As he did so often during his open-wheel career, he came out clean on the other side of the fireball that engulfed the cars of Savage and Walther. Collect, curate and comment on your files. I remember in 1964, it looked like the whole front straightaway was on fire. (AP Photo), Swede Savage car is in flames following his crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Sign. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's STP car explodes in a fiery crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. One thing is for sure, if you dwell on the negative, you better get out of it. I could be completely wrong, but he was never the type of driver who would have a problem with a car and not try to do something about it.. Prior approval is required for ALL uses of images depicting SPORTS ILLUSTRATED or GOLF magazine covers, and for ANY use in RETAIL PRODUCTS. Born David Earl Savage, Jr. on August 26, 1946, in a hospital founded by his grandfather, "Swede" Savage was an American race car driver whose career was just reaching the stratosphere when he was fatally injured in a devastating crash in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. The car that was carrying a full load of fuel, slid sideways across the track and slammed into the inside wall at high speed and in an acute angle, exploding on fire and disintegrating. Driving an Eagle-Ford IndyCar, Savage won the Bobby Ball Memorial, a 150-mile race at Phoenix International Raceway on November 21, 1970. Sadly, one of the most promising talents and most fascinating personalities in the sport of auto racing in a generation, died on July 2, 1973. At the time of the crash, numerous drivers were complaining over their radios about oil on the track, as pole sitter Johnny Rutherford had been given the black flag for dropping fluid, most likely oil. It was a May to forget. While other sports have inherited dangers, auto racing by definition is dangerous, considering the blend of fuel, speed and bravado in the one-eighth mile short chutes that seldom accommodate all three. When you're on the sideline, it can be dangerous. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Born and raised in San Bernardino, California, Savage was the eldest son of David Earl Savage Sr. and Joetta Taylor Savage. 2023 Getty Images. The elder of Savage's two daughters passed away from leukemia several years ago; the younger of the two still resides in Southern California. [1][2][3], The true cause of his death remains a point of dispute. [8][9] Savage held the lead from laps 4354, and then made his first pit stop. The scattered remains spewed near the exit in Turn 4. Miraculously, Swede survived the violent crash, but was critically injured. In the 1973 Indianapolis 500, Savage was entered in an STP-sponsored Eagle-Offenhauser (number 40) prepared by master mechanic George Bignotti. After a partial season driving NASCAR stock cars in the South for the Ford factory-backed racing team Holman-Moody, Savage received a telephone call from Gurney inviting him back to Southern California to try his hand at sports car racing. Read more about this topic: Swede Savage, Racing Career, O shipwhite-sailed of Crete,you brought my mistressfrom her quiet palacethrough breaker and crash of surfto love-rite of unhappiness!Hilda Doolittle (18861961). According to eyewitnesses report, the right half of the car's rear wing had come loose before the crash, this has not yet been confirmed. When I watch my son and grandson, I appreciate all my wife went through all those years, said Andretti, 73. On the first day of qualifying, gusting winds slowed Savage from matching his best practice speeds, but he still shattered the track record with a four-lap qualifying average of 196.582 mph (316.368 km/h). Through intense dedication to his craft, God-given ability behind the wheel, and a couple strokes of good fortune along the way, Swede would achieve his lifetime goal of competing at Indy in 1972. In his autobiography, Bobby Unser wrote that when Savage exited the pits, he became alarmed at how hard Savage was pushing, and dropped back slightly in anticipation of an incident. 65 Swede Savage Premium High Res Photos Browse 65 swede savage stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Indianapolis 550 Savage Crash . Tragically, one of his. However, he died in the hospital 33 days after the accident. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Even though Savage suffered extensive and complex fractures on his legs, his return to the tracks was considered sure, and Wally Dallenbach was recruited by George Bignotti for Team Patrick-STP as a temporary replacement during his absence. Among those that were complaining about oil on the track were Jerry Grant, who mentioned so in an interview with Dave Diles of ABC Sports after Savage's crash. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Possibly it happened due to a malfunctioning right rear joint, or by running on an incorrect driving line with cold tyres. [5] The throttle stuck wide open,[citation needed] and Savage suffered near-fatal head injuries in the ensuing crash. [citation needed] Lung failure was repeated as the cause of death by Savage's daughter Angela in a May 2015 interview.[13]. I felt I was willing to take the calculated risk to win the Indianapolis 500. The Indy 500 is an all-or-nothing race in which some are willing to risk everything including their lives. Today, Angela is a mother of two children of her own. FILE - This May 30, 1973, file photo, shows Swede Savage amid the burning wreckage of his race car after a crash during the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Ind. Bill Vukovich, Jr. was second, the only other car on the lead lap when the race was called, Roger McCluskey who set the fastest lap of the race, finished 3rd, two laps down. (AP FILE PHOTO) INDIANAPOLIS High speed,. David Earl "Swede" Savage Jr. (August 26, 1946 - July 2, 1973) was an American race car driver. I didn't want to accept what was going on around me. Drivers Art Pollard and Savage and crew member Armando Teran were killed in May 1973 and another driver, Salt Walther, somehow survived a frightening, pin-wheeling crash. Swede Savage in his Olsonite Eagle leading the USAC INDY 150 Champ Car Race held on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 26, 1970 in. Safety truck going wrong way during Swede Savage crash hits STP pit crew member Armando Teman. In his autobiography, Bobby Unser wrote that when Savage exited the pits, he became alarmed at how hard Savage was pushing, and dropped back slightly in anticipation of an incident. David Earl "Swede" Savage Jr. (August 26, 1946 July 2, 1973) was an American race car driver. Then again, he won the race that no one could ever forget.. Your input will affect cover photo selection, along with input from other users. [10] The force of the impact, with the car carrying a full load of fuel, caused the car to explode in a massive 60-foot (18m)-high plume of flame.[8][9][11]. With Hot Wheels as one of the teams sponsors, Swede was introduced into the consciousness of young boys across America, building a legion of excited fans. The explosion and disintegration of Savage's car still is difficult to watch on video and even more painful to talk about for drivers who need no video to remind them of what happened that day. Gurney, who owned his own auto racing team and race car construction business in Santa Ana, California, All American Racers, quickly took Swede under his wing and provided him the environment, equipment, and nurturing to develop into a top flight race car driver. Even though Savage suffered extensive and complex fractures on his legs, his return to the tracks was considered sure, and Wally Dallenbach was recruited by George Bignotti for Team Patrick-STP as a temporary replacement during his absence. During pole qualifying earlier that month, driver Art Pollard was killed in a horrific crash when his car topped 191 mph, then struck the outside wall, burst into flames, spun into the infield and rolled several times. Savage emerged from his stop with 70 gallons (nearly 500 lb.) That day you become tentative is when you become very dangerous. Early in the season, Chrysler cut back support for the AAR effort and Gurney stepped out of the car to let Savage drive the entire season. Swede Savage 1973 Indy 500 Fatal Crash Original ABC Broadcast Footage. On 133rd lap it was raining harder and Gordon Johncock took the chequered flag, ending one of the grimmest Indy 500s after 332.5 miles, with only ten cars running at the end. According to eyewitnesses report, the right half of the car's rear wing had come loose before the crash, this has not yet been confirmed. Drivers Art Pollard and Savage and crew member Armando Teran were. Teran was killed instantly. It is widely reported that Savage died of kidney failure from infection, but Dr. Steve Olvey, Savage's attending physician at Indy (and later CART's Director of Medical Affairs), claimed in his book Rapid Response that the real cause of death was complications related to contaminated plasma. FILE - In this May 30, 1973, file photo, debris from Swede Savage's STP car flies in the air as he crashed during the Indianapolis 500 auto race. 5/30/1973 7307220348 . He crashed violently early in the race that year and died a month later. You never forget it, A.J. Follow. (AP Photo/David F. Smith), This is the explosion of Swede Savage's STP car as he crashed during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. INDIANAPOLIS The images of Swede Savage's fiery wreck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway still burn brightly in the memories of those who witnessed it 40 years ago this Memorial Day weekend. 1973 Indy 500. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. But today, Swedes legacy lives on, perpetuated in recent years by the public emergence of the daughter he never knew. I'm sure it was the same way for those drivers in 1973, but you have to pick up your boots and move on.. Savage was married with a six-year-old daughter; his widow Sheryl was expecting their second child at the time of his death. Savage, still strapped in his seat, was thrown back across the circuit. High-quality motorsport photography galleries featuring Swede Savage. In a split second during that Indy 500 in 1973, with heavy winds sweeping across the monstrous 2.5-mile oval track and gray scattered clouds overhead, the roars of 300,000 fans were silenced when Savage's car slammed into the inside wall coming out of the fourth turn, broke into pieces and exploded into a fireball. Walther, whose once-promising career was derailed that rainy day, died in December at age 65. While still being trapped into the wreckage, rescuers saw him moving, a fact that astonished Jim McKay and Chris Economaki, covering the race for ABC Sports broadcasts. Swede Savage Rare Disturbing Alternate View Indy 500 1973 18+ Motorsport Events 30 subscribers Subscribe 14 Share 3.3K views 1 year ago RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE of Savage's crash and aftermath. However, it was harder to accept when his son Michael Andretti and grandson Marco Andretti began racing at the Brickyard. On lap 58, just behind Al Unser (who was about to make a pit stop of his own), Savage, pushing hard in anticipation of a coming rainstorm, lost control as he exited turn four. [12] Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. [1][2][3] . Among those complaining about oil on the track was Jerry Grant, in an interview with Dave Diles of ABC Sports while the wreckage from Savage's crash was cleaned off the track. He began Soap Box Derby racing at the age of five, moved up to racing quarter midget cars, then at age twelve to Go-Kart racing. Many believed that Swede would soon be joining the exclusive group of Indy 500 winners as he took the lead of the race. He never put the brakes on.. In March 1971, Savage entered the Questor Grand Prix at Ontario Motor Speedway, driving an Eagle-Plymouth Formula 5000 car. On the first day of qualifying, gusting winds slowed Savage from matching his best practice speeds, but he still shattered the track record with a four-lap qualifying average of 196.582 mph (316.368 km/h). That reality is reinforced by this year's theme for Sunday's 97th Indianapolis 500: Indy 500 or Bust. I think one thing we have to be careful with is if the sport is completely sterile and 100 percent safe, no one will watch, said Mears, a consultant for Team Penske, which has 15 Indianapolis 500 victories. Access the best of Getty Images and iStock with our simple subscription plan. But reducing the size of the fuel tank (now 18 gallons) and switching to less combustible fuels are among the primary reasons open-wheel racing is safer, Andretti and Foyt said. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Savage died more than a month after the race. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He died at age 26 from complications while recovering from injuries suffered in a crash during the 1973 Indianapolis 500, nearly five weeks earlier. It's still on my mind.. Finally at 14h00 on Wednesday, 30 May 1973 the green flag started the race.Swede Savage was comfortably leading the field by 42nd lap, in the STP-sponsored Eagle - Offenhauser #40 prepared by George Bignotti, when he pitted for refueling and new tires on 55th lap. His widow Sheryl, who is six months pregnant, is seated at far right. In the 1973 Indianapolis 500, Savage was entered in an STP-sponsored Eagle-Offenhauser prepared by master mechanic George Bignotti. RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE of Savage's crash and aftermath happened during Indy 500 1973Description:Swede Savage was comfortably leading the field by 42nd lap, in the STP-sponsored Eagle - Offenhauser #40 prepared by George Bignotti, when he pitted for refueling and new tires on the 55th lap. Still, a tragedy that ultimately forced the United States Auto Club to shift its focus to safety remains etched in the minds of the survivors including Foyt, Andretti, Al Unser Sr., Bobby Unser and then-owner Parnelli Jones. As the car spiraled along the front stretch, spectators were doused with fuel. While still being trapped into the wreckage, rescuers saw him moving, a fact that astonished Jim McKay and Chris Economaki, covering the race for ABC Sports broadcasts. Family and friends of race car driver Swede Savage, who died Monday, July 2, of injuries sustained in the May 30 crash at the Indianapolis 500, gather at the grave site at Mountain View Cemetery following funeral services in San Bernardino, Calif., July 6, 1973. Swede Savage's car explodes after a spectacular crash in Turn 4 in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. He had been the fastest driver for much of practice. United States. The following year, he competed once again for Patrick Racing, one of the top teams in USAC Championship (IndyCar) racing. In his book \"Rapid Response: My Inside Story as a Motor Racing Life-Saver\" published in 2010, Dr. Stephen Olvey who was Swede Savage's attending physician at Indianapolis hospital, and later CART's Director of Medical Affairs, indicated that the real cause of death was complications related to a blood transfusion, contaminated with Hepatitis B, which caused his liver to fail.Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swede_Savage Savage was the last driver to die in the race (1973) and no driver has been killed in May at IMS since pole-winner Scott Brayton in a fatal crash testing a backup car in 1996. < back . There remains a vivid picture in Foyt's mind of Savage's car colliding into the outside wall and exploding as if it had been pierced by a torpedo. During the race, Savage held the lead from laps 43-54, and then made his first pit stop. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's car, which was in a wreck in the Indianapolis 500, is pictured spinning out, May 30, 1973. (AP Photo). The big ones like that you can't accept. He came to rest adjacent to the outer retaining wall, fully conscious and completely exposed while he lay in a pool of flaming methanol fuel. On Sunday May 6, three drivers left the grounds to race in the NASCAR Winston 500 at Talladega. He was married with a seven-year-old daughter, Shelly; his widow Sheryl was expecting their second child, daughter Angela, at the time of his death. Swede Savage fatal crash at Indy 500 (30 May 1973) ALL ANGLES & PICTURES All Indy 500 Legends 1:18 Rick Mears hard crash at Indy 500 (May 7, 1992) THE MOST COMPLETE FOOTAGE All Indy 500 Legends 1:48 Billy Boat brutal crash at Indy 500 (May 10, 2003) ALL ANGLES & PICS All Indy 500 Legends 1:13 Much to the dismay of his football coach, Swede promptly quit the football team, cranked the throttle on his racing career, and never looked back. 65 Swede Savage Premium High Res Photos Browse 65 swede savage stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Savage debuted in the old SCCA United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) series in April 1968, driving a Lola T70 Mk III (the car campaigned by Gurney in the 1967 Can-Am racing series; a condition of employment Gurney imposed on the young driver was that he rebuild and prepare the car for competition with very little assistance from other AAR staff). He died at age 26 from complications while recovering from injuries suffered in a crash during the 1973 Indianapolis 500, nearly five weeks earlier.[1][2][3]. Swede was a native of San Bernardino, California. It had been widely reported that Savage's death was caused by lung and kidney complications,[1] but Steve Olvey, Savage's attending physician at Indy (and later CART's director of medical affairs), claimed in his book Rapid Response that the real cause of death was complications related to contaminated plasma. A few laps after this pitstop, on 58th lap, just as he was about to retake the lead from Al Unser in his Vel's Parnelli - Offy #4, who was in the process of coming into the pits for his second stop, Swede Savage's car suddenly veered off course on the left side at the exit of Turn 4. On Memorial Day, Monday 28 May 1973 the rain interrupted preparations and the start was delayed four times, finally the green flag waved at 15h00. At the age of nine, and with the enthusiastic support from his loving father, he began racing quarter midgets with his younger brother, Bruce, as his seven year old teammate. Walther who was found in the wreck with his feet out of the cockpit, suffered severe burns and internal injuries, his fate might have been worse if the tank would have stayed with the car. Even the thought of it 40 years later still evokes a heart-wrenching response from Foyt, an owner who tries to shelter his emotions far more than he did as a driver. He competed in the Indianapolis 500 twice; in his debut in 1972, he finished 32nd after dropping out on lap six with mechanical problems.[6]. Rick Mears, a four-time Indy 500 winner, warned the race could lose its appeal if the element of danger is lost. Savage also had a son, John, who lives in Highland, California. The exact cause of Savage's sudden turn across the race track and into the infield wall has not been settled. Savage, still strapped in his seat in a large piece of the car, was thrown back across the circuit. I had to accept that or do something else with my life. He finished fifth at Riverside in his one appearance in the car. On the first day of qualifying, gusting winds slowed Savage from matching his best practice speeds, but he still shattered the track record with a four-lap qualifying average of 196.582mph (316.368km/h). It's what keeps us motivated. 1973 Indianapolis 500 Crash. Swede Savage Crash RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE Indy 500 1973 - YouTube Sign in to confirm your age 0:00 / 4:01 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Savage's wreck was the third explosive crash in Indy's deadliest year that claimed the lives of three men and permanently scarred another. Longtime Indy 500 spectators who witnessed the crash called it the most spectacular single-car accident in the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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