Art Pollard

Artle Lee Pollard Jr. (May 5, 1927 – May 12, 1973), was an American racecar driver.

Born in Dragon, Utah, and raised in the Portland, Oregon area, Pollard drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1965–1973 seasons, with 84 career starts, including the 1967–1971 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top-ten 30 times, with two victories, both in 1969, at Milwaukee and Dover.

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 while racing for the Fletcher Racing Team. The car slammed into the outside wall coming out of turn one, burst into flames, and spun as it headed to the grass on the inside of the short chute. 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. Pollard's lap prior to the crash was timed at a speed above . He was found unconscious, and was rushed to Methodist Hospital. Pollard never regained consciousness, and his injuries were reported to include pulmonary damage due to flame inhalation, third degree burns on both hands, face and neck, a fractured right arm, a fractured leg, and a severe spinal cord injury. He was pronounced dead one hour after the accident. Pollard had turned 46 one week before he died.

Pollard, away from racing, worked as a car dealer and mechanic. He also served in the United States Navy.

Motorsports career results

USAC Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19202122232425262728 Pos Points 1965 PHX TRE INDY MIL LAN PPR TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL ISF MIL DSF INF TRE SAC PHX 29th 200 1966 PHX TRE INDYDNQ MIL4 LAN22 ATL22 PIP IRPDNQ LAN23 SPR MIL7 DUQ ISF TRE SAC9 PHX22 23rd 280 1967 PHX7 TRE8 INDY8 MIL20 LAN14 PIP MOS9 MOS21 IRP LANDNQ MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC HAN5 PHX14 RIV30 11th 655 1968 HAN LVG PHX TRE INDY13 MIL MOS MOS LAN PIP CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RIV 23rd 696 1969 PHX19 HAN15 INDY31 MIL1 LAN PIP CDR18 NAZ TREDNQ IRP25 IRP16 MIL6 SPR DOV1 DUQDNQ ISF18 BRN18 BRN TRE14 SAC14 KEN KEN PHX19 RIV16 12th 1.110 1970 PHX11 SON TRE21 INDY30 MIL18 LANDNP CDR MCH17 IRP SPRDNP MIL11 ONT2 DUQ ISF SED TRE6 SAC PHX24 8th 1.110 1971 RAFDNP RAF PHX24 TRE6 INDY26 MIL5 POC16 MCH16 MIL16 ONT2 TRE20 PHX9 11th 1.170 1972 PHX14 TRE INDYDNQ MIL MCH POC MIL ONT7 TRE9 PHX11 20th 450 1973 TWS19 TREDNQ TRE INDYDNQ MIL POC MCH MIL ONT ONT ONT MCH MCH TRE TWS PHX-0

Indianapolis 500 results