Jerry Grant

Gerald Wayne Grant (January 23, 1935 – August 12, 2012) was a driver in the USAC Championship Car series. Born in Seattle, he began racing sports cars in Northern California in the early 1960s. He raced in the 1965-1977 seasons, with 54 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1965-1968, 1970 and 1972-1976. He finished in the top-ten 13 times, with his best finish in third position in 1974 at Ontario.

Grant is best remembered for his bad luck at the 1972 Indianapolis 500 that cost him first victory and then second place. He was leading the race comfortably over Mark Donohue when a punctured tire forced him to pit with 12 laps to go. In later interviews, Grant said that he had adopted a higher line for improved handling, and this may have left him vulnerable to debris on the outside of the racing line. As Donohue went past into the lead, Grant overshot his pit and stopped at his teammate Bobby Unser's. His mechanics changed the tire in Unser's pit, and also refueled the car—from Unser's pit tank. Grant returned to the track and finished second to Donohue. The team of third-place finisher Al Unser filed a protest, saying that Grant had used fuel from another driver's supply. The protest was upheld and Grant's final 12 laps were not counted, dropping him from 2nd to 12th.

Grant was the first USAC driver to break . He accomplished the feat in qualifying at the Ontario Motor Speedway on September 3, 1972, completing a lap in 44.7 seconds.

Later in his career, Grant was the racing representative for Champion Spark Plugs, years later he was hired by Elton Alderman, then President of Prolong Super Lubricants to be a representative. The arraignment fell apart after Alderman did not follow through as promised.

Grant died August 12, 2012, from liver failure and diabetes at an Orange County, California, hospital at the age of 77.

A memorial was held for Grant at the Riverside International Raceway Museum in Riverside, California. Conducted by Ed Justice Jr., many of Grant's close friends spoke, including longtime friend, co-driver and car owner, Dan Gurney.

Indianapolis 500 results Year Chassis Engine Start Finish 1964 Gerhardt Offenhauser Failed to Qualify 1965 Huffaker Offenhauser 17th 27th 1966 Eagle Ford 10th 10th 1967 Eagle Ford 30th 20th 1968 Eagle Ford 15th 23rd 1969 Eagle Chevrolet Failed to Qualify 1970 Eagle Offenhauser 29th 7th 1971 Eagle Offenhauser Failed to Qualify 1972 Eagle Offenhauser 15th 12th 1973 Eagle Offenhauser 18th 19th 1974 Eagle Offenhauser 17th 10th 1975 Eagle Offenhauser 14th 20th 1976 Eagle AMC 20th 27th 1977 Eagle Offenhauser Practice Crash

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1965 Shelby-American Inc. Dan Gurney AC Cobra Daytona Coupé GT 5.0 204 DNF DNF 1966 Ford Motor Company Shelby American Dan Gurney Ford GT40 Mk.II P +5.0 257 DNF DNF