Jimmy Bryan

James Ernest Bryan (January 28, 1926 – June 19, 1960) was an American racing driver. Well-known for his habit of racing with an unlit cigar, Bryan was a three-time National Champion, and won the Indianapolis 500 in 1958. In Europe he is well-known for winning the 1957 Race of Two Worlds.

Early life

Bryan was born on January 28, 1926, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Reginald Louis, a baker, and Pauline (née Wainwright).

Driving career

Championship car career

Bryan drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1952–1960 seasons with 72 starts, including each year's Indianapolis 500 race. He finished in the top ten 54 times, with 23 victories.

Bryan won the 1958 Indianapolis 500 and the 1954 AAA and 1956 and 1957 USAC National Championship. During his 1957 championship season, Bryan also won the inaugural running of the Race of Two Worlds at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy.

World Drivers' Championship career

The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Bryan participated in nine World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He won once, finished in the top three three times, and accumulated 18 World Drivers' Championship points.

Death and legacy

Bryan died after a crash in a Championship car race at Langhorne Speedway in 1960, on the same day that two drivers were killed in the Belgian Grand Prix, making the day one of the most tragic in racing history. For many years one of the two Championship races at the Phoenix International Raceway was traditionally called the Jimmy Bryan Memorial. He was also memorialized in a song by Harry Weger titled "The Ballad of Jimmy Bryan". Bryan is buried in Phoenix's Greenwood/Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery.

Awards and honors

Bryan has been inducted into the following halls of fame: Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (1964) Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1973) National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (1994) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1999) International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2001) National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame

Motorsports career results

AAA/USAC Championship Car results

AAA National Championship Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points 1951 INDYDNQ MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ DUQ PIK SYR DET DNC SJS PHX BAY-0 1952 INDY6 MIL RAL SPRDNQ MIL DET DUQ PIK SYR DNC SJS9 PHX14 15th 440 1953 INDY14 MIL2 SPR8 DET3 SPR15 MIL10 DUQ7 PIK SYR17 ISF11 SAC1 PHX15 9th 621.4 1954 INDY2 MILDNS LAN1 DAR3 SPR12 MIL3 DUQ3 PIK SYR4 ISF1 SAC1 PHX1 LVG1 1st 2,630 1955 INDY24 MIL4 LAN1 SPR1 MIL23 DUQ1 PIK SYR2 ISF1 SAC1 PHX1 2nd 1,480USAC National Championship Trail 1956 INDY19 MIL4 LAN6 DAR8 ATL SPR1 MIL1 DUQ1 SYR2 ISF1 SAC3 PHX2 1st 1,860 1957 INDY3 LANDNQ MIL19 DET1 ATL13 SPR7 MIL22 DUQ18 SYR4 ISF2 TRE8 SAC2 PHX1 1st 1,650 1958 TRE INDY1 MIL LAN ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 6th 1,000 1959 DAY TRE INDY33 MIL LAN SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX-0 1960 TRE INDY19 MILDNQ LAN18 SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX-0

Indianapolis 500 results

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points 1951 Viking Trailer Lesovsky Offenhauser L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Peter Schmidt Kurtis Kraft 3000 Offenhauser L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 Blakely Oil Schroeder Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 1954 Dean Van Lines Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP 10th 6 1955 Dean Van Lines Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 BEL NED GBR ITA NC 0 1956 Dean Van Lines Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA NC 0 1957 Dean Van Lines Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 FRA GBR GER PES ITA 16th 4 1958 Belond AP / George Salih Salih Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500 BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR 13th 8 1959 Belond AP / George Salih Salih Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 MON 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA NC 0 1960 Metal-Cal Salih Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0