Mauri Rose

Maurice Rose (May 26, 1906 – January 1, 1981) was an American racing driver. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1941, 1947, and 1948, becoming the race's third three-time winner. He also won the AAA National Championship in 1936.

Racing career

Indianapolis 500 career

Although Rose had driven in every Indianapolis 500 since 1933, he earned his first pole position when he put his Maserati on the pole for the 1941 Indianapolis 500; but spark plug problems sidelined his car after sixty laps. He then took over the Wetteroth/Offenhauser car being driven by Floyd Davis that had started in 17th place. Rose went on to win. In 1947 and 1948, Rose captured back-to-back Indianapolis 500s driving one of the Diedt/Offenhauser Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials, owned and prepared by veteran driver/car owner Lou Moore.

In 1949, with Holland leading and Rose again running second late in the race, Rose set out to overtake his now-veteran teammate. Rose again ignored car owner Lou Moore's "EZ" signs from the pits and continued to push in pursuit of Holland. This time, Rose's car broke while Holland cruised home to victory—and Moore fired Rose on the spot after the race for disobeying team orders.

Rose made his fifteenth and final Indianapolis 500 start in the 1951 race. Knocked out from an accident after 126 laps, the forty-five-year-old Rose retired to a home in California. For the 1967 race, officials of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway invited him to drive the pace car.

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 participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Rose participated in two World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He finished in the top three once, and scored four World Drivers' Championship points.

Post-racing career and life

Rose worked for General Motors both during and after his racing career. He was heavily involved in the development of the Chevrolet Corvette into a competitive racing machine.

Both of Rose's children were disabled by polio. While his career in racing was filled with success, he considered his most important accomplishment to be his invention of a device that made it possible for those without the use of their legs to drive an automobile. Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (1972) Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame (1982) Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1989) International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1994) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1996) International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2007)

Rose has been awarded the following honors: Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation (1966)

Motorsports career results

AAA Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points 1941 INDY1 MIL3 NYS4 9th 245 1946 INDY23 LAN12 ATL ISF2 MIL6 GOSDNP 25th 240 1947 INDY1 MILDNP LAN ATL BAI MIL GOS MIL PIK SPR ARL 3rd 1,000 1948 ARL INDY1 MIL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ATL PIK SPR DUQ 3rd 1,000 1949 ARL INDY13 MIL TRE SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR DET SPR LAN SAC DMR- 0 1950 INDY3 MIL LAN SPR MIL PIK SYR DET SPR SAC PHX BAY DAR 15th 483 1951 INDY14 MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ DUQ PIK SYR DET DNC SJS PHX BAY-0 1946 table only includes results of the six races run to "championship car" specifications. Points total includes the 71 races run to "big car" specifications.

Indianapolis 500 results

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Pts 1950 Howard Keck Diedt Offenhauser 4.5 L4 GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA 12th 4 1951 Howard Keck Diedt Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0