Pat O'Connor

Patrick James O'Connor (October 9, 1928 – May 30, 1958) was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a 15-car pileup, after sustaining a fatal head injury after rolling his car and catching fire on the first lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500.

Champ Car O'Connor competed in 36 races in his champ car career. He took his first win in 1956 at Darlington Raceway.

According to A. J. Foyt, O'Connor's car hit Reece's car, sailed fifty feet in the air, landed upside down, and burst into flames. Although O'Connor was incinerated in the accident, medical officials said that he was probably killed instantly from a fractured skull.

Awards O'Connor was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995. The 2020 event was part of the USAC Silvercrown series.

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Points 1952 INDY MIL RAL SPR MIL DET DUQDNQ PIK SYR DNC SJS PHX-0 1953 INDYDNQ MILDNQ SPR DET SPR MIL DUQDNQ PIK SYR ISF7 SAC PHX8 32nd 110 1954 INDY21 MIL5 LANDNQ DAR10 SPRDNQ MIL19 DUQDNQ PIK SYRDNQ ISFDNQ SACDNQ PHXDNQ LVG9 25th 200 1955 INDY8 MIL18 LAN5 SPRDNQ MIL26 DUQ9 PIK SYR4 ISF5 SAC5 PHX5 7th 800 1956 INDY18 MIL11 LANDNQ DAR1 ATL17 SPR5 MIL21 DUQDNQ SYR13 ISF2 SAC15 PHXDNQ 11th 680 1957 INDY8 LANDNQ MIL4 DET ATL SPRDNQ MIL3 DUQ8 SYR2 ISF10 TRE1 SAC15 PHX2 4th 1,250 1958 TRE13 INDY29 MIL LAN ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX-0

Indianapolis 500 results

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key)

World Championship career summary The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. O'Connor participated in five World Championship races. He started on the pole once but scored no World Championship points, as his best finish was eighth (twice).