Art Pollard
BornArtle Lee Pollard, Jr.
(1927-05-05)May 5, 1927
Dragon, Utah, U.S.
DiedMay 12, 1973(1973-05-12) (aged 46)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Champ Car career
83 races run over 9 years
Years active1965–1973
Best finish8th – 1970
First race1965 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee)
Last race1973 Texas 200 (College Station)
First win1969 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Last win1969 Delaware 200 (Dover)
Wins Podiums Poles
2 5 2

Artle Lee Pollard, Jr.[1] (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. The total distance covered was 1,450 feet (440 m). The car was demolished.

The impact tore off two wheels immediately, and the wings were also torn off during the slide. Pollard's lap prior to the crash was timed at a speed above 192 miles per hour (309 km/h). He was found unconscious, and was rushed to Methodist Hospital in the new Cardiac ambulance. 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.[2][3][4] He was pronounced dead approximately one hour and three minutes after the accident.[5] Pollard had turned 46 one week before he died.

Pollard, away from racing, worked as a car dealer and mechanic and worked with mental health charities.[6] Pollard also served in the United States Navy for a time.[7][8]

Racing family

Art Pollard's cousin Brad Pollard and Art Pollard's son Mike Pollard both competed in various types of racing.[9][10][11]

Complete USAC Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points
1965 PHX
TRE
INDY
MIL
LAN
PPR
TRE
IRP
ATL
LAN
MIL
ISF
MIL
22
DSF
INF
TRE
5
SAC
DNQ
PHX
19
29th 200
1966 PHX
TRE
INDY
DNQ
MIL
4
LAN
22
ATL
22
PIP IRP
DNQ
LAN
23
SPR
MIL
7
DUQ
ISF
TRE
SAC
9
PHX
22
23rd 280
1967 PHX
7
TRE
8
INDY
8
MIL
20
LAN
14
PIP MOS
9
MOS
21
IRP LAN
DNQ
MTR
MTR
SPR
MIL
DUQ
ISF
TRE
SAC
HAN
5
PHX
14
RIV
30
11th 655
1968 HAN
16
LVG
8
PHX
5
TRE
13
INDY
13
MIL
16
MOS
14
MOS
LAN
18
PIP
CDR
5
NAZ
IRP
7
IRP
9
LAN
26
LAN
MTR
MTR
SPR
DNQ
MIL
14
DUQ
14
ISF
10
TRE
10
SAC
10
MCH
6
HAN
DNQ
PHX
20
RIV
16
23rd 696
1969 PHX
19
HAN
15
INDY
31
MIL
1
LAN
2
PIP CDR
18
NAZ TRE
DNQ
IRP
25
IRP
16
MIL
6
SPR
DOV
1
DUQ
DNQ
ISF
18
BRN
18
BRN TRE
14
SAC
14
KEN
18
KEN
12
PHX
19
RIV
16
12th 1.110
1970 PHX
11
SON TRE
21
INDY
30
MIL
18
LAN
DNP
CDR
19
MCH
17
IRP
SPR
DNP
MIL
11
ONT
2
DUQ ISF SED
TRE
6
SAC
PHX
24
8th 1.110
1971 RAF
DNP
RAF
PHX
24
TRE
6
INDY
26
MIL
5
POC
16
MCH
16
MIL
16
ONT
2
TRE
20
PHX
9
11th 1.170
1972 PHX
14
TRE
INDY
DNQ
MIL
MCH
POC
MIL
ONT
7
TRE
9
PHX
11
20th 450
1973 TWS
19
TRE
DNQ
TRE
INDY
DNQ
MIL
POC
MCH
MIL
ONT
ONT ONT
MCH
MCH
TRE
TWS
PHX
- 0

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1967 1613163.8971581950Flagged
1968 2011166.29711131880Fuel Shaft
1969 4012167.123123170Drive Line
1970 106168.595730280Piston
1971 9932169.4993122770Valve
1972 40 Withdrew due to injury
1973 64 Practice crash, fatal
Totals4950
Starts 5
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 1
Retired 4

References

  1. "Art Pollard". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  2. "Friends and Family Remember May 12 1973".
  3. "Indy 500 Memorial - 1973".
  4. "1973 >> Indianapolis 500".
  5. "Art Pollard Racing in 1973, the Tragedy and Reactions".
  6. "Art Pollard".
  7. "Art Pollard: Early Years and Personal Facts".
  8. "Art Pollard Racing in 1973, the Tragedy and Reactions".
  9. "Brad Pollard Racing".
  10. "Mike Pollard".
  11. "Art Pollard".
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