To celebrate the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 this year, we will profile all the British, and British born drivers who have taken on the speedway since 1911, looking at their time at IMS, results and in some cases interviews with some of the drivers. Part Three looks at the 500 careers of a Le Mans winning driver, a gentle giant and someone who would liked to have had a little more luck with the Speedway.
John Duff
Born in China in 1895 to Canadian parents, but we will claim him as one of our own as a subject of the monarch. Duff came to the United Kingdom in 1914 when the First World War broke out, he was injured at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, returning to England to recover. He would soon marry the nurse, Clansa, who looked after him during his recovery from his injuries, he learnt how to drive and took up racing.
He began racing in 1920 competing at the legendary Brooklands circuit and was up to pace with some of the leading drivers of the time, including Henry Segrave, a Grand Prix driver of the time.By 1923, Duff had built up a reputation on the track and achievements to match, he turned his attention to the new endurance race being held in France at Le Mans. Duff with partner Frank Clement would race a Bentley, the first track outing and despite early misgivings, the owner Walter Owen Bentley, became hooked on racing, the rest they say....
Victory at Le Mans in 1924 aided his decisions to look elsewhere for motoring challenges and early in 1926 travelled to America to race. His opportunity came at the 14th Indianapolis 500 Mile Sweepstakes Race following the death of Herbert Jones in qualifying. In the race Duff drove a Miller, with support from the Elcar Automobile Company. He started the race in 28th place, finishing in 9th completing 147 laps, 13 laps behind the winner Frank Lockhart in a rain shorted race (160 laps), The man who was described by the Indianapolis press as 'a famous English driver' winnings of $1,500.
After Indianapolis, he took part in a race at Altoona (PA), finishing third then onto Salem (NH) where he was injured in a crash, damaging his shoulder and a concussion with had an affect on his vision. As a result, Duff retired from racing in a promise to his wife. He would move to California from Indianapolis with his family, taking up fencing, and coaching in a varied number of sports even appearing in Hollywood films (albeit as a body double). Returning to England in 1934, via China for a couple of years, becoming a member of the BRDC. Never loosing the competitive side, he would take up horse riding, but would lose his life in a riding accident at Epping Forest.
He began racing in 1920 competing at the legendary Brooklands circuit and was up to pace with some of the leading drivers of the time, including Henry Segrave, a Grand Prix driver of the time.By 1923, Duff had built up a reputation on the track and achievements to match, he turned his attention to the new endurance race being held in France at Le Mans. Duff with partner Frank Clement would race a Bentley, the first track outing and despite early misgivings, the owner Walter Owen Bentley, became hooked on racing, the rest they say....
Victory at Le Mans in 1924 aided his decisions to look elsewhere for motoring challenges and early in 1926 travelled to America to race. His opportunity came at the 14th Indianapolis 500 Mile Sweepstakes Race following the death of Herbert Jones in qualifying. In the race Duff drove a Miller, with support from the Elcar Automobile Company. He started the race in 28th place, finishing in 9th completing 147 laps, 13 laps behind the winner Frank Lockhart in a rain shorted race (160 laps), The man who was described by the Indianapolis press as 'a famous English driver' winnings of $1,500.
After Indianapolis, he took part in a race at Altoona (PA), finishing third then onto Salem (NH) where he was injured in a crash, damaging his shoulder and a concussion with had an affect on his vision. As a result, Duff retired from racing in a promise to his wife. He would move to California from Indianapolis with his family, taking up fencing, and coaching in a varied number of sports even appearing in Hollywood films (albeit as a body double). Returning to England in 1934, via China for a couple of years, becoming a member of the BRDC. Never loosing the competitive side, he would take up horse riding, but would lose his life in a riding accident at Epping Forest.
Justin Wilson
Justin, always was the guy whose talent and the car did not seem to be a fair match up until his final season when he secured a part time ride for 2015 with Andretti Autosport.
Racing in Champ Car restricted any opportunity to compete at the Indy 500 throughout his earlier years in the US following his time in F1, until the series unified in 2008. That opportunity came with Newman-Haas- Lanigan with team mate Graham Rahal after replacing Formula one bound and four time champion Sebastian Bourdais.
Racing in Champ Car restricted any opportunity to compete at the Indy 500 throughout his earlier years in the US following his time in F1, until the series unified in 2008. That opportunity came with Newman-Haas- Lanigan with team mate Graham Rahal after replacing Formula one bound and four time champion Sebastian Bourdais.
A first qualifying effort would see Justin start in 16th, but would end up with a crashing on his own on lap 132 resulting in a 27th place finish. Another DNF was recorded in 2009, this time spinning coming out of turn one, finishing in 23rd racing for Dale Coyne.
Moving to Dreyer & Reinbold Justin finished his first 500, with a 7th place and leading 11 laps in 2010. 16th in 2011, with another top 10 in 2012 (7th) back with Dale Coyne. Justin had his best finish at the 500 in 2013, with a fifth place result, also finishing as the top Honda driver. A final run with DCR in 2014 and a 22nd place finish.
Finally landing himself with a top team in 2015, Justin had his best qualifying performance in 6th place, the fastest Honda, but a late pit stop put Justin down the order by the end of the race in 21st, one lap down.
Over his full career in the US, Justin would win four races in Champ Car followed by three more in Indycar, more often than not, out performing the car that he had under him. Justin would lose his life in August 2015, after being struck by debris from Sage Karam who crashed whilst leading in Pocono.
In April of this year, it was announced that his brother Stefan, would be driving for KVSH at this years 500 in the number 25, the car number of Justin in his last season. They had previously raced together as team mates in the Indycar race at Baltimore in 2013 for Dale Coyne. One of Stefan's Indy 500 backers, Indiana Donor Network are running the programme, Driven2SaveLives, something Justin did hours after his death, in organ donation.
Moving to Dreyer & Reinbold Justin finished his first 500, with a 7th place and leading 11 laps in 2010. 16th in 2011, with another top 10 in 2012 (7th) back with Dale Coyne. Justin had his best finish at the 500 in 2013, with a fifth place result, also finishing as the top Honda driver. A final run with DCR in 2014 and a 22nd place finish.
Finally landing himself with a top team in 2015, Justin had his best qualifying performance in 6th place, the fastest Honda, but a late pit stop put Justin down the order by the end of the race in 21st, one lap down.
Over his full career in the US, Justin would win four races in Champ Car followed by three more in Indycar, more often than not, out performing the car that he had under him. Justin would lose his life in August 2015, after being struck by debris from Sage Karam who crashed whilst leading in Pocono.
In April of this year, it was announced that his brother Stefan, would be driving for KVSH at this years 500 in the number 25, the car number of Justin in his last season. They had previously raced together as team mates in the Indycar race at Baltimore in 2013 for Dale Coyne. One of Stefan's Indy 500 backers, Indiana Donor Network are running the programme, Driven2SaveLives, something Justin did hours after his death, in organ donation.
Mike Conway
It could be said, the Speedway and Mike Conway did not see eye to eye all the time. Four attempts yielded three starts, two crashes and one finish, with a best result of 18th.
Born in London, Mike Conway followed the european single seater scene of Formula Ford, Renault and F3 before stepping in to a GP2 car with Dave Price in 2006. In 43 races, Conway would win one race at Monaco, with two further podiums, all whilst looking at F1 with an extended role as a test driver for Honda.
A test with Panther at the end of 2008 saw him signing up full time with Dreyer & Reinbold achieving a podium at Sonoma. 2010 started with top 10 finishes before arriving at Indy. Conway was in good shape in the closing laps of the race having lead 15 laps. on the final lap Conway would catch a slowing Ryan Hunter-Reay, colliding with his rear left tyre, flipping him into the catch fence and breaking the car up into many parts. The accident would leave Conway with fractures to his neck vertebra, lower back injuries and a broken leg. The crash ended his season.
In 2011, Conway would sign for Andretti, scoring a maiden Indycar win at Long Beach, but would fail in his attempt to qualify for the 500. new season, new team, 2012 and a move to AJ Foyt Racing. Again the highlight coming with a podium at Toronto, but another crash at indy, this time after qualifying in 29th, came in for a pit stop and damaged his front wing which was unnoticed at the time by the crew, a few ill handling laps later, Conway would spin in turn one, collecting Will Power and rode the outside wall before landing safely the right side up. A finish of 29th would see the end of his Indianapolis runs as he retired from running ovals prior to the end of season race at Fontana. A part time schedule would follow with race for RLL, Dale Coyne and Ed Carpenter with success as Conway won races at Detroit, Toronto and Long Beach. With no deal in place for 2015, Conway switched to the WEC racing for Toyota.
A test with Panther at the end of 2008 saw him signing up full time with Dreyer & Reinbold achieving a podium at Sonoma. 2010 started with top 10 finishes before arriving at Indy. Conway was in good shape in the closing laps of the race having lead 15 laps. on the final lap Conway would catch a slowing Ryan Hunter-Reay, colliding with his rear left tyre, flipping him into the catch fence and breaking the car up into many parts. The accident would leave Conway with fractures to his neck vertebra, lower back injuries and a broken leg. The crash ended his season.
In 2011, Conway would sign for Andretti, scoring a maiden Indycar win at Long Beach, but would fail in his attempt to qualify for the 500. new season, new team, 2012 and a move to AJ Foyt Racing. Again the highlight coming with a podium at Toronto, but another crash at indy, this time after qualifying in 29th, came in for a pit stop and damaged his front wing which was unnoticed at the time by the crew, a few ill handling laps later, Conway would spin in turn one, collecting Will Power and rode the outside wall before landing safely the right side up. A finish of 29th would see the end of his Indianapolis runs as he retired from running ovals prior to the end of season race at Fontana. A part time schedule would follow with race for RLL, Dale Coyne and Ed Carpenter with success as Conway won races at Detroit, Toronto and Long Beach. With no deal in place for 2015, Conway switched to the WEC racing for Toyota.