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. In Part Five we look at the first Welsh born driver, 'Our Nige' and Pink Lloyd.
Johnny Jenkins
Born in Cardiff in 1875, emigrating to the Ohio area and becoming a US citizen. Jenkins would go on to serve with the US military in the Spanish-American war in 1898. A for his racing career at the International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race twice in 1912 & 1913. In 1912 qualifying his White car in 11th place would complete all 200 laps finishing with a top 10 in seventh place. The following year did not go so well, this year driving a Schacht started in 17th but would retire after only 13 laps with a crankshaft failure.
He died in 1945, Brownsville, Texas.
He died in 1945, Brownsville, Texas.
Nigel Mansell
After nine wins and a world championship in the 1992 Formula One season, who expected to see Nigel Mansell to turn up in the USA? But turn up he did, and deliver he continued. Mansell began his career in Karting, Formula Ford, F3 then European F2 become gaining his break into Formula One with Lotus, Williams, Ferrari then back to Williams where he won his title.Despite his victory, a public fall out with Williams followed over the signing of Alain Prost for the following season. Mansell signed for the Newman-Haas team in CART, alongside Mario Andretti for the 1993 season.
A début season that saw five wins and the title, even with missing a race due to an injury. Unfortunately for 'Our Nige' season two was inconsistent with a mixture of poorer form, less reliability and some personality clashes. So with the American dream over, back to Formula One he went, for a second spell with mixed returns. The odd appearances in BTCC, demonstrations and the GP Masters series.
Nigel drove in two Indianapolis 500 races, the first, a strong race which he had led 34 laps and was leading but after a poor restart on lap 184, lost out to Emerson Fittipaldi and Arie Luyendyk, with Emerson eventually winning and drinking... well... anyway. Mansell was awarded the Rookie of the Year title. In his second 500, things did not go well after starting the race in seventh position. On Lap 92, whilst exiting the pits, Dennis Vitolo who had stayed out was approaching the back of the field in an effort to catch up, lost control of his car, hit John Andretti before mounting Mansell who was caught out completely unaware, and was smothered by an official to put out any invisible flames. It took TV some time to break down what exactly had happened. A less than impressed Mansell left the medical centre and reacted angrily to Dr Jerry Punch who attempted to interview Mansell about the accident. This reaction resulted in a strong change in the tide of opinion towards Mansell, with his time up, went back to Europe.
A début season that saw five wins and the title, even with missing a race due to an injury. Unfortunately for 'Our Nige' season two was inconsistent with a mixture of poorer form, less reliability and some personality clashes. So with the American dream over, back to Formula One he went, for a second spell with mixed returns. The odd appearances in BTCC, demonstrations and the GP Masters series.
Nigel drove in two Indianapolis 500 races, the first, a strong race which he had led 34 laps and was leading but after a poor restart on lap 184, lost out to Emerson Fittipaldi and Arie Luyendyk, with Emerson eventually winning and drinking... well... anyway. Mansell was awarded the Rookie of the Year title. In his second 500, things did not go well after starting the race in seventh position. On Lap 92, whilst exiting the pits, Dennis Vitolo who had stayed out was approaching the back of the field in an effort to catch up, lost control of his car, hit John Andretti before mounting Mansell who was caught out completely unaware, and was smothered by an official to put out any invisible flames. It took TV some time to break down what exactly had happened. A less than impressed Mansell left the medical centre and reacted angrily to Dr Jerry Punch who attempted to interview Mansell about the accident. This reaction resulted in a strong change in the tide of opinion towards Mansell, with his time up, went back to Europe.
Alex Lloyd
A champion in the Indy Pro Series in 2007 breaking records along the way. But his path to the top series was always dogged by a lack of funding, something which has halted the careers of far too many talented young drivers. After racing in Formula Renault, Euro F3000, then Indy Pro, Lloyd would move up to the Indycar series in 2008 in an Indy only effort driving for CGR/RLL, the same in the following season too, but with CGR/SSM. It wasn't until 2010 when he signed a deal with DCR to drive full time. The year was a mixed bag, with top tens in Indy, Texas and Sonoma, but with a low budget team, consistent results were hard to come by, but still good enough to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Sticking with the team in 2011, Lloyd went part time, sharing the #19 with Sebastien Bourdais, driving the ovals on the schedule.
Alex Lloyd ran four times at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indycar, but also has success in the Indy Pro Series, winning the race on the road course (supporting Formula One) in 2006 and the Freedom 100 the following season, still the only driver to hold the double win honour. In his début year (2008) qualified in 19th finishing 25th with his race ending on lap 153, brushing the wall coming out of turn four and spinning down the pit-lane, thankfully coming to a stop without hitting any personnel or equipment. In 2009 achieved his best qualifying position of 11th, finishing in 13th place on the lead lap. 2010 saw Alex's best year at Indianapolis, after qualifying in 11th, found himself running in the top three when he took the chequered flag, which would have been a British 1-2-3, with Dario Franchitti winning, Dan Wheldon runner up and Lloyd in third. The results were amended post race to go back to the last lap when Mike Conway crashed, Marco Andretti was credited third, Lloyd down to fourth. 2011 was not so great, starting in 30th with a last minute bump into the field, finished in 19th place, two laps down.
2011 was the end of on track competition for Alex Lloyd in the Indycar series, but did return to race in the Pirelli World Challenge, Rally and endurance races. Turning to writing, Alex has been the Editor at Yahoo Autos and now writes for Beepi.
2011 was the end of on track competition for Alex Lloyd in the Indycar series, but did return to race in the Pirelli World Challenge, Rally and endurance races. Turning to writing, Alex has been the Editor at Yahoo Autos and now writes for Beepi.
Previous Chapters in our feature of 'A British 500'
Part One - Hughes, Hill & Taylor
Part Two - Eldridge, Crawford & Jakes
Part Three - Duff, Wilson & Conway
Part Four - Moss, Ward & Legge
Part One - Hughes, Hill & Taylor
Part Two - Eldridge, Crawford & Jakes
Part Three - Duff, Wilson & Conway
Part Four - Moss, Ward & Legge