The 1970 season also saw Savages finest moment in motor racing when he out-dueled both Roger McCluskey and Al Unser in the USAC Champ Car season finale at Phoenix.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 2 (UPI) David Earl (Swede) Savage, who used to say my accidents have made a better driver of tile, died today of burns and injuries suffered in a flaming, walltowall crash during the Indianapolis 500mile auto race on May 30. He qualified in 31st spot in 1971.
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While still being trapped into the wreckage, rescuers saw him moving, a fact that astonished Jim McKay and Chris Economaki, covering the race for ABC Sports broadcasts.
It was like a blanket of fire on the track. Anyone can read what you share. "Probably after me and you are dead and gone, that stuff they'll be racing will be
As the race started, Salt Walther and Jerry Grant touched wheels, launching Walthers car into the catch fence . Pieces tumbled down the track and Savage slid to a stop, still strapped in the cockpit amidst a pool of burning fuel, but fully conscious, somehow speaking to safety workers and medical officials. google_color_border = "DDAAAA";
for Championship Auto Racing Teams.
Time trials began on time, at 11 a.m. Rutherford qualified at 198.413 to set a track record and take the pole. But his mind was on Indy. It came out in the papers that i said that maybe I didn't get bumped. home.". This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Savage also entered one race in the SCCA Trans-Am series, grabbing second place at Lime Rock Park behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang. Anchoring the event live for tape delay broadcast later in the day, ABC Sports broadcaster Jim McKay expressed disbelief upon seeing that Savage was actually moving in the post crash wreckage while he was engulfed in flames. He and Pollard were close friends. Car trouble ends his day early on lap 28.
Art Pollard lived in Medford Oregon during the 1960s and early 70s and was killed during the Indianapolis 500 time trials on May 12, 1973. crash, ended up on the pole at 198.413 mph, including one lap in the 199s.
Trying his hand at karting for a time, he then turned his attention to motorcycles. emphasis on safety.
Also in attendance was a Ford public relations executive named Monte Roberts, who watched Savage calmly wheelie a motorcycle for the better part of a mile and, struck by Savage's "racy" name and obvious talent, encouraged Ford officials to take Savage under their wing.
The association with Ford brought Savage the opportunity to run a limited schedule in the NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) series in 1967. Whatever the case may be, Savages car jerked violently, and slammed into the inside retaining wall. Hell, we'd take him on hunting trips, fishing trips, everywhere.
driving on the track.
Fortunately, Hildebrand was not seriously injured. During one period in 1961, he won 22 of 28 main events. google_ad_type = "text_image";
The clouds finally broke, and the cars roared off for the start shortly after 2:00 pm. Competing in the 1969 Daytona 500, he crashed after a wheel fell off on lap 124. He was unconscious until his death an hour later at Methodist Hospital of flame inhalation.
He hit it head-on with enough force to rip the machine in two
Savage, Indy 500 Driver Dies of May 30 Injuries, https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/03/archives/savage-indy-500-driver-dies-of-may-30-injuries-walther-condition.html.
It gets to your stomach, to your head.". Survivors were his widow, Patricia; a son Michael; a daughter, Judy Dipple of Speedway; and his mother, Mrs. Artie Pollard of McMinnville. google_ad_width = 728;
His car hit the outside wall so hard debris was strewn across the track and Hildebrands mangled car still managed to skid across the yard of bricks in second place. When Unser had an unusually long pit stop, Savage found himself leading the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in his career. Swede Savage was different. Party
An exceptional natural athlete, he was honored as an all-state high school football player at San Bernardino's Pacific High School as a junior, but was ruled ineligible for his senior year because he had accepted prize money racing motorcycles and was therefore ruled a professional athlete. When they got me up to walk, I'd get dizzy and go sit back down. Luckily, the car didnt hit anything or anyone. Thirty-three minutes later, doctors pronounced Brayton dead.
Then I thought: Well, shit. "Everyone's friend," Unser called him.
Kevin Cogans second Indy start came between Rick Mears and A.J.
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