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Dick Rathmann
Rathmann, circa 1957
Born	James Merwin Rathmann (1926-01-06)January 6, 1926 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	February 1, 2000(2000-02-01) (aged 74) Melbourne, Florida, U.S.
Champ Car career
41 races run over 11 years
Years active	1949–1950, 1956–1964
Best finish	10th –1961
First race	1949Golden State 100 (Sacramento)
Last race	1964Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 3 3
NASCAR driver
NASCARCup Series career
129 races run over 5 years
Best finish	3rd (1953)
First race	1951 Race 4 (Carrell)
Last race	1955 Race 37 (Langhorne)
First win	1952 Race 5 (Martinsville)
Last win	1954 Race 24 (Santa Fe)
Wins Top tens Poles 13 79 13
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1950,1956–1960
Teams	Watson,Kurtis Kraft,Lesovsky
Entries	6 (5 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	2
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1960 Indianapolis 500

James Merwin "Dick" Rathmann (January 6, 1926^[1] – February 1, 2000) was an Americanracing driver.

Rathmann and his younger brother swapped names while teenagers. He was an 18-year-old going by the name ofJim Rathmann, when his brother wanted to start racing. To help him enter races, he traded I.D.s with him, and assumed the identity of"Dick Rathmann."^[2] The name change stuck for life in public circles.

He drove in theAAAChampionship Car series in the 1949 and 1950 seasons with 4 starts, including the 1950Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, in 6th position at Milwaukee in 1950.

In 1951, he moved toNASCAR, where he was a very successfulGrand National driver through 1955.

In 1956, he returned to theUSACChampionship Car series, racing in the 1956–1964 seasons with an additional 41 starts, including theIndianapolis 500 races in 1956 and 1958–1964. He finished in the top ten 21 more times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1959 at Daytona.

Rathmann sat on the pole for the1958 Indianapolis 500. On the first lap, he and fellow front-row starterEd Elisian raced into turn 3 and started a chain-reaction accident which involved 15 cars and claimed the life ofPat O'Connor. With that accident, Rathmann became the first Indy pole-sitter to complete no laps. This feat has been repeated only twice in Indy history, first byRoberto Guerrero and then byScott Sharp.

Rathmann was the elder brother of1960 Indianapolis 500 winnerJim Rathmann. The two switched names in 1946 so his younger brother could enter a race while underage. For what was supposed to be a short time, he adopted the name "Dick" and his brother adopted the name "Jim". The change stuck for life.

In 2009, Rathmann was inducted into theWest Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.^[3]

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. Dick Rathmann participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once and accumulated a total of 2 World Championship points.

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position)

• Rathmann qualified for the 1957 race, but was mugged the night before the event. He was replaced in the car byJohnnie Parsons.^[4]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicate fastest lap)

• Dick Rathmann driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• 1924 births
• 2000 deaths
• Indianapolis 500 drivers
• Indianapolis 500 polesitters
• NASCAR drivers
• Racing drivers from Los Angeles

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• Short description is different from Wikidata
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