Pat Flaherty
Born	George Francis Flaherty (1926-01-06)January 6, 1926 Glendale, California, U.S.
Died	April 9, 2002(2002-04-09) (aged 76) Oxnard, California, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories Indianapolis 500 (1956)
Champ Car career
18 races run over 9 years
Best finish	2nd (1956)
First race	1950Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race	1963Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
First win	1955Milwaukee 250 (Milwaukee)
Last win	1956Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Wins Podiums Poles 3 4 1
NASCAR driver
NASCARCup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
First race	1951Motor City 250 (Detroit)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1950,1953 –1956,1959
Teams	Kurtis Kraft,Watson
Entries	7 (5 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	1
Podiums	1
Careerpoints	8
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
First win	1956 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1959 Indianapolis 500

George Francis "Pat" Flaherty (January 6, 1926 – April 9, 2002) was an Americanracing driver who won theIndianapolis 500 in1956.^[1]

Flaherty began racing track roadsters in 1946, and in 1948 relocated to the Midwest to compete inAndy Granatelli'sHurricane Hot Rod Association.^[2]

Flaherty drove in theAAA andUSACChampionship Car series, racing in the 1950, 1953–1956, 1958–1959, and 1963 seasons with 19 starts, including theIndianapolis 500 races in 1950, 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1959. He finished in the top ten 9 times, with victories in 1955 and 1956 at Milwaukee as well as the1956 Indianapolis 500. Born inGlendale, California,^[3] Flaherty died inOxnard, California.^[4]

TheAAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in theFIAWorld Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards theAAA/USACNational Championship.

Flaherty participated in five World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He started onthe pole once, won once, and accumulated eight World Drivers' Championship points.

After winning the1956 Indianapolis 500, Flaherty was severely injured in a race car crash less than three months later,^[5] which prevented him from racing at the 1957 500. Flaherty successfully raced pigeons for over twenty years after he retired from auto racing.^[6] He also built and publicised a portable go-kart track where he would race against all-comers.^[4]

Flaherty has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

• Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2006)^[7]

* Shared drive withJim Rathmann

• Pat Flaherty - ChampCarStats.com
• Pat Flaherty atFind a Grave
• Pat Flaherty driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• 1926 births
• 2002 deaths
• Indianapolis 500 drivers
• Indianapolis 500 polesitters
• Indianapolis 500 winners
• Racing drivers from Glendale, California
• AAA Championship Car drivers
• 20th-century American sportsmen
• Formula One race winners
• USAC Stock Car drivers

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata