| Tony Bettenhausen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bettenhausen, circa 1951 | |||||||
| Born | Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen (1916-09-12)September 12, 1916 Tinley Park, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | May 12, 1961(1961-05-12) (aged 44) Speedway, Indiana, U.S. | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| AAA /USACChampionship Car (1951,1958) | |||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 118 races run over 17 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1951,1958) | ||||||
| First race | 1941Milwaukee 100 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last race | 1961Trenton 100 (Trenton) | ||||||
| First win | 1946 George Robson Memorial (Goshen) | ||||||
| Last win | 1959 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix) | ||||||
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| Formula One World Championship career | |||||||
| Active years | 1950–1960 | ||||||
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft,Diedt,Kuzma,Epperly,Watson | ||||||
| Entries | 11 | ||||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||
| Podiums | 1 | ||||||
| Careerpoints | 11 | ||||||
| Pole positions | 0 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 1 | ||||||
| First entry | 1950 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||
| Last entry | 1960 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||
Melvin Eugene "Tony"Bettenhausen (September 12, 1916 – May 12, 1961) was an Americanracing driver known primarily for his open-wheel career. He twice won theNational Championship, doing so in1951 and1958.[1] He also competed instock cars, winning underAAA and USAC sanction.
Bettenhausen was nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express" in honor of his hometown.[2] He was nicknamed "Tunney" after heavyweight boxing championGene Tunney. "Tunney" later became "Tony."[3]
Bettenhausen was part of the midget car "Chicago Gang" withEmil Andres,Cowboy O'Rourke,Paul Russo,Jimmy Snyder, andWally Zale.[4] These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
Bettenhausen won the track championship at theMilwaukee Mile in 1942, 1946, and 1947. He was theChicago Raceway Park champion in 1941, 1942, and 1947.
In October 1950, he was involved in a race in Sacramento, California, when his car locked wheels with another racer's car, causing a crash through the guard rail, resulting in fatal injuries to spectator Peter Bernard Stuberak, and injuries to two other spectators.[5]
Bettenhausen won the 1959Turkey Night Grand Prix, and theHut Hundred in 1955 and 1956.
Bettenhausen drove in theAAA andUSACChampionship Car series, racing in the 1941 and 1946-1961 seasons with 121 starts, including 14 in theIndianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 74 times, with 21 victories.
He won theNational Championship in 1951 after recording eight victories and two second-place finishes in fourteen events. He announced his retirement from all racing but theIndianapolis 500 after the season.[3]He decided to return full-time for the 1954 season. He was involved in a midget car wreck in Chicago, suffering head injuries after striking a concrete wall. He was in critical condition for several days.[3]
He prearranged to co-drive with Chicago Gang friend Paul Russo in the1955 Indianapolis 500. They finished second.[4]
In 1958, Bettenhausen became the first driver to claim the National Championship without a win.[3] He was assured the title with a second-place finish at Phoenix. He finished second in the national championship toRodger Ward in 1959.
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 participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards theAAA/USACNational Championship.
Bettenhausen participated in all 11 World Drivers' Championship races held at Indianapolis. He finished in thetop three once, and set one fastest leader lap.[1] He scored 11 World Drivers' Championship points.
Bettenhausen was killed in a May 12, 1961 crash atIndianapolis while testing a Stearly Motor Freight Special vehicle forPaul Russo. The car smashed into the outside wall of the track and then rolled 325 feet (99 m) along the barrier. The car came to rest in a grassy plot between the wall and Grandstand A, with the tail of the car on fire. Results showed the accident was caused by an anchor bolt which fell off the front radius rod support, allowing the front axle to twist and misalign the front wheels when the brakes were applied, which drove the car into the wall. Bettenhausen died instantly.[6] He was buried atCrown Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, Section 58, Lot 110,39°49′21″N86°09′56″W / 39.8223808°N 86.1654235°W /39.8223808; -86.1654235
Bettenhausen was the father ofGary Bettenhausen,Tony Bettenhausen Jr. andMerle Bettenhausen. Gary Bettenhausen and Tony Bettenhausen Jr. both raced in the Indianapolis 500 numerous times. Merle Bettenhausen is his sole surviving son as of 2025.
Bettenhausen has been inducted into the following halls of fame:
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(key) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
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