A.J.
Foyt is surrounded by race fans and well-wishers after winning the 30-lap USAC
sprint car feature on the high banks of Greater Salem Speedway. – IRMA Photo
Collection
Salem, Ind. (August 6, 1961) – National USAC champion and Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt had a day of revenge at Greater Salem Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
The handsome 26-year-old Texan from Houston swept most of the honors on the United States Auto Club’s fourth sprint program of the year here before a crowd of 4,200.
He drove his Bowes Offenhauser to victory in the 30-lap feature, grabbed the win in the first heat, and also set fast time during qualifying with a time of 18.80 seconds.
And, equally as important, he protected his slight lead over Parnelli Jones in the USAC sprint car standings by handing Jones, of Torrance, Calif., his first defeat after five straight USAC sprint car victories. It also avenged a defeat Jones handed him here on July 4.
Elmer George of Speedway, Ind., finished second in the Tony’s Special and Jones was third in the Chevrolet-powered Fike Plumbing Special as the last seven laps were run under the caution flag.
It was displayed after Dick Pratt of Winchester, Ind., who had set a track record of 3 minutes and 16.68 seconds in the 10-lap semi-feature, blew his engine, and spun while running sixth.
However, Foyt was 100 yards ahead at the time and appeared the certain winner.
All told, it was a bad day for the Chevies.
Bill Cheesbourg of Tucson, Ariz., started the streak when he demolished his Chevy-powered car in a warmup spin when his throttle stuck, and his brakes locked going into the first turn. He suffered a slight concussion with cuts and bruises all over his face. He would be hospitalized overnight.
Jones had handling issues all day long and Don Branson of Champaign, Ill., broke the crankshaft in his Hoover Special just before his qualifying run.
Results –
1. A.J. Foyt, Houston, Tex.
2. Elmer George, Speedway
3. Parnelli Jones, Torrance, Calif.
4. Len Sutton, Portland, Ore.
5. Chuck Hulse, Indianapolis
6. A.J. Shepherd, Gardena, Calif.
7. Al Miller, Roseville, Mich.
8. Jim Hemmings, North Vernon
9. Jack Rounds, Huntington Beach, Calif.
10.Leroy Neumayer, Los Angeles, Calif.
11.Bob Mathouser, Indianapolis
12.Dick Pratt, Winchester
13.Bud Tingelstad, Dayton, Ohio
14.Roy Robbins, Scottsburg
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