Gerald F. Hoyt (January 29, 1929 – July 11, 1955) was an American racing driver from Chicago, mainly competing in the National Championship. He died on July 11, 1955 after crashing in a sprint car race at Oklahoma City.
In the 1955 Indianapolis 500 Hoyt surprised many, including himself, by winning the pole (first starting position) in qualifications. His average speed for the run of 140.045 miles per hour was at the time the second fastest ever at the speedway.[1] However an oil leak would force him to retire from the race after 40 laps. As the 500 was part of the FIA World Championship at the time, Hoyt was credited for being the youngest pole sitter in the history of the series to that point. In his four races at the speedway, he would never complete more than 130 laps in the 200 lap race.
Death
On July 11, 1955, two months after winning the pole at Indianapolis, Hoyt was entered into a sprint car race in Oklahoma City. On the first lap, his car made contact with a fence, causing it to overturn. The cars of the time provided little protection for the driver's head, and Hoyt died the next morning of brain injuries. He had been married just two weeks earlier.[2]
Although Hoyt started the 1955 race from the pole position, his qualifying speed ranked tenth behind fastest qualifier Jack McGrath. This is the lowest speed rank for a pole sitter in the Indianapolis modern era.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
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. Jerry Hoyt participated in 4 World Championship races, starting on the pole once but scoring no World Championship points.
References
^Speedway Gamble: Hoyt risked wind, won pole position United Press, May 25, 1955. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
^Jerry Hoyt dies after crash in Oklahoma City Associated Press, July 11, 1955. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
^(PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
jerry, hoyt, gerald, hoyt, january, 1929, july, 1955, american, racing, driver, from, chicago, mainly, competing, national, championship, died, july, 1955, after, crashing, sprint, race, oklahoma, city, born, 1929, january, 1929chicago, illinoisdiedjuly, 1955,. Gerald F Hoyt January 29 1929 July 11 1955 was an American racing driver from Chicago mainly competing in the National Championship He died on July 11 1955 after crashing in a sprint car race at Oklahoma City Jerry HoytBorn 1929 01 29 January 29 1929Chicago IllinoisDiedJuly 11 1955 1955 07 11 aged 26 Oklahoma City OklahomaFormula One World Championship careerNationalityAmericanActive years1950 1951 1953 1955TeamsKurtis Kraft Stevens EwingEntries5 4 starts Championships0Wins0Podiums0Career points0Pole positions1Fastest laps0First entry1950 Indianapolis 500Last entry1955 Indianapolis 500 Contents 1 Indy 500 2 Death 3 Indianapolis 500 results 4 Complete Formula One World Championship results 5 World Championship career summary 6 References 7 External linksIndy 500 EditIn the 1955 Indianapolis 500 Hoyt surprised many including himself by winning the pole first starting position in qualifications His average speed for the run of 140 045 miles per hour was at the time the second fastest ever at the speedway 1 However an oil leak would force him to retire from the race after 40 laps As the 500 was part of the FIA World Championship at the time Hoyt was credited for being the youngest pole sitter in the history of the series to that point In his four races at the speedway he would never complete more than 130 laps in the 200 lap race Death EditOn July 11 1955 two months after winning the pole at Indianapolis Hoyt was entered into a sprint car race in Oklahoma City On the first lap his car made contact with a fence causing it to overturn The cars of the time provided little protection for the driver s head and Hoyt died the next morning of brain injuries He had been married just two weeks earlier 2 He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis 3 Indianapolis 500 results EditYear Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired1950 81 15 129 520 31 21 125 0 Flagged1953 55 7 135 731 24 23 107 0 Overheating1954 99 30 137 825 27 26 130 0 Engine1955 23 1 140 045 10 31 40 0 Oil leakTotals 402 0 Starts 4Poles 1Front Row 1Wins 0Top 5 0Top 10 0Retired 3 Although Hoyt started the 1955 race from the pole position his qualifying speed ranked tenth behind fastest qualifier Jack McGrath This is the lowest speed rank for a pole sitter in the Indianapolis modern era Complete Formula One World Championship results Edit key Races in bold indicate pole position races in italics indicate fastest lap Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points1950 Ludson Morris Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 GBR MON 50021 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 01951 Pat Clancy Ewing Offenhauser L4 SUI 500DNQ BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 01953 John Zink Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 ARG 50023 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 01954 Hoosier Racing Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 ARG 5008 BEL FRA GBR GER NC 01955 Jim Robbins Stevens Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 50031 BEL NED GBR ITA NC 0 Indicates shared drive with Andy Linden and Chuck Stevenson Indicates shared drive with Paul RussoWorld Championship career summary EditThe 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 Jerry Hoyt participated in 4 World Championship races starting on the pole once but scoring no World Championship points References Edit Speedway Gamble Hoyt risked wind won pole position United Press May 25 1955 Retrieved May 11 2014 Jerry Hoyt dies after crash in Oklahoma City Associated Press July 11 1955 Retrieved May 11 2014 Indianapolis Auto greats PDF Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery Crown Hill Cemetery 2011 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 09 13 Retrieved 2012 09 10 External links EditJerry Hoyt at Find a GraveRecordsPreceded byJose Froilan Gonzalez28 years 282 days 1951 British GP Youngest Grand Prix polesitter26 years 121 days 1955 Indianapolis 500 Succeeded byEugenio Castellotti24 years 238 days 1955 Belgian GP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jerry Hoyt amp oldid 1119052663, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
