John Donald Aitken (May 3, 1885 – October 15, 1918) was an American racing driver from Indianapolis, who was active in the years prior to World War I. Aitken competed in the Indianapolis 500 three times. He started the race twice, in 1911 and 1916. He led the first lap of the first race (1911). Aitken captured the pole position in 1916, but ended up in 15th place (his best finish) that year. In the 1915 Indianapolis 500, Aitken drove relief for two drivers, Gil Anderson and Earl Cooper (who ultimately finished 3rd and 4th).
Aitken competed in the Indianapolis 500 three times. He started the race twice, in 1911 and 1916. He led the first lap of the first race (1911). Aitken captured the pole position in 1916, but ended up in 15th place (his best finish) that year. In the 1915 Indianapolis 500, Aitken drove relief for two drivers, Gil Anderson and Earl Cooper (who ultimately finished 3rd and 4th).
While Aitken never won the Indianapolis 500 as a driver, he did serve as team manager for two winning efforts, Joe Dawson’s victory in 1912, and Jules Goux’s win in 1913.
Aitken’s activity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was not limited to the Indianapolis 500. He won a total of 15 races at IMS, the most of any driver in the 100-year history of the track. Aitken was the only driver to win races in each of the four automobile race weekends that were held during the track’s “pre-500” years of 1909–1910. He also won all three races which comprised the Harvest Auto Racing Classic, in September 1916. (The driver with the second-greatest number of wins at IMS is Ray Harroun, with 8 wins in 1909–1911.)
Aitken started a total of 41 races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is, again, the most of any driver in the track's history. (The driver with the second-greatest number of starts at IMS is A. J. Foyt, who started a total of 36 races from 1958 to 1994.)
Outside of his participation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Aitken is known to have started at least 33 AAA-sanctioned races, from 1907 to 1916, and to have driven relief in at least three others. He won seven of these races, including the 1916 1st International Sweepstakes race (300 miles, Sept 14, at the Cincinnati Motor Speedway 2020-09-27 at the Wayback Machine), the 1916 Astor Cup Race (250 miles, Sept 30, at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway), and the 1916 Harkness Trophy Race (100 miles, Oct 28, also at Sheepshead Bay).
Aitken is credited as co-winner of the American Grand Prize, which was held at the Santa Monica Road Race Course on Nov 18, 1916. He started the race, but was the first driver to drop out, when his car suffered a broken piston after one lap. On Lap 21, he took over the car which had started the race being driven by Howdy Wilcox. Aitken drove that car for the remainder of the race, completing 28 of the total 48 laps, finishing first. Aitken, therefore, was credited with both first and last place. (Such scoring would not take place under the current rules of most racing series.) Despite this, the AAA Contest Board ruled him ineligible for points, and he finished second overall in the 1916 season.
Dill, Mark; "A Forgotten Classic;" 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Official Program; Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
External linksedit
Johnny Aitken driver statistics at Racing-Reference
January 01, 1970
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John Donald Aitken May 3 1885 October 15 1918 was an American racing driver from Indianapolis who was active in the years prior to World War I Aitken competed in the Indianapolis 500 three times He started the race twice in 1911 and 1916 He led the first lap of the first race 1911 Aitken captured the pole position in 1916 but ended up in 15th place his best finish that year In the 1915 Indianapolis 500 Aitken drove relief for two drivers Gil Anderson and Earl Cooper who ultimately finished 3rd and 4th Johnny AitkenBornJohn Donald Aitken 1885 05 03 May 3 1885Indianapolis Indiana U S DiedOctober 15 1918 1918 10 15 aged 33 Indianapolis Indiana U S Champ Car career23 races run over 5 yearsBest finish2nd 1916 First race1909 Wheeler Schebler Trophy Indianapolis Last race1916 American Grand Prize Santa Monica First win1910 Atlanta Automobile Association Trophy Atlanta Last win1916 American Grand Prize Santa Monica Wins Podiums Poles7 11 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Motorsports career results 2 1 Indianapolis 500 results 3 References 4 External linksBiography editAitken competed in the Indianapolis 500 three times He started the race twice in 1911 and 1916 He led the first lap of the first race 1911 Aitken captured the pole position in 1916 but ended up in 15th place his best finish that year In the 1915 Indianapolis 500 Aitken drove relief for two drivers Gil Anderson and Earl Cooper who ultimately finished 3rd and 4th While Aitken never won the Indianapolis 500 as a driver he did serve as team manager for two winning efforts Joe Dawson s victory in 1912 and Jules Goux s win in 1913 Aitken s activity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was not limited to the Indianapolis 500 He won a total of 15 races at IMS the most of any driver in the 100 year history of the track Aitken was the only driver to win races in each of the four automobile race weekends that were held during the track s pre 500 years of 1909 1910 He also won all three races which comprised the Harvest Auto Racing Classic in September 1916 The driver with the second greatest number of wins at IMS is Ray Harroun with 8 wins in 1909 1911 Aitken started a total of 41 races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which is again the most of any driver in the track s history The driver with the second greatest number of starts at IMS is A J Foyt who started a total of 36 races from 1958 to 1994 Outside of his participation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aitken is known to have started at least 33 AAA sanctioned races from 1907 to 1916 and to have driven relief in at least three others He won seven of these races including the 1916 1st International Sweepstakes race 300 miles Sept 14 at the Cincinnati Motor Speedway Archived 2020 09 27 at the Wayback Machine the 1916 Astor Cup Race 250 miles Sept 30 at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway and the 1916 Harkness Trophy Race 100 miles Oct 28 also at Sheepshead Bay nbsp Aitken s car 18 right on the pole preparing for the 1916 Indianapolis 500 Aitken is credited as co winner of the American Grand Prize which was held at the Santa Monica Road Race Course on Nov 18 1916 He started the race but was the first driver to drop out when his car suffered a broken piston after one lap On Lap 21 he took over the car which had started the race being driven by Howdy Wilcox Aitken drove that car for the remainder of the race completing 28 of the total 48 laps finishing first Aitken therefore was credited with both first and last place Such scoring would not take place under the current rules of most racing series Despite this the AAA Contest Board ruled him ineligible for points and he finished second overall in the 1916 season nbsp Johnny Aitken on May 13 1916 at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway Aitken died on October 15 1918 of bronchopneumonia from the Influenza pandemic of 1918 1 2 Motorsports career results editIndianapolis 500 results edit Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1911 4 4 27 125 8 Rod 1916 18 1 96 690 1 15 69 8 Valve Totals 194 16 Starts 2 Poles 1 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 0 Top 10 0 Retired 2References edit Aitken Hall of Fame Inductees Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Historical Motorsports Stories Johnny Aitken Indy 500 Pioneer Pandemic Victim Racing Reference Scott D Bruce INDY Racing Before the 500 Indiana Reflections 2005 ISBN 0 9766149 0 1 Galpin Darren A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I http www motorsport com stats http www champcarstats com Dill Mark A Forgotten Classic 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Official Program Indianapolis Motor Speedway External links editJohnny Aitken driver statistics at Racing Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnny Aitken amp oldid 1202837995, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
