This article is about the American auto racer. For the Kenyan bank executive, see Paul Russo (banker). For the American diplomat, see Paul A. Russo. For the American artist, see Paul Rousso.
Paul Frank Russo (April 10, 1914 – February 13, 1976) was an American racing driver.[1][2]
Russo started racing midget cars in 1934. He went with a contingent of midget-car drivers to Hawaii in the winter of 1934–35.[3] He was the 1938 AAA Eastern Midget Champion. Russo won the first race held at the Nutley Velodrome in New Jersey in 1938.[3]
Russo was part of midget racing's "Chicago Gang" with Emil Andres, Tony Bettenhausen, Duke Nalon, Cowboy O'Rourke, Jimmy Snyder, and Wally Zale.[3] These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States.
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Russo drove in the AAA and USACChampionship Car series, racing in the 1940–1941, 1946–1954, 1956–1959, and 1962 seasons with 81 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 every year excluding 1951 and 1952. He finished in the top ten 49 times, with two victories: at Springfield (1950) and Detroit (1951). He also won a non-points race at Williams Grove (1952). Russo's best finish in the Indianapolis 500 was fourth, in 1957 when he was at the wheel of a Novi Special. In 1955, Russo co-drove with Tony Bettenhausen to a second-place finish.[3]
The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIAWorld 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 the AAA/USACNational Championship.
Russo participated in eight World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He finished in the top three once, and set one fastest leader lap.[1] He scored eight and one-half World Drivers' Championship points.
1946 table only includes results of the six races run to "championship car" specifications. Points total includes the 71 races run to "big car" specifications.[5][6]
^(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.
^"1946 AAA National Championship Trail". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
^Capps, Capps (October 2009). "The Curious Case of the 1946 Season: An Inconvenient Championship" (PDF). Rear View Mirror. 7 (2): 1–16.
Paul Russo Dies, Ex-Racing Driver, February 18, 1976, The New York Times.
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This article is about the American auto racer For the Kenyan bank executive see Paul Russo banker For the American diplomat see Paul A Russo For the American artist see Paul Rousso Paul Frank Russo April 10 1914 February 13 1976 was an American racing driver 1 2 Paul RussoRusso circa 1947BornPaul Frank Russo 1914 04 14 April 14 1914Kenosha Wisconsin U S DiedFebruary 13 1976 1976 02 13 aged 61 Clearwater Florida U S Champ Car career81 races run over 22 yearsBest finish5th 1953 First race1940 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Last race1962 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis First win1950 Springfield 100 Springfield Last win1951 Detroit 100 Detroit Wins Podiums Poles2 15 4Formula One World Championship careerActive years1950 1960TeamsNichels Kurtis KraftEntries11 8 starts Championships0Wins0Podiums1Career points8 5Pole positions0Fastest laps1First entry1950 Indianapolis 500Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500 Contents 1 Racing career 1 1 Midget car career 1 2 Indy car career 1 3 World Drivers Championship career 2 Death 3 Awards and honors 4 Motorsports career results 4 1 AAA USAC Championship Car results 4 2 Indianapolis 500 results 5 References 6 External linksRacing career editMidget car career edit Russo started racing midget cars in 1934 He went with a contingent of midget car drivers to Hawaii in the winter of 1934 35 3 He was the 1938 AAA Eastern Midget Champion Russo won the first race held at the Nutley Velodrome in New Jersey in 1938 3 Russo was part of midget racing s Chicago Gang with Emil Andres Tony Bettenhausen Duke Nalon Cowboy O Rourke Jimmy Snyder and Wally Zale 3 These racers toured tracks in the Midwest and East Coast of the United States Indy car career edit Russo drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series racing in the 1940 1941 1946 1954 1956 1959 and 1962 seasons with 81 starts including the Indianapolis 500 every year excluding 1951 and 1952 He finished in the top ten 49 times with two victories at Springfield 1950 and Detroit 1951 He also won a non points race at Williams Grove 1952 Russo s best finish in the Indianapolis 500 was fourth in 1957 when he was at the wheel of a Novi Special In 1955 Russo co drove with Tony Bettenhausen to a second place finish 3 Russo s brother Joe and nephew Eddie also competed in Championship Car World Drivers Championship career edit The AAA USAC sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World 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 the AAA USAC National Championship Russo participated in eight World Drivers Championship races at Indianapolis He finished in the top three once and set one fastest leader lap 1 He scored eight and one half World Drivers Championship points Death editOn February 13 1976 Russo died off the coast of Clearwater while in Florida for the Daytona 500 3 Russo is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis Indiana 4 Awards and honors editRusso was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1992 3 Motorsports career results editAAA USAC Championship Car results edit Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points 1946 INDY33 LAN ATL ISF MIL GOS 0 1947 INDY28 MIL3 LAN17 ATL8 BAI12 MIL3 GOS MIL6 PIK SPR14 ARL2 10th 545 1948 ARL7 INDY32 MIL18 LAN18 MIL SPR MIL9 DUQ18 ATL11 PIK SPR15 DUQ2 17th 300 1949 ARL INDY8 MIL6 TRE8 SPR10 MIL12 DUQ6 PIK SYR2 DETDNQ SPR15 LAN4 SAC10 DMR5 7th 920 1950 INDY9 MIL2 LAN12 SPR1 MIL5 PIK SYR3 DET18 SPR6 SAC13 PHX16 BAY DAR 7th 928 1951 INDYDNQ MIL4 LAN DAR13 SPR14 MIL9 DUQ3 DUQ PIK SYR15 DET1 DNC13 SJS2 PHXDNQ BAY16 10th 700 1952 INDYDNQ MIL2 RAL5 SPRDNQ MIL6 DET2 DUQ4 PIK SYR4 DNC18 SJS3 PHX15 7th 1 060 1953 INDY25 MIL4 SPRDNQ DET13 SPR6 MIL3 DUQ14 PIK SYR13 ISF12 SAC6 PHX17 5th 855 1954 INDY8 MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX LVG 26th 187 5 1955 INDYDNS MIL LAN SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX 16th 300 1956 INDY33 MIL LAN DAR ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF SAC PHX 0 1957 INDY4 LAN MIL DET ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 13th 600 1958 TRE INDY18 MIL LAN ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR8 ISF14 TRE SAC PHX 32nd 50 1959 DAYDNQ TRE INDY9 MILDNQ LAN SPR MILDNQ DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 27th 200 1960 TRE INDYDNQ MIL LAN SPRDNQ MIL DUQDNQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 0 1961 TRE INDYDNQ MIL LAN MIL SPR DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 0 1962 TRE INDY28 MILDNQ LAN TRE SPR MIL LAN SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX 0 1963 TRE INDYDNQ MILDNQ LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 0 1964 PHX TRE INDYDNQ MIL LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 0 1965 PHX TRE INDYDNQ MIL LAN PIP TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 0 1946 table only includes results of the six races run to championship car specifications Points total includes the 71 races run to big car specifications 5 6 Indianapolis 500 results edit Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1940 38 29 120 809 29 28 48 0 Oil leak 1941 45 18 125 217 5 9 200 0 Running 1946 10 2 126 183 4 33 16 0 Crash T3 1947 15 21 123 967 8 28 24 0 Crash FS 1948 25 25 122 595 29 32 7 0 Oil leak 1949 19 19 129 487 5 8 200 0 Running 1950 7 19 130 790 18 9 135 0 Running 1953 7 17 136 219 16 25 89 0 Magneto 1954 5 32 137 678 32 8 200 0 Running 1955 10 2 77 0 Running 1956 29 8 143 546 10 33 21 11 Crash T1 1957 54 10 144 817 1st 4 200 24 Running 1958 15 14 142 959 18 18 122 0 Radiator 1959 45 27 142 383 22 9 200 0 Running 1962 62 14 146 687 20 28 20 0 Piston Totals 1559 35 Starts 14 Poles 0 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 1 Top 10 6 Retired 8 shared drive with Tony BettenhausenReferences edit a b Paul Russo www champcarstats com Retrieved 2023 06 02 Brown Allen Paul Russo OldRacingCars com Retrieved 2024 03 18 a b c d e f Biography Archived 2012 02 06 at the Wayback Machine at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame 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 1946 AAA National Championship Trail www champcarstats com Retrieved 2023 10 02 Capps Capps October 2009 The Curious Case of the 1946 Season An Inconvenient Championship PDF Rear View Mirror 7 2 1 16 Paul Russo Dies Ex Racing Driver February 18 1976 The New York Times External links editPaul Russo at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Russo amp oldid 1222264128, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
