Jim Rathmann
Born: July 16, 1928 Alhambra, Ca.
Home: Melbourne, Florida
 

Jim Rathmann (born Richard [Dick*] Rathmann July 16, 1928 from Alhambra, California) is a former American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1960.

He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series in the 1949-1950 and 1952-1963 seasons with 42 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in each of those seasons. Rathmann also participated in the two runnings of the Race of Two Worlds at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy, winning the 1958 event. He had 6 victories in addition to his Indy 500 win. He also drove in 3 races in the NASCAR series from 1949-1951.

Since retiring, Rathmann has owned Chevrolet dealerships in Palm Bay and Melbourne, FL. He is currently the oldest living winner of the Indy 500.

Rathmann was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. The ceremony took place in Detroit.

Jim Rathmann, winner of the 1960 Indianapolis 500, the 1957 Monza (Italy) 500, and what for many years was the fastest National Championship race ever held (Daytona, 1959), always appeared to be poker-faced and not particularly moved in victory shots. Did this fellow even like racing? He'd stand in the cockpit with a wreath around his neck, grime all over his face, and his helmet still in place, but with the unfastened straps dangling lazily around his chin. A plea from the battery of photographers for some sort of acknowledgement would result in the bare trace of a smile, and a wave of one hand at approximately chest level. So was he just one of those iron "he-men" who simply never showed emotion, or was he even bored by racing and in it merely to make a living? In truth, Jim Rathmann loved racing. He was just a matter-of-fact individual who had been plying his trade since the age of 16, and had been involved in business even before that, earning a living in the flourishing hot-rod business while still in high school. As competitive as anybody on a race track (particularly those with paved surfaces), the off-track version of Jim Rathmann was (and is) actually a fun-loving, good-natured person, who has a twinkle in his eye, thoroughly enjoys a practical joke, and possesses a most infectious giggle when telling an amusing story. And he certainly has plenty of those. Born in Los Angeles as Richard Rathmann, he was just 16 years old when he decided he wanted to start racing hot rods along with his friends, one of whom was an even younger Troy Ruttman. While Ruttman was able to get his mother to alter his birth certificate, Rathmann dealt with the "underage" problem by swapping identities with his brother James, who was two and a half years older. Thus Richard became "Jim," and James (the 1958 Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter) became "Dick." Jim (as we know him) competed in 14 Indianapolis 500-Mile Races, finishing as runner-up three times (1952, 1957 and 1959) before finally triumphing in 1960 in what many feel was the greatest Indianapolis 500 ever. It certainly featured the greatest sustained two-man battle ever witnessed at the famed track, as during the entire second half of the "500" Rathmann and defending winner Rodger Ward were never any more than a few feet apart from each other, swapping the lead a total of 14 times. It was only when Ward was forced to slow due to a worn tire with three laps remaining that Rathmann was finally able to claim the victory which had eluded him so many times before. Three times the champion of the Midwest track roadster circuit?and one of the stars of Andy Granatelli's Hurricane Hot Rod Association?Rathmann was the third-ranking driver in the 1955 AAA National Stock Car standings. In 1957, he almost won the USAC National Championship title. He had ceased competing on dirt tracks by this time, but with a second-place finish at Indianapolis and a first in the Milwaukee 200, he found himself leading in points. He showed up for the final two races of the year, on the dirt tracks of Sacramento and Phoenix, but was unable to hold off the onslaught by dirt-track specialist Jimmy Bryan. In 1958, Rathmann won all three legs of the Monza 500, posting an amazing overall average of 166.722 mph, while in the first (and only) appearance of the USAC championship cars at the brand-new Daytona International Speedway in April 1959, he completed the 100 miles in just over 35 minutes to average an incredible 170.261 mph. Set up with a Cadillac and Chevrolet dealership in Melbourne, Florida, Rathmann resisted an agreed-upon retirement from racing for several years until he was finally "forced" to do so in the spring of 1964. By that time, he had climbed to third in the all-time laps-completed category at Indianapolis, with only Cliff Bergere and Mauri Rose having traveled a greater distance. Close friends of several of the original U. S. astronauts, Rathmann briefly participated as a "500" car entrant in 1966 and 1967, "GCR Racing" having comprised Gus Grissom and Gordon Cooper, with Jim being the "R." A perennial visitor to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway each May, he served as the pace car driver for the "500" six times between 1969 and 1982, and has continued to be an outstanding ambassador for the sport. By Donald Davidson   http://www.mshf.com/

NASCAR career

Rathmann drove in 3 NASCAR Strictly Stock/Grand National races from 1949 to 1951, competing in one race in each of those years. He debuted in 1949 at Langhorne. Starting 13th in the race, Rathmann slid to 32nd by the end of the race. In 1950, Rathmann raced at the pretigious Daytona Beach Road Course. Starting 17th in this event, Rathmann finished a career-best 12th, two laps down. In his final race in 1951, Rathmann started a career-best 9th at Detroit. He finished 52nd in this race.
                                                                                                                                                                         'Rebel' Frank Mundy' Olds (51)                                                                                                                                                                            racing Jim Rathmann's Hudson (7)                                                                                                                                                                              the Milwaukee Mille in 1953
Indy 500 Win

After starting in the middle of the first row, Rathmann ran in the front the entire race. From the midway point on, Rathmann and fellow driver Rodger Ward were locked in a neck and neck duel for first. Tire wear became an issue as the race wore on and Rathmann was able to keep his wheels fresh long enough to outrace Ward to the finish. The race featured the most recorded lead changes in 500 history. The win was especially sweet for Rathmann, as he had been the runner-up 3 of the previous 8 races.

Indy 500 Results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1949 68 21 126.516 29 11 175 0 Flagged 1950 76 28 129.959 24 24 122 0 Flagged 1952 59 10 136.343 7 2 200 0 Running 1953 2 25 135.666 28 7 200 1 Running 1954 38 28 138.228 21 28 110 0 Crash T4 1955 33 20 138.707 24 14 191 0 Flagged 1956 24 2 145.120 3 20 175 3 Rings 1957 26 32 139.806 31 2 200 24 Running 1958 2 20 143.147 15 5 200 0 Running 1959 16 3 144.433 4 2 200 19 Running 1960 4 2 146.371 4 1 200 100 Running 1961 4 11 145.413 13 30 48 6 Magneto 1962 44 23 146.610 21 9 200 0 Running 1963 16 29 147.838 32 24 99 0 Magneto Totals 2320 153

Starts 14 Poles 0 Front Row 3 Wins 1 Top 5 5 Top 10 7 Retired 4

World Championship Career Summary

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. Jim Rathmann participated in 10 World Championship races. He won 1 race, set 2 fastest lead laps, and finished on the podium 4 times. He accumulated a total of 29 championship points. This total is the largest number of World Championship points earned by a driver in the Indianapolis 500

*Trivia
Jim and his older brother James (now known as Dick Rathmann) switched names so that he could enter a race while underage. This was only supposed to be for a short time, however, he adopted the name "Jim" and his brother adopted the name "Dick" and because of this he has been known as Jim ever since.

A fan sent me this fantastic print of Jim Rathmann in the Ken-Paul Special, 1960, Indianapolis 500   Bill Daniels sent this: "I am the the publisher of the limited edition print and owner of publication rights and you have my permission to use the image on your site. Limited edition print signed by Jim Rathmann and artist Colin Carter." Available at www.BillDaniels.com . Check it out! It has often been said that the 1960 Indianapolis 500 was the most exciting ever with Jim Rathmann and defending Indy Champion Roger Ward fighting a fierce duel for the entire second half of the race. Both cars were never more than a few car lengths apart and the lead changed dozens of times before, with less than four laps to go. Ward's front tire was down to it's white cord and he backed off whereas Jim Rathmann with equally poor rear tires, decided to push on, winning the race by 13 seconds with a record average speed of 138.767 mph to give him a well deserved victory, after three previous second place finishes.

Smokey Yunick's Unique "Winged" Special
The first wing set-up at Indy. Needless to say<
it was controversial. But FAST.
(Note Rathmann's Signature)

*The Name Game Dick was the elder brother of 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. Jim and Dick switched names in 1946 so that his younger brother could enter a race while underage. For what was supposed to be a short time, he adopted the name "Dick" and his brother adopted the name "Jim." The name change stuck for life.

Jim Rathmann giving advice to Don Boberick

Nascar Nextel Cup Series Tickets

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