She never had the chance to meet her Dad, nor did she ever see any part of the racing world in which he lived. INDIANAPOLIS The images of Swede Savage's fiery wreck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway still burn brightly in the memories of those who witnessed it 40 years ago this Memorial Day weekend. Today, Angela is a mother of two children of her own. Teran was killed almost instantly.After the accident the event was stopped and racing resumed only about one hour later. (AP Photo), Swede Savage is taken to an ambulance on a stretcher after he crashed his car during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. On lap 58, just behind Al Unser (who was about to make a pit stop of his own), Savage, pushing hard in anticipation of a coming rainstorm, lost control as he exited turn four. Many believed that Swede would soon be joining the exclusive group of Indy 500 winners as he took the lead of the race. Diles later was filmed wiping oil off the front of Joe Leonard's car to prove the point, though Bobby Unser (who had a strained personal relationship with Savage and often ridiculed the driving ability of the younger driver) disputed that the drivers were running on an unsafe racetrack. One thing is for sure, if you dwell on the negative, you better get out of it. Savage emerged from his stop with 70 gallons (nearly 500 lb.) Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. I think there has to be a little drama. The 1973 race was a terrible race, Foyt recalled. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. In 1968 and 1969, he also raced in NASCAR events. RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE of Savage's crash and aftermath happened during Indy 500 1973Description:Swede Savage was comfortably leading the field by 42nd lap, in the STP-sponsored Eagle - Offenhauser #40 prepared by George Bignotti, when he pitted for refueling and new tires on the 55th lap. Walther, whose once-promising career was derailed that rainy day, died in December at age 65. He had been the fastest driver for much of practice. Even though Savage suffered extensive and complex fractures on his legs, his return to the tracks was considered sure, and Wally Dallenbach was recruited by George Bignotti for Team Patrick-STP as a temporary replacement during his absence. Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. I hated to see someone get killed because so many times I knew (him), Foyt said. Were it not for the lessons taught by tragedy, the race would be better forgotten. The 1973 fatalities, coupled with the earlier deaths of Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald during the 1964 race at the Brickyard, were numbing truths for a sport in which death had become an acceptable reality. Drivers Art Pollard and Savage and crew member Armando Teran were killed in May 1973 and another driver, Salt Walther, somehow survived a frightening, pin-wheeling crash. They were teammates together in the 1970 Trans Am series in what have become two of the most iconic road racing cars of all time: the twin 1970 All American Racers Plymouth Barracudas. Swede was a naturally gifted athlete who helped his high school football team win its first conference championship. There remains a vivid picture in Foyt's mind of Savage's car colliding into the outside wall and exploding as if it had been pierced by a torpedo. Savage died more than a month after the race. These days, at age 78, it's a difficult task for Foyt to navigate his way from Gasoline Alley to the perfectly aligned rows of bricks near the start-finish line at IMS. It is widely reported that Savage died of kidney failure from infection, but Dr. Steve Olvey, Savage's attending physician at Indy (and later CART's Director of Medical Affairs), claimed in his book Rapid Response that the real cause of death was complications related to contaminated plasma. David Earl "Swede" Savage Jr. (August 26, 1946 July 2, 1973) was an American race car driver. [9], Savage joked with medical personnel after the wreck, and was expected to live when taken to Methodist Hospital and for some time thereafter. No commercial uses without permission. The elder of Savage's two daughters passed away from leukemia several years ago; the younger of the two still resides in Southern California. The choice is something we all made. Swede Savage in his Olsonite Eagle leading the USAC INDY 150 Champ Car Race held on the road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 26, 1970 in. [10] The force of the impact, with the car carrying a full load of fuel, caused the car to explode in a massive 60-foot (18m)-high plume of flame.[8][9][11]. It is widely reported that Savage died of kidney failure from infection, but Dr. Steve Olvey, Savage's attending physician at Indy (and later CART's Director of Medical Affairs), claimed in his book Rapid Response that the real cause of death was complications related to contaminated plasma. Swede Savage (1946-1973) - Find a Grave Memorial. While still being trapped into the wreckage, rescuers saw him moving, a fact that astonished Jim McKay and Chris Economaki, covering the race for ABC Sports broadcasts. Savage joked with medical personnel after the wreck, and was expected to live when taken to Methodist Hospital Medical Center and for some time thereafter. Diles was later filmed wiping oil off the front of Joe Leonard's car to prove the point, though Bobby Unser (who did not get along well with Savage and often ridiculed the driving ability of the younger driver) disputed that the drivers were running on an unsafe racetrack. That in itself is part of the attraction. When I watch my son and grandson, I appreciate all my wife went through all those years, said Andretti, 73. It was a May to forget. 1973 Indianapolis 500 Crash. See photos from throughout Swede Savage's career. He died at age 26 from complications while recovering from injuries suffered in a crash during the 1973 Indianapolis 500, nearly five weeks earlier.[1][2][3]. Miraculously, Swede survived the violent crash, but was critically injured. As the car spiraled along the front stretch, spectators were doused with fuel. The enhanced safety measures have enabled drivers to walk away from other devastating crashes the past two decades. During pole qualifying earlier that month, driver Art Pollard was killed in a horrific crash when his car topped 191 mph, then struck the outside wall, burst into flames, spun into the infield and rolled several times. He appeared on a major network TV talk show and was a guest at the White House at an age when most people are still figuring out what to do with their lives. High-quality motorsport photography galleries featuring Swede Savage. Five-time Indy 500 winning chief mechanic, George Bignotti, was in charge of technical preparation, and Swedes close friend from his days at All American Racers, Jim Wright, was Bignottis talented assistant. Indianapolis 500 Savage Wreck . Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection whilst still in hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. An exceptional natural athlete, he was honored as an all-state high school football player at San Bernardino's Pacific High School as a junior, but was ruled ineligible for his senior year because he had accepted prize money racing motorcycles and was therefore ruled a professional athlete. 7/6/1973 779743884872. While still being trapped into the wreckage, rescuers saw him moving, a fact that astonished Jim McKay and Chris Economaki, covering the race for ABC Sports broadcasts. View Cemetery in his hometown of San Bernardino, California. (AP FILE PHOTO) INDIANAPOLIS High speed,. Competing in the 1969 Daytona 500, he crashed after a wheel fell off on lap 124. 2023 Getty Images. On the first day of qualifying, gusting winds slowed Savage from matching his best practice speeds, but he still shattered the track record with a four-lap qualifying average of 196.582 mph (316.368 km/h). [citation needed] However, according to Savage's father, the percentage of oxygen they were giving Swede just prior to his death, due to the damage to his lungs from the fumes inhaled from the accident, was such that there was no way he could have survived, even if he had not contracted hepatitis B. He had been the fastest driver for much of practice. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib. The car that was carrying a full load of fuel, slid sideways across the track and slammed into the inside wall at high speed and in an acute angle, exploding on fire and disintegrating. This content is intended for editorial use only. Among those complaining about oil on the track was Jerry Grant, in an interview with Dave Diles of ABC Sports while the wreckage from Savage's crash was cleaned off the track. Swede Laid To Rest . Swede was a native of San Bernardino, California. Swede Savage, 1973 Indy 500 Auto Racing: Indianapolis 500: Aerial view of Swede Savage with medical staff after sustaining injury during crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Later in the day, as the winds abated, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Mark Donohue each bettered Savage's time. The. [1][2][3] . He was just 26 years old when he died. of additional fuel and a new (cold) right rear tire. I think that could have bothered him a little bit before the Indy race, Foyt said. Rain hampered practice the first. RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE of Savage's crash and aftermath happened during Indy 500 1973***DESCRIPTION***Swede Savage was comfortably leading the field by 42nd lap, in the STP-sponsored Eagle - Offenhauser #40 prepared by George Bignotti, when he pitted for refuelling and new tyres on the 55th lap. It was also reported that Savage could have lost control of his car due to the oil that Johnny Rutherford's McLaren - Offy was putting down, having been black flagged for dropping oil just a couple of laps earlier.Despite the sheer violence of the crash, and the fact that he was completely exposed by the impact, Savage never lost consciousness at any time, and later he talked with doctors throughout his journey to the Methodist Hospital Medical Center in Indianapolis. He was married with a seven-year-old daughter, Shelly; his widow Sheryl was expecting their second child, daughter Angela, at the time of his death. When you're on the sideline, it can be dangerous. All our drivers now have a 99 percent chance of retiring on their own terms.. If you're going to be a race driver, you have to bite your tongue and go on with it. Finally at 14h00 on Wednesday, 30 May 1973 the green flag started the race.Swede Savage was comfortably leading the field by 42nd lap, in the STP-sponsored Eagle - Offenhauser #40 prepared by George Bignotti, when he pitted for refueling and new tires on 55th lap. But at a race that has too often ended in tragedy for drivers, crew members and fans, the most spectacular crashes are often the most unforgettable. (AP Photo). While other sports have inherited dangers, auto racing by definition is dangerous, considering the blend of fuel, speed and bravado in the one-eighth mile short chutes that seldom accommodate all three. (AP Photo/David F. Smith), This is the explosion of Swede Savage's STP car as he crashed during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Browse and buy images now. 2023 Getty Images. Born David Earl Savage, Jr. on August 26, 1946, in a hospital founded by his grandfather, "Swede" Savage was an American race car driver whose career was just reaching the stratosphere when he was fatally injured in a devastating crash in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. I remember the wind blowing real bad. He came off (turn) four and never tried to correct (the car). < back . I felt I wouldn't make a mistake that would kill me, but I knew I could pay for someone else's mistake. As a young boy, Swedes dream was always to compete in and win the Indianapolis 500. Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection while still in the hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. Savage was interred in the Mountain View Cemetery in his hometown of San Bernardino. Drivers Art Pollard and Savage and crew member Armando Teran were killed in May 1973 and another driver, Salt Walther, somehow survived a frightening, pin-wheeling crash. In this May 30, 1973, file photo, Swede Savage's car is in flames after a crash during the Indianapolis 500 auto race. I remember in 1964, it looked like the whole front straightaway was on fire. Early in the season, Chrysler cut back support for the AAR effort and Gurney stepped out of the car to let Savage drive the entire season. The right half of his rear wing had come loose, causing his car to twitch back and forth, then slid across to the inside of the track at nearly top speed, hitting the angled inside wall nearly head-on. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's car is in flames after a crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. [1][2][3], The true cause of his death remains a point of dispute. Savage debuted in the old SCCA United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) series in April 1968, driving a Lola T70 Mk III (the car campaigned by Gurney in the 1967 Can-Am racing series; a condition of employment Gurney imposed on the young driver was that he rebuild and prepare the car for competition with very little assistance from other AAR staff). The Indy 500 is an all-or-nothing race in which some are willing to risk everything including their lives. Drivers Art Pollard and Savage and crew member Armando Teran were killed in May 1973 and another driver, Salt Walther, somehow survived a frightening, pin-wheeling crash. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Contact your local office to see if we can clear this image for you. Usage Notes: Rain delayed, interrupted and shortened the race which. He began Soap Box Derby racing at the age of five, moved up to racing quarter midget cars, then at age twelve to Go-Kart racing. When that green flag goes down, you gotta worry about yourself. He died later that day at a local hospital. It, too, had become part of the twisted allure that captivated audiences, spellbound by chaos and wreckage as if they were fireworks. According to eyewitness reports, the right half of the car's rear wing had come loose before the crash, this has not yet been confirmed. The 57th running of the greatest spectacle in racing took three days to complete, mostly because of an unrelenting rain. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 1973 Indy 500. In his book \"Rapid Response: My Inside Story as a Motor Racing Life-Saver\" published in 2010, Dr. Stephen Olvey who was Swede Savage's attending physician at Indianapolis hospital, and later CART's Director of Medical Affairs, indicated that the real cause of death was complications related to a blood transfusion, contaminated with Hepatitis B, which caused his liver to fail.Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swede_Savage In the 1973 Indianapolis 500, Savage was entered in an STP-sponsored Eagle-Offenhauser (number 40) prepared by master mechanic George Bignotti. Ralph N. Paulk is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's STP car explodes in a fiery crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. I really think Swede was unconscious way before he hit the wall. It's still on my mind.. 65 Swede Savage Premium High Res Photos Browse 65 swede savage stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Debris were thrown into the grandstand and the number of injured spectators ranged from 11 to 13. I had to accept that or do something else with my life. Whenever we would lose a racer, it was as if you would lose a piece of yourself, said Jones, 79, the 1963 Indy 500 winner who, along with Bobby Unser, sorted through the causes of the crash during last weekend's time trials. (AP Photo/File), Family and friends of race car driver Swede Savage, who died Monday, July 2, of injuries sustained in the May 30 crash at the Indianapolis 500, gather at the grave site at Mountain View Cemetery following funeral services in San Bernardino, Calif., July 6, 1973. Swede Savage Trans Am style #autoracing #auto #racing #trans #am. He had been the fastest driver for much of practice. Savage's wreck was the third explosive crash in Indy's deadliest year that claimed the lives of three men and permanently scarred another. Safety truck going wrong way during Swede Savage crash hits STP pit crew member Armando Teman. Swede Savage fatal crash at Indy 500 (30 May 1973) ALL ANGLES & PICTURES. Contact your. He rejoined in second place, closely behind Al Unser and just ahead of Bobby Unser. 1973 Indianapolis 500 crash and subsequent death, Complete Non-Championship Formula One results, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Andretti Wins Both Heats of Questor Race", "Swede Savage 1973 Indy 500 Fatal Crash Original ABC Broadcast Footage", "Deadly May of 1973 still resonates at Indianapolis Motor Speedway", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swede_Savage&oldid=1133528939, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 07:12. After a partial season driving NASCAR stock cars in the South for the Ford factory-backed racing team Holman-Moody, Savage received a telephone call from Gurney inviting him back to Southern California to try his hand at sports car racing. Sadly, one of the most promising talents and most fascinating personalities in the sport of auto racing in a generation, died on July 2, 1973. Tragically, one of his. More than eleven cars were involved in the accident and the red flag halted the race on 1st lap.Rain returned again and the start was postponed until Tuesday morning. Auto Racing: Indianapolis 500: Aerial view of Swede Savage with medical staff after sustaining injury during crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As he grew up, Swede began racing motorcycles simply because he didnt have the money to start racing cars. Special Hot Stove Edition Angela Savage Pit Lane Radio 1/4 LIVE 12N EST JANUARY 3, 2014 BY JOHN G LEAVE A COMMENT (EDIT) Not long after Swede Savages death from an accident at the Indianapolis 500, in 1973, his wife gave birth to their second daughter, Angela Savage. But on lap 59, his car inexplicably veered sharply toward the infield wall as it exited the fourth turn. A young crew member for Savage's Patrick Racing teammate Graham McRae, Armando Teran, ran out across the pit lane in an effort to come to Savage's aid and was struck by a fire truck rushing up pit road at 60mph (100km/h) (opposite the normal direction of travel) to the crash; Teran was killed instantly. In January 1967, Savage made a point of showing up at a Ford Motor Company test session at Riverside International Raceway attended by, among others, racing legend Dan Gurney. Among those that were complaining about oil on the track were Jerry Grant, who mentioned so in an interview with Dave Diles of ABC Sports after Savage's crash. Access the best of Getty Images and iStock with our simple subscription plan. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. That reality is reinforced by this year's theme for Sunday's 97th Indianapolis 500: Indy 500 or Bust. Swede Savage (1946 - 1973) Race car driver, died from injuries sustained in a crash at the Indianapolis 500 Gp Do Brasil Nascar Crash Indianapolis Motor Speedway Old Race Cars Pro Sports Indy Cars Race Day Swede Savage's car explodes after a spectacular crash in Turn 4 in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. On the first day of qualifying, gusting winds slowed Savage from matching his best practice speeds, but he still shattered the track record with a four-lap qualifying average of 196.582 mph (316. . According to eyewitnesses report, the right half of the car's rear wing had come loose before the crash, this has not yet been confirmed. Angela has never been to Indy. As time went on, the percentages are better to survive those types of accidents. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. On Sunday May 6, three drivers left the grounds to race in the NASCAR Winston 500 at Talladega. He was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he would soldier on bravely for thirty-three days, fighting for his life. Indianapolis, IN 5/30/1973 Drivers and fans were convinced Savage could not have survived. Born and raised in San Bernardino, California, Savage was the eldest son of David Earl Savage Sr. and Joetta Taylor Savage. Only a cou. You never forget it, A.J. He won well over a hundred quarter midget races. Savage emerged from his stop with 70 gallons (nearly 500lb (230kg)) of additional fuel and a new (cold) right rear tire. Rick Mears, a four-time Indy 500 winner, warned the race could lose its appeal if the element of danger is lost. It had been widely reported that Savage's death was caused by lung and kidney complications,[1] but Steve Olvey, Savage's attending physician at Indy (and later CART's director of medical affairs), claimed in his book Rapid Response that the real cause of death was complications related to contaminated plasma. Winning the Brickyard's coveted Borg-Warner Trophy remains the aspiration of nearly every open-wheel driver. The years haven't been kind to a knee that was surgically repaired three times. Savage's car twitched back and forth, then slid across to the inside of the track at nearly top speed, hitting the angled inside wall nearly head-on. He never put the brakes on.. Possibly it happened due to a malfunctioning right rear joint, or by running on an incorrect driving line with cold tyres. It's you, the car and the racetrack.. FILE - This May 30, 1973, file photo, shows Swede Savage amid the burning wreckage of his race car after a crash during the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Ind. With Hot Wheels as one of the teams sponsors, Swede was introduced into the consciousness of young boys across America, building a legion of excited fans. The scattered remains spewed near the exit in Turn 4. Savage was the last driver to die in the race (1973) and no driver has been killed in May at IMS since pole-winner Scott Brayton in a fatal crash testing a backup car in 1996. It's what keeps us motivated. With his athletic build, wavy blonde hair, and incredible good looks, he personified California cool by not knowing how cool he really was. (AP Photo), Swede Savage car is in flames following his crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Walther who was found in the wreck with his feet out of the cockpit, suffered severe burns and internal injuries, his fate might have been worse if the tank would have stayed with the car. A few laps after this pitstop, on 58th lap, just as he was about to retake the lead from Al Unser in his Vel's Parnelli - Offy #4, who was in the process of coming into the pits for his second stop, Swede Savage's car suddenly veered off course on the left side at the exit of Turn 4. Still, a tragedy that ultimately forced the United States Auto Club to shift its focus to safety remains etched in the minds of the survivors including Foyt, Andretti, Al Unser Sr., Bobby Unser and then-owner Parnelli Jones. Swede Savage remains one of the sports most excruciating stories of unrealized potential; a superstar in the making who lost his life at a young age in one of auto racings deadliest eras. Swede Savage 1973 Indy 500 Fatal Crash Original ABC Broadcast Footage. (AP Photo), Track crew tries to extinguish the fire from the crash of Swede Savage's car during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Even the thought of it 40 years later still evokes a heart-wrenching response from Foyt, an owner who tries to shelter his emotions far more than he did as a driver. However, he died in the hospital 33 days after the accident. All Indy 500 Legends. It's the life of a race car driver, especially at the Indianapolis 500.. Ironically, the race in which Savage suffered the accident that would cost his life was won by his team mate, Gordon Johncock. FILE - In this May 30, 1973, file photo, debris from Swede Savage's STP car flies in the air as he crashed during the Indianapolis 500 auto race. A second theory is provided by numerous drivers complaining over their radios about oil on the track, as pole sitter Rutherford had been given the black flag for dropping fluid, most likely oil. Swede Savage Crash RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE Indy 500 1973 - YouTube Sign in to confirm your age 0:00 / 4:01 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. A young crew member for Savage's Patrick Racing teammate Graham McRae, Armando Teran, ran out across the pit lane in an effort to come to Savage's aid and was struck by a fire truck rushing up pit road at 60 mph (opposite the normal direction of travel) to the crash. 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