Car Set To Make History At Hoosier Hundred

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*Remarkable Car Set to Make History Thursday at Hoosier Hundred*



By Jay Hardin Track Enterprises Staff


(Indianapolis May 20, 2017)-Much is and has been written about racing
drivers and their exploits over the last century plus.  However,
journalists and historians alike sometimes overlook the other tangibles
that help winning drivers get into victory lane.  In horse racing it is the
mount that gets the lion’s share of the publicity and sometimes the jockey,
no matter how successful takes second stage.  In auto racing the driver
gets the biggest share of the attention while the mount that takes him to
victory lane sometimes takes a backseat.



While Kody Swanson is getting attention for his shot at tying Al Unser’s
remarkable record of winning four consecutive Hoosier Hundred races at the
Indiana State Fairgrounds, overlooked perhaps is the possibility that his
mount, a Maxim chassis also has a shot at history.



When Swanson joined forces with Bob Hampshire and Ralph DePalma in 2014 the
team prepared a black framed Maxim (headquartered in Springfield, Illinois)
chassis complete with snow white body panels and the familiar red number 63
for the Kingsburg, California driver.  Legendary Jack Hewitt, a three-time
winner of the Hoosier Hundred, piloted a similarly painted Stanton Chassis
during the mid-80’s for Hampshire winning two Silver Crown titles in the
process and nearly all of the events on the 1986 schedule.



The team clicked immediately with Swanson winning at Terre Haute and the
Indy Mile among their 5 victories in 2014, with three more wins on the clay
coming in 2015 and Swanson’s second consecutive Silver Crown title to
boot.  Last season the Maxim carried Kody to his third consecutive Hoosier
Hundred victory.  Together the pair have 9 Silver Crown victories on the
dirt.



Which car are they chasing one might ask?  None other than a 1969 Grant
King creation that carried two of the most iconic paint schemes in auto
racing.  This car made its debut with the newly formed (for 1969)
Vel’s-Parnelli Jones Racing Team at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in
August with Al Unser at the wheel.  Two weeks later the pair won their
first 100-mile dirt race at DuQuoin and followed that up with another
100-mile victory at Sacramento.



Getting a dark blue coat of paint over the winter with lightning bolt trim,
the now “Johnny Lightning�?? dirt car was unbeatable in 1970 winning all 5 of
the dirt races including the September Hoosier Hundred.  Carrying the
number 1 in 1971 the car was entered only twice on the dirt but won the
Hoosier Hundred again.



Sporting a roll cage and the red and white Viceroy colors for 1973 Al Unser
and the dirt car won Springfield and the Hoosier Hundred to capture the
1972 Silver Crown title.  Racing against a newer sister car piloted by
Mario Andretti, the car won its fourth consecutive Hoosier Hundred in
1973.  The car won at Syracuse in July of 1974 but was badly damaged in an
accident at Sedalia in August.  It returned for DuQuoin and nearly won a
fifth consecutive Hoosier Hundred in September finishing a close second to
Jackie Howerton.



The 1974 Hoosier Hundred was the car’s last race.  It was taken off the
track and kept in the same condition over the years and has been parked at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum as part of the Parnelli Jones
collection, pockmarks and all.  In 20 starts over six seasons the 1969
Grant King built car won 12 times.



Kody Swanson’s car has a chance to equal the four consecutive Hoosier
Hundred races that Al Unser’s 1969 Grant King car won.  Nearly 40 drivers
are entered for Thursday’s event, the largest anticipated car count for the
race since 2005 and you can get in on the action with a special discount
price.* USAC and Track Enterprises have teamed up to present a Superticket
for admission to three of its upcoming marquee events – the “Tony Hulman
Classic,�?? the “Hoosier Hundred�?? and the “Carb Night Classic�?? on May
24-25-26 – leading up to the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.


The 2017 Hoosier Hundred takes place May 25 at the Indiana State
Fairgrounds.* Practice is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with qualifications
after 6.* Tickets can be obtained by calling Track Enterprises at
217-764-3200.*