Len Sutton

Len Sutton (August 9, 1925 – December 3, 2006)[1] was an American racecar driver. He is best known for finishing second at the 1962 Indianapolis 500.[2]

Len Sutton

Born	(1925-08-09)August 9, 1925
Died	December 3, 2006(2006-12-03) (aged 81)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1956, 1958–1960
Teams	Lesovsky, Kurtis Kraft, Watson, Kuzma
Entries	4 (3 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1956 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1960 Indianapolis 500

Early racing career

A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Sutton became involved in auto racing after serving in the Navy during World War II. He spun out in the first corner on his first lap at a dirt track.[2] Sutton won Oregon Racing Association championships in 1949, 1950, 1954, and 1955. He flipped his car to avoid cattle during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana road race (now Baja 1000). He was in a body cast for 4 months.[2] He also won midget car racing championships in Portland before he headed east to become a national touring driver.[2]

National circuits

He raced in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1955 to 1965, with 76 career starts, 43 top ten finishes, and 3 victories.

Sutton completed his rookie test for the Indianapolis 500 in 1956. He flipped his car while attempting 140 miles per hour for the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He slide upside down with his helmet scraping the asphalt for nearly 1000 feet (300 m).[2] A report in the following day's Indianapolis News said "Sutton was at first believed dead by observers on the scene."[2] His injuries included broken shoulder, serious abrasions on his back, and a fractured skull.[2] He returned to Indianapolis the following year and made his first start in the event. That year he finished 32nd after being eliminated in a multi-car accident during the first lap. He competed in the 500 six more times and had his best result in 1962. After starting the race 4th, he led 9 laps and finished second behind his teammate Rodger Ward. The next year, he set an unofficial Indianapolis Motor Speedway record when he went over 155 miles per hour (249 km/h) during a tire test.

Known for his versatility as a driver, Sutton also competed in roadsters, midgets, sprint cars, and stock cars. He finished 31st in the 1963 Daytona 500. Sutton decided to retire from driving during a 1965 race at Langhorne Speedway. Fellow competitor Mel Kenyon was severely burned in the race.[2]

Broadcaster after retirement and death

After retiring from driving, Sutton went into broadcasting and was a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for many years.

Sutton died at his home in Portland at age 81 after a long battle with cancer.

Awards

He was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2005. He was a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Sutton was named to the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.[3]

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Pos	Points
1955	INDY	MIL	LAN	SPR	MIL	DUQ	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC 17	PHX 17								-	0
1956	INDY DNQ	MIL	LAN	DAR	ATL	SPR	MIL	DUQ	SYR	ISF	SAC 18	PHX							-	0
1957	INDY	LAN	MIL	DET	ATL	SPR DNQ	MIL 19	DUQ 7	SYR 17	ISF 4	TRE 4	SAC DNQ	PHX 17						16th	300
1958	TRE 1	INDY 32	MIL 11	LAN 9	ATL 4	SPR 9	MIL 9	DUQ 6	SYR DNQ	ISF DNQ	TRE 8	SAC DNQ	PHX 9						11th	670
1959	DAY 20	TRE 16	INDY 32	MIL 10	LAN 14	SPR 1	MIL 19	DUQ 4	SYR 8	ISF 5	TRE 22	SAC 16	PHX 11						9th	520
1960	TRE 18	INDY 30	MIL 3	LAN	SPR 8	MIL 1	DUQ DNQ	SYR DNQ	ISF 7	TRE 5	SAC 10	PHX DNQ							8th	780
1961	TRE DNQ	INDY 19	MIL 4	LAN	MIL 2	SPR 10	DUQ 9	SYR 9	ISF 4	TRE 11	SAC 4	PHX 8							7th	860
1962	TRE 7	INDY 2	MIL 15	LAN	TRE	SPR	MIL 20	LAN	SYR DNP	ISF	TRE 2	SAC 10	PHX 9						7th	1,250
1963	TRE 7	INDY DNQ	MIL 6	LAN	TRE 21	SPR 12	MIL 12	DUQ 13	ISF DNQ	TRE	SAC DNQ	PHX							20th	170
1964	PHX 22	TRE	INDY 15	MIL 2	LAN	TRE 10	SPR 5	MIL DNQ	DUQ 11	ISF 8	TRE 15	SAC	PHX DNQ						17th	338
1965	PHX	TRE	INDY 12	MIL 21	LAN 7	PPR	TRE DNQ	IRP	ATL	LAN	MIL	ISF	MIL	DSF	INF	TRE	SAC	PHX	35th	110

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1958 68 27 142.653 27 32 0 0 Crash T3 1959 8 22 142.107 26 32 34 0 Crash T1 1960 9 5 145.443 7 30 47 0 Piston 1961 8 8 145.897 10 19 110 0 Clutch 1962 7 4 149.328 4 2 200 9 Running 1964 66 8 153.813 9 15 140 0 Magneto 1965 16 12 156.121 13 12 177 0 Flagged Totals 708 9

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

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. Len Sutton participated in 3 World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.

References

1. Legendary racer Len Sutton, 81, dies from cancer complications
2. Biography at the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, Retrieved November 21, 2007
3. "14 Welcomed As New Midget Hall Class". National Speed Sport News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.

1. Auto racing loses a gentleman
2. Popular Indianapolis 500 Driver Sutton Dies At Age 81