He came off (turn) four and never tried to correct (the car). Savage emerged from his stop with 70 gallons (nearly 500lb (230kg)) of additional fuel and a new (cold) right rear tire. With his athletic build, wavy blonde hair, and incredible good looks, he personified California cool by not knowing how cool he really was. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. [1][2][3] . Many believed that Swede would soon be joining the exclusive group of Indy 500 winners as he took the lead of the race. He finished fifth at Riverside in his one appearance in the car. 2023 Getty Images. Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection while still in the hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. 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. But reducing the size of the fuel tank (now 18 gallons) and switching to less combustible fuels are among the primary reasons open-wheel racing is safer, Andretti and Foyt said. Only a couple of hundred yards past the start-line, the blue McLaren - Offy of rookie Salt Walther skidded to the right and hit Jerry Grant's Eagle - Offy, crashing against the wall. I felt I was willing to take the calculated risk to win the Indianapolis 500. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. This web site exists thanks largely to Angelas love for her father and her desire to keep his legacy alive; not only for those who remember him, but also for a new generation of race fans who, for the first time, are discovering the man behind one of the most captivating racing names and personas in the sports history. Indianapolis, IN 5/30/1973 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X17734 TK1 R17 F19 ) PURCHASE A LICENSE His widow Sheryl, who is six months pregnant, is seated at far right. Age now has the upper hand on the square-jaw, tough-as-nails Texan whose countless injuries over four decades of racing have emboldened him to become the consummate survivor. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's car is in flames after a crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Angela Rene Savage was born to Swedes young and beautiful widow, Sheryl, just three months after his death. On lap 58 Savage, just behind Al Unser, who was about to make a pit stop of his own, and pushing hard in anticipation of a coming rainstorm, lost control as he exited turn four. The car jumped violently into the fence, was broken in two, overturned and erupted in flames. [4] This would be his sole professional auto racing victory. 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 came to rest adjacent to the outer retaining wall, fully conscious and completely exposed while he lay in a pool of flaming methanol fuel. In 1968 and 1969, he also raced in NASCAR events. 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. You never forget it, A.J. 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. However, it was harder to accept when his son Michael Andretti and grandson Marco Andretti began racing at the Brickyard. Winning the Brickyard's coveted Borg-Warner Trophy remains the aspiration of nearly every open-wheel driver. Driving an Eagle-Ford IndyCar, Savage won the Bobby Ball Memorial, a 150-mile race at Phoenix International Raceway on November 21, 1970. [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. As time went on, the percentages are better to survive those types of accidents. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib. 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. Swede Savage's car explodes after a spectacular crash in Turn 4 in the 1973 Indianapolis 500. Teran was killed almost instantly.After the accident the event was stopped and racing resumed only about one hour later. Rick Mears, a four-time Indy 500 winner, warned the race could lose its appeal if the element of danger is lost. Also in attendance was a Ford public relations executive named Monte Roberts, who watched Savage calmly wheelie a motorcycle for the better part of a mile and, struck by Savage's "racy" name and obvious talent, encouraged Ford officials to take Savage under their wing. [1][2][3], The true cause of his death remains a point of dispute. But today, Swedes legacy lives on, perpetuated in recent years by the public emergence of the daughter he never knew. Then again, he won the race that no one could ever forget.. I think there has to be a little drama. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. On May 12, 1973, Swede broke the track record in Indianapolis 500 qualifying in front of a Pole Day crowd estimated at 250,000 people. 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. The enhanced safety measures have enabled drivers to walk away from other devastating crashes the past two decades. Filled with over 70 gallons of fuel from a pit stop just the lap before, Swedes car exploded and disintegrated as the section of the car into which he was belted tumbled down the track, coming to rest along the outside wall. It was Swede's choice. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. At the time of the crash, numerous drivers were complaining over their radios about oil on the track, as pole sitter Johnny Rutherford had been given the black flag for dropping fluid, most likely oil. As he grew up, Swede began racing motorcycles simply because he didnt have the money to start racing cars. If you're going to be a race driver, you have to bite your tongue and go on with it. It's about the racing at the Brickyard, too. Among pallbearers are Dan Gurney, second from left, and Jim Wright, dark glasses. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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). 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. No commercial uses without permission. Collect, curate and comment on your files. I really think Swede was unconscious way before he hit the wall. 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. All our drivers now have a 99 percent chance of retiring on their own terms.. (AP Photo), Swede Savage's STP car explodes in a fiery crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. 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. 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. of additional fuel and a new (cold) right rear tire. 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. Rain delayed, interrupted and shortened the race which. We won't have a race. 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. Browse and buy images now. Much to the dismay of his football coach, Swede promptly quit the football team, cranked the throttle on his racing career, and never looked back. Only a cou. 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.While safety crews and fire fighters were rushing to the scene of Swede Savage's crash, a firetruck tried to shortcut its way and drove up the pitlane against the normal flow of race traffic at about 60 mi/h, striking in his back the unaware Armando Teran, a crewman for Graham McRae's car, causing him fatal injuries. A few laps after this pit stop, 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. 7/6/1973 779743884872. 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. Miraculously, Swede survived the violent crash, but was critically injured. The early part of my career I figured my chances of survival would be rather slim after losing so many of my friends including Swede. Tragically, one of his. 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. Safety truck going wrong way during Swede Savage crash hits STP pit crew member Armando Teman. 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. 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 at an acute angle, exploding on fire and disintegrating. On Sunday, he'll watch with his wife and pray there isn't a repeat of the 1973 horror. With AAR's racing program cut back due to budget troubles, Savage resumed semi-pro motorcycle racing in the Southern California area. Swede Savage Trans Am style #autoracing #auto #racing #trans #am. Possibly it happened due to a malfunctioning right rear joint, or by running on an incorrect driving line with cold tyres. 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. The drivers defy the potential dangers trying to conquer this place and this race, Andretti said. All survived, but nearly a dozen people suffered burns and lacerations caused by debris that was launched into the grandstand. 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. 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. Later in the day, as the winds abated, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Mark Donohue each bettered Savage's time. [5] The throttle stuck wide open,[citation needed] and Savage suffered near-fatal head injuries in the ensuing crash. 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. Swede Savage 1973 Indy 500 Fatal Crash Original ABC Broadcast Footage. Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection whilst still in hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. 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. Walther's 75-gallon fuel tank, which was nearly full of methanol, shattered as his car slammed back onto the racetrack. Swede Savage, circa 1973. See photos from throughout Swede Savage's career. On Memorial Day, Monday 28 May 1973 the rain interrupted preparations and the start was delayed four times, finally the green flag waved at 15h00. The big ones like that you can't accept. Indianapolis 550 Savage Crash . The explosion and disintegration of Savage's car still is difficult to watch on video and even more painful to talk about for drivers who need no video to remind them of what happened that day. He ultimately started 4th in the race mixed in among racing legends Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue and Johnny Rutherford; drivers who would go on to accumulate a total of eight Indy 500 victories between them. The owner of Johncock's, Savage's and McRae's cars, Pat Patrick refused to talk about this race for years, because he had lost a driver and a crewman. Swede Savage fatal crash at Indy 500 (30 May 1973) ALL ANGLES & PICTURES. Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. 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. He remains, to this day, the last driver to have suffered fatal injuries in the Indianapolis 500. [1] [2] [3] Contents 1 Early life 2 Racing career 2.1 1973 Indianapolis 500 crash and subsequent death 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. Savage, still strapped in his seat, was thrown back across the circuit. 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. It's still on my mind.. One of his motorcycle riding buddies, the internationally famous race car driver, Dan Gurney, became quite impressed with Swedes riding and racing skills. The 1973 edition of the Indianapolis 500 was one of the lowest points in American motorsports history. It was a May to forget. 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. He had been the fastest driver for much of practice. Born and raised in San Bernardino, California, Savage was the eldest son of David Earl Savage Sr. and Joetta Taylor Savage. 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. (AP Photo/File), Special Instructions: 5314. 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. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. (AP Photo), Swede Savage is taken to an ambulance on a stretcher after he crashed his car during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Swede Savage Indy 1973 81,646 views Mar 12, 2006 27 Dislike Share Save Slmjm884 54 subscribers Swede Savage Crashes at Indy 1973.unfortunately he dies 33 days later. Teran was killed instantly. (Set Number: X17734 TK1 R17 F19 ). Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. David Earl "Swede" Savage Jr. (August 26, 1946 - July 2, 1973) was an American race car driver. In a split second during that Indy 500 in 1973, with heavy winds sweeping across the monstrous 2.5-mile oval track and gray scattered clouds overhead, the roars of 300,000 fans were silenced when Savage's car slammed into the inside wall coming out of the fourth turn, broke into pieces and exploded into a fireball. Ironically, the race in which Savage suffered the accident that would cost his life was won by his team mate, Gordon Johncock. Auto Racing: Indianapolis 500: Aerial view of Swede Savage with medical staff after sustaining injury during crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (AP Photo). SWEDE SAVAGE 1973 ~ died in the hospital 33 days after the accident. His skill behind the wheel was obvious from the beginning. Walther, whose once-promising career was derailed that rainy day, died in December at age 65. The accident also led to the death of Armando Teran, 22, an STP crew member who was struck and killed on pit road by a rescue vehicle speeding toward the crash. Ralph N. Paulk is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Swede Savage (1946-1973) - Find a Grave Memorial. 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. I'm sure it was the same way for those drivers in 1973, but you have to pick up your boots and move on.. But the pain of an inescapable memory is still there in his voice and on his face. Swede Savage Horrifying Fatal Crash: Rare Footage Alternate Angels AlvinKarpis007 1.71K subscribers Subscribe 148 86K views 10 years ago This rare footage shows Swede Savages fatal crash from. He competed in the Indianapolis 500 twice; in his debut in 1972, he finished 32nd after dropping out on lap six with mechanical problems.[6]. But the complete Swede Savage story is so much more. 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 196.582mph (316.368km/h). Swede Savage, driver of another Patrick Racing, STP-sponsored car, and Armando Teran, mechanic on a third Patrick/STP car, also died. 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. . Prior approval is required for ALL uses of images depicting SPORTS ILLUSTRATED or GOLF magazine covers, and for ANY use in RETAIL PRODUCTS. As a young boy, Swedes dream was always to compete in and win the Indianapolis 500. In 1970, Savage and Gurney drove identical factory-sponsored Plymouth Barracudas in the Trans-Am Series. Gurney, who owned his own auto racing team and race car construction business in Santa Ana, California, All American Racers, quickly took Swede under his wing and provided him the environment, equipment, and nurturing to develop into a top flight race car driver. He was as unassuming as he was good looking. This content is intended for editorial use only. 5/30/1973 7307220348 . Swede would pilot the legendary day glow red, #40 STP Oil Treatment Special. Swede Savage Rare Disturbing Alternate View Indy 500 1973 18+ Motorsport Events 30 subscribers Subscribe 14 Share 3.3K views 1 year ago RARE ALTERNATIVE ANGLE of Savage's crash and aftermath. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. 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