Pit Pass: Auto 'icon' Shelby dies

Pit Pass: Auto 'icon' Shelby dies
May. 12, 2012 | Comments

Written by
Curt Cavin

Carroll Shelby, a giant in all things cars, died Thursday night in a Dallas hospital. He was 89.

Shelby is best known for building the famed Cobra sports car and putting muscle in the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Viper. He was twice the Indianapolis 500's honorary pace car driver, in 1987 and 1991.

Mario Andretti called him "a real icon" in the automotive industry.

Born in rural Leesburg, Texas, with a hereditary heart defect, Shelby received a heart transplant in 1990 and a kidney transplant six years later, at age 73. He was one of the nation's longest-living heart transplant recipients. The kidney transplant came from his son, Michael.

Shelby started as a chicken farmer but was an accomplished race car driver, team owner and car manufacturer before designing production cars.

Shelby won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Aston Martin with Ray Salvadori in 1959, driving with nitroglycerin pills under his tongue to combat heart issues. He went on to twice become Sports Illustrated's Driver of the Year.

Shelby led Ford's epic 1966 and '67 24 Hours of Le Mans titles with Bruce McLaren, A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney driving. He is believed to be the only person to win Le Mans as a driver, team owner and manufacturer.

The Cobra was the fastest production car ever made when it debuted in 1962. Soon it was winning races. In 2007, an 800-horsepower Cobra made in 1966 -- once Shelby's personal car -- sold for a U.S.-record $5.5 million.

Shelby, a one-time Army pilot, also was known for creating a children's foundation for those in need of heart and kidney care, running an African safari company and starting a chili contest.

Entry list updated
IMS officials released an updated Indy 500 entry list Friday. One entry lacked a driver, two lacked engines. (Entry list, C9)

The latter is the issue as the track opens for practice today. Jay Penske's Dragon Racing still has unresolved issues in the transition to Chevrolet from the Lotus program. He filed a $4.6 million suit against Lotus last week in Los Angeles.

Dragon and its two drivers, Sebastien Bourdais and rookie Katherine Legge, won't be on the track this weekend. They hope for a debut early next week.

Legge hasn't driven a lap at the Speedway and competed in only one oval-track race during her two Champ Car World Series seasons. She must complete IndyCar's three-phase rookie test to continue with the event. Race director Beaux Barfield said he will work with Dragon to get Legge and Bourdais, who needs to take a refresher test following a seven-year absence from the track, the time they need.

The entry list still shows Ed Carpenter Racing having two entries, but driver/owner Ed Carpenter said Friday the only way the second car comes into play is if it's needed by Dragon or the event. He does not expect that to be necessary.

Etc.
Former Indiana Supreme Court justice Theodore Boehm upheld IndyCar's decision to allow modifications to BorgWarner's single-unit turbochargers, which helps Honda. . . . IndyCar will increase the boost in all engines for Fast Friday and the two qualifying days next weekend. There should be an increase of 30-40 horsepower, good for about 4-5 mph more per car. . . . Jean Alesi completed the first and second phases of the rookie test Friday, making him eligible for today's open practice. His best lap was 208.975 mph. . . . Like Alesi, Wade Cunningham still has one phase of the rookie test to pass today. . . . Chase Austin had the only accident in Friday's Firestone Indy Lights practice. He was released and cleared after the Turn 1 impact, but the car took serious damage to the rear and left front corner.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Call Star reporter at (317) 444-6409 or email curt.cavin@indystar.com.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120512/SPORTS0107/205120338/Pit-Pass-Auto-icon-Shelby-dies