mark donohue accident

The trip to the airport was like the Mille Miglia. Worse yet, when Donohue wasnt racing, he was working 18- to 20-hour days at the teams small race shop, located in a garage in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb, and later, a more modern facility in nearby Reading. Born in Haddon Township, New Jersey, Donohue grew up in Summit,[7] graduated from the Pingry School in Hillside, and entered Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. That long association resulted in the ultimate triumph for an American driver in 1972, when he won the Indianapolis 500. The Unfair Advantage, at Indy - Mark Donohue's 1970 Lola T-153 Portrait of American racing driver Mark Donohue as he poses with his car after winning the Indianapolis 500 race, Speedway, Indiana, May 1972. . Donohue dominated the 1967 race, driving a Lola T70 MkIII Chevrolet for Penske. They sent the legal weight car through the technical inspection with the number 15 and again with the number 16 on it. Browse 481 mark donohue stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. George Follmer, Donohue's old Trans-Am teammate, took over testing the 917-10 for Donohue, who said: It just doesn't feel right. Mark told me, Sometimes you just have to get it done., That was my take, too, says Michael Argetsinger, who has just written a riveting biography called Mark Donohue: Technical Excellence at Speed (David Bull Publishing, $39.95). We went to the Speedway in 1971 and we had this card that translated the speed on the stopwatch to your average speed. 4445. His car was almost inexplicably fast, so much so that, according to Donohues book The Unfair Advantage, race winner Al Unser sought him out after the race and said: Look, weve been competitors for a long time, and you have your way of doing things and I have mine, but when you come here and run six miles an hour faster than everyone else I gotta shake your hand.. His first marriage ended in divorce and some friends blamed racing. Mark Donohue at the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix, Today, we have specialists, but Mark was such a versatile guy, he drove everything for us.. In 1968, Donohue and Penske returned to defend their USRRC championship with the McLaren M6A Chevrolet. 25 Years Ago Remembering Mark Donohue | Catchfence He was just that way. Mark Donohue was an enigma. There was little question then that Donohue, who would testdrive the new car and help supervise its development, would come out of retirement. Why Las Vegas is key to F1's growth plans, Mercedes: New W14 sidepod design wont copy F1 rivals, Mercedes: New W14 sidepod design wont copy F1 rivals But this was a safe driver, a man who knew his limits, his car's limits and didn't go over the edge, as they say in racing. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/21/archives/mark-donohue-returns-to-die.html. I didnt expect that at all, David Donohue, 51, said. Losing a driver is something you cant replace. I dont remember him changing a bit.. Donohue chronicled his entire racing career in the book, The Unfair Advantage (co-written with noted motorsports and engineering journalist Paul Van Valkenburgh). The guy that is most like Mark that Ive ever met is David, said Don Cox. Donahue qualified fourth and passed Bobby Allison for the lead on Lap 10. The setup he designed for his car didnt have as much speed as teammate Gary Bettenhausens setup. In 1969, Penske brought his team -- and the Penske way -- to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. - Remembering Mark Donohue - FormulaSpy Late in 1973, when Penske decided to build a Formula One car for the 1975 season, Donohue knew what would happen. The out-of-control car left the track at high speed, tore some 60 meters of the catch-fence on the left side of the track and crashed against the guard-rail, vaulting over it. At first, the former Indianapolis 500 winner was thought to have just a mild concussion. The Griffith company closed its doors in November, 1966. Cresser v CDTS, 1 (2015 NY Slip Op 03227) Video of the Day: Donohue breaks closed-course record U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. I don't think I could have handled that.. The 38yearold Donohue underwent a threehour operation at a hospital here Sunday to remove a blood clot from his brain. Allison, the runner-up finisher, will forever be in awe of what he witnessed from Donohue, with whom hed eventually work while driving for Penske. Of 55 Trans-Ams he entered, he won 29. The search for Mark Donohue concludes in the upscale community of Summit, New Jersey just outside of New York City. He won three times in IndyCar competition and won the 1973 NASCAR Cup Series race at Riverside Raceway in Riverside, California, driving an AMC Matador. The original Penske Racing team included Penske, Donohue, chief mechanic and crew chief Karl Kainhofer. Twice before he had had serious accidents and he walked like a man who had had his knees shattered and put back together again. Racing Heroes - Mark Donohue | Hemmings Mark felt he had to devote all his time to the team. Not that Donohues career or his one win in NASCAR needed validation, but IROC has long crystallized what fans thought of the talent in drivers who never outwardly succeeded in the Cup Series. There was no real color out of it. Donohue's rocketed 7 through four wire catchfences and several roadside billboards. One track marshal was killed by the crash and another seriousy injured. Two weeks ago, however, he showed he had not lost his skill at getting a race car around a track when he set a world speed record of 221.160 miles an hour for a closed course. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. On August 9, 1975, Donohue drove the 91730 to a world closed-course speed record at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The key factors behind F1s Premier League-style managerial revolving door, The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets, The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets That is where Mark Donohue often slept when he worked his way to near exhaustion at the race shop. An experienced race driver named Walt Hansgen (who worked for Inskip Motors in New York & Rhode Island) recognized Donohue's ability[2] and befriended him, eventually providing an MGB (through Inskip Motors in Providence, RI and prepped by their race shop Competition Engineering)[8] for Donohue to race at the 1964 Bridgehampton Le Mans proved frustrating for Donohue. Then, in 1977 a chicane, named Hella-Licht, was installed at that point of the track, bringing the length of the circuit to 5.941 kilometers.Mark Neary Donohue, Jr. was survived by his second wife Eden, the couple had only recently married; and his two sons from his previous marriage, Michael and David. He needed something he could do well., Alas, Penske Racings first F1 car, the PC1, was so mediocre that Donohue persuaded Penske to replace it with a customers March 751, a curious crack in the myth that was Mark. The team was third at Daytona and second at Sebring. But his thinking man's approach to racing, while successful on the track, was difficult off. At Donohue's bedside were his wife of eight months, Eden; his father, Mark Sr., a retired patent lawyer, and Roger Penske, for whom he drove since 1966 and a close personal friend. A Montgomery County man who crashed his car and fled from the wreck, leaving three of his friends dead or dying, on Thursday was sentenced . His true passion was racing. But Donohue knew that time was running short and his skills and reflexes weren't getting any better. He tinkered his way all through Pingry School, Brown University and a job as a mechanical engineer with the Pulverizing Machinery Corporation in Summit. But in eight months of retirement, the quiet, wellspoken kid from the other side of the tracks learned that the hobby that had become an obsession still haunted him. who retired from one of the greatest careers in auto racing history at age 36, unretired at 37 and died Tuesday night at 38 of brain injuries suffered in a crash before the Austrian Grand Prix. The driver of the Honda was killed. [2], Donohue was invited back to Le Mans by Ford in 1967. And I know that Roger loved him. One night I was in Philadelphia and was following Mark to the old shop in Newtown Square. But his edge was rarely lost. After considering the potential consequences, the race stewards allowed Donohue's victory to stand, but the rules for the 1968 season incorporated a change whereby all cars would be weighed during the technical inspection before the race. He obsessively lived at the shop, working as many as 20 hours a day. Why "grounded" Hamilton remains confident in Mercedes' F1 recovery. Acid-dipping car bodies was prevalent with competing Trans-Am teams also. In 69 Mark repeated his Trans-Am championship, winning six of 12. He wanted to know how we were doing. In the final race of the season, Javelins finished in first, second and third place, with George Follmer becoming the only other Javelin driver to win besides Donohue. Penske, along with Donohue's wife, Eden, and father, Mark Sr., were at Donohue's bedside. He was helped by Emerson Fittipaldi, Bob Evans and Hans-Joachim Stuck, who arrived to the scene of the accident and parked their cars. Both Donohue and Penske changed teams to American Motors Corporation in 1970 and won their third championship in 1971. Event the win at the 1972 Indianapolis 500 created more sleepless nights, because the win did not come on his own terms. His average speed around the 2.66-mile (4.28 km) high-banked oval was 221.120 mph (355.858 km/h). A visit to the gravesite on a gray, cold, foggy March day revelaved little toy race cars on the gravestone, along with a plastic checkered flag -- a testament the life of Mark Donohue. Since his remarriage eight months ago, those same friends found Donohue relaxed and cheerful, something he had not been while retired. The Penske PC1 was developed but the car proved problematic and midway through the season they decided to switch to a March 751 chassis. Racing is a very weird circus that way. 4 yellow car with sports car driver and race car builder Bruce McLaren for Shelby American Racing. I can hardly wait to get back to work with our car, he said. After coming out of retirement with his former boss, Penske, Donohue returned to Formula One, entering into the final two races of the 1974 Formula One season. We may earn money from the links on this page. Conversely, Mark had one of the greatest senses of humor of anybody I ever met. Roger Penske and Mark Donohue following Donohue's IROC win in 1974. Its been 43 years since Donohues death, but he remains Penske Racings cornerstone. Its made me realize its an honor to be his son. With his marriage to Sue falling apart, Donohues personal life was in turmoil. Donohue. In his career, Donohue started 311 races and won 119 of them, a winning average of 38 percent. The Iconic 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Raced by Mark Donohue Is Up for A fire at the Sunoco refinery near the airport dominated the front pages of The Philadelphia Inquirer, but the sports section belonged to Mark Donohue, a racecar driver who had blown a tire during a practice run before the Austrian Grand Prix and died from complications related to the accident two days later, August 19, 1975. He thinks the same way. But there was one phase of racing that he had never really taken part in, what he called his personal missing link. This was in the Formula One cars, perhaps this dangerous sport's most dangerous, which run on the grand prix circuit. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. Donohue won. Two weeks ago, he took the 1973 CanAm car out of mothballs and set a world speed record for a closed course of 221.160 miles an. The two drivers disagreed on many aspects of racing and car setup, but as a team were able to muster a fourth-place finish in the endurance classic.[13]. But he was still, a great driver. Nine weeks before the Le Mans race, while testing a GT40 Mk II in the rain, Donohue's friend and former teammate Walt Hansgen lost control and crashed his car into an escape road barrier, suffering fatal injuries. I get all of these tiny little stories from everybody where my dad grabbed this guy as a kid and sat him in the car -- and that motivated him enough to go to engineering school. [9] That year, Donohue also won two divisional championships: in SCCA B Class in a GT350 and in SCCA Formula C in a Lotus 20B. In 1969, Penske and Donohue raced in their first Indianapolis 500,[14] with Donohue finishing seventh, winning the rookie of the year award. An investigation determined tire failure caused Donohue's fatal crash, and the family won a $12 million settlement. After the Arab oil embargo in 1973, it led the SCCA, IMSA and other race series to impose fuel limitations on motor sport racing as a whole, which hampered the performance of the 917/30, making it uncompetitive in the Can-Am series. In winning the first IROC championship, Donohue beat the best racing drivers of that era from all of the major championships, such as Denny Hulme, Richard Petty, A. J. Foyt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Peter Revson, Bobby Unser, and Gordon Johncock. In search of Team Penske racing legend Mark Donohue - Autoweek Midway through the 1975 F1 season, Penske abandoned the troublesome PC1 and started using the March 751. On January 21, 1973, the NASCAR Cup Series opened its season with a road course race at Riverside International Raceway in California. In the four-race series, Donohue won the first and third of three races at Riverside and the final race of the year at Daytona. I got into racing because it seemed like an easy thing to do. For the remainder of the 1970 season, Donohue ran a different Lola, with Chevy power, finishing second (again behind Al Unser) at Indianapolis Raceway Park in July. Mark Donohue was killed during a practice session for the 1975 Austrian Grand Prix. What I realize now is that I wouldnt have succeeded in my other businesses if Mark hadnt completely taken over the race team., In the Penske garage at Indy in 71, someonecertainly not Donohue or Penskeerected a sign that said: Those of you who think you know it all are particularly annoying to those of us who do., .css-dhtls0{display:block;font-family:GlikoS,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:400;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-dhtls0:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-dhtls0{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-dhtls0{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-dhtls0{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.2;}}Elana Scherr: On the Count of Three (Wheels), Elana Scherr: Dodge Challenger Challenge Accepted. A bad week or the dark horse from F1 testing? Begrudgingly, Donohue used Bettenhausens setup for the race. He was young Roger Penskes equal. He was really the first person that I knew in racing that not only had the driving skills, but also the technical knowledge. Bernie Ecclestone hopes BBC agrees new Formula 1 UK TV deal, Stroll was "protecting" injured wrist during Bahrain GP practice, Stroll was "protecting" injured wrist during Bahrain GP practice Donohue raced at Indianapolis each year following,[15] finishing second in 1970 and 25th in 1971. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. [12] In his first race for Penske, at Watkins Glen in June 1966, Donohue qualified well but crashed the car at the top of a hill, destroying it. The book told how Donohue learned to exploit the antilock braking system and the powerful turbocharged engine of several prototype Porsches, as well as how he learned from various mishaps, including a near-fatal crash. Donohue was about to have his race victory taken away for cheating, but Roger Penske stepped in. The 2023 Genesis G90 Shows Sedans Still Matter, Horner: FIA 'Got a New Couch' From His Team's Fine, Why Ford and GM Truck Production Has Stopped, Alonso, Aston Martin Put Red Bull on Notice, Autoweek Racing on TV: February 27-March 5, Racer helped build the foundation for Roger Penske's racing success, Newman/Haas Racing Is Selling 42 Indy Cars Oct. 29, Three-time Indy 500 Starter Rasmussen Dies at 85, How Dixon's Simple Mistake Cost Him Indy 500 Win, Move Over ABBA, Sweden Has a New Racing Superstar, Jimmie Johnson's Indy 500 Experience Ends in Crash, Ayla Agren Is Montoya's Eyes in the Sky for 500, 11 Closest Indianapolis 500 Finishes in History, Larry Foyt Out to Get A.J. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Three years later, Mark was gone, dead from a cerebral hemorrhage suffered in a crash during practice for the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix at sterreichring. Directing other drivers, making suggestions, helping mechanicseven sweeping up around the garagewere not enough. It would have been really fun to watch the two of them because they are so much alike. Donohue won in 1972, driving for Penske. They continued to use the "lightweight" car in 1968, at the Sebring 12-hour race. Penske warned that any disqualification would have the potential of motivating Chevrolet to pull all support for the Trans-Am series. What controls the frontline in the latest F1 design tech battles, Why Autosport is changing how it ranks F1 drivers from 2023 onwards, Why Autosport is changing how it ranks F1 drivers from 2023 onwards Im sure David really missed out on a lot. This remains the last time a ringer captured a win in a Cup Series road course race, but the victory took on a far greater meaning in hindsight. Mark Donohue drove the Porsche 917-30 Can-Am after making various aerodynamic and suspension modifications. When she brought us in to see the finish, I dont think she knew he had won. [2] Donohue announced that he would retire from racing after the 1973 Can-Am season. Instead, Donohue retired. Mark obviously brought an air of professionalism. To those who knew him best, he had a tremendous sense of humor and enjoyed pulling pranks. Five weeks after winning the 500, Donohue was testing his Can-Am Porsche 917-10 at Road Atlanta when the car got airborne at 160 mph. There were victories in stockcar racing against Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and the other Southern drivers; in the TransAm series, where three times he captured the season title competing against the best sedans the Detroit factories could produce; in the 24 hours of Daytona, against the best international sports cars endurance pilots, and in the initital Pocono 500 in 1971 against A. J. Foyt, Bobby and Al Unser, Mario Andretti and the other stars from the United States Auto Club championship circuit. For Donohue, there was little time to grieve, as his own Le Mans debut was looming. But where other youngsters were souping up cars to impress girls, I was only interested in the mechanics, Donohue said. He was one of the best American roadracers in history, but his biggest triumph was on the oval at Indianapolis, where in 1972 he won the 500. Mark Robert Bonhag, 56, of the Highland, Md., area was driving north on New Hampshire Avenue in the . So in a televised interview after the incident, race driver Mark Donohue told the story of his horrific practice crash at Road Atlanta with carefully chosen words. Advertisement. Mark Donohue - Biography - IMDb The rookies looking to make their mark on F1 in 2023, What controls the frontline in the latest F1 design tech battles, What controls the frontline in the latest F1 design tech battles He said so himself many times. He turned out to be a real partner of mine. Every dime I had I put into cars, he said. We had the tragic crash in practice and he seemed like he was all right, but he ended up losing his life. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. GRAZ, Austria, Aug. 19 (AP)Mark Donohue, who ended an eightmonth retirement as an auto driver last year because he couldn't keep away from racing, died tonight of injuries suffered Sunday at the Austrian Grand Prix. The latter passed away at 09h20 on Tuesday 19 August 1975, while being treated at a Knittelfeld hospital.Donohue was hit in the head by one of the catch-fence supporting posts and was knocked unconscious. A track marshal was killed by debris from the accident, but Donohue did not appear to be injured significantly. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. The thing that impressed me most about Mark is how serious he was about racing, vehicle preparation and all of the things that we know that contribute to success, Czarnecki said. As one of the best test drivers and developers in the business, he would get the car ready, then Penske would have to turn it over to a younger hotshot. But the intended hotshot, Peter Revson, was killed in a grandprix accident in March, 1974. As a person, he was always fun to be around, but I always admired that work ethic he displayed when it was time to race., Donohue was known as Captain Nice. To some, however, Donohue seemed distant and was later nicknamed Dark Monohue., Donohue was a good guy, said long-time racing journalist Robin Miller, who was a young reporter for The Indianapolis Star when Donohue raced at Indy. Donohue is probably best known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp "Can-Am Killer" Porsche 917-30 and as the winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1972. They changed the grille and taillight to the 1968 model, and then painted both cars identically. As ADAM COOPER recalls, though, it ended in tragedy. It was hard to believe because Donohue and team owner Roger Penske were then the cleverest guys in racing. Mark Donohue (1937-1975), pictured here with wife Eden and nicknamed "Captain Nice", was an American race driver who is probably best known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp Can-Am Penske Porsche 917-30 and as the 1972 Indianapolis 500 winner in a Team Penske-entered McLaren.Sadly, he perished in an accident during practice for the 1975 Austrian Formula One Grand Prix. His retirement was short-lived, however, as he was lured back to full-time competitive driving by Penske when he formed a Formula One team, Penske Cars Ltd, to compete in the final two events of the 1974 Formula One World Championship, and to continue competing in 1975 with the new Penske PC1. When Penske decided late to enter Formula One full time, Donohue had a difficult decision to make. The highlight of his entire career was winning the . A friend once described riding in Donohue's Porsche 911 as a 'Wall of Death thing most of the time. It was an iconic car, iconic colors for the day and it really brings back memories. 66 Penske Racing entry went on to win at Indianapolis in 1972 to give Roger Penske the first of his 17 Indy 500 wins. How famous was Mark . Sometimes, I would leave early and take my own car to the airport because I didnt want to put up with him. Mercedes: New W14 sidepod design wont copy F1 rivals, FIA grants Hamilton medical exemption to wear nose studs, FIA grants Hamilton medical exemption to wear nose studs There, he was Godthat was his way of distinguishing himself. His divine touch extended to his street cars; a friend once described riding in Donohues Porsche 911 as a Wall of Death thing most of the time., The relentless pursuit of perfection eventually took its toll. 66 McLaren/Offenhauser that Mark Donohue drove to win the 1972 Indy 500. With Donohues methodical approach and his commitment to work for Penske fulltime that counted for a lot Penske said. Continuing the practice of reducing weight allowed them to place weights of certain sizes strategically in specific locations within the car, thus helping to balance the car while being driven on the limit. He did everything he could to lose me. ), entered April 29, 2014 in Albany County, which granted a motion by defendants James Finck and Tougher Industries Enterprises, LLC for summary judgment dismissing the complaint against them. Her . The Ferrari lived up to none of Marks calculations, and he was devastated, Bedard recalls. The real Mark came out.. "They posted me to the infield, taking care of people who got too much sun or had too much to drink," Olvey said. Donohue took three victories and the series championship, besting the likes of Petty, Allison, David Pearson, A.J. The lightweight car was featured on an episode of Dream Car Garage on Speed TV in 2005. That is something I would have never had if I didnt go to races. Donohue. With the Corvette money, he also bought a trailer to hold the car and a station wagon to tow the trailer.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. However, the Penske Formula One car proved unsound and Donohue's best finish this year was a fifth place. Stroll was "protecting" injured wrist during Bahrain GP practice, Alonso "not thinking" about Bahrain pole despite topping Friday times, Alonso "not thinking" about Bahrain pole despite topping Friday times Their performance on the track also quickly turned heads. As Roger Penske said, Mark wasnt flashy, but he put the numbers on the board.. Prior to racing in Formula One, Donohue was a racer in the Ford GT40, Trans-Am, Indy car, NASCAR, Can-Am and IROC racing series. He was, I feel, the finest road race driver this country has ever produced, Allison told Hemmings Motor News years later. With Roger Penske, you are always going to have good equipment. Mark Donohue. DON HUNTER, BILL OURSLER, THE MANUFACTURERS, Elana Scherr: On the Count of Three (Wheels), Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. The track chosen for the speed record attempt was the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. He could drive a car in the 24-hour race at Daytona, a Trans-Am Car, an Indy car and a NASCAR car. After an initial run of four laps, Donohue entered the pits for a routine check-up and a few adjustments. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. When police found him about three hours later, his . Donohue was the driver of Penskes first Brickyard effort in 1969. I always said driving wasn't really a dangerous situation. In February of '65 Donohue was named as comptroller at Griffith Motors but was soon spirited away from Griffith by Roger Penske early in 1966. A headache resulted, however, and worsened. The book documents his career from his first races to his final full season of racing the year before he was killed. I could see what was coming, he said. Make sure you track out all the way for Turn 7. His condition quickly worsened and he passed away two days later, victim of a blood clot in his brain.Following the fatal accident the sterreichring first turn was tightened in 1976 and the track lenght passed from 5.911 to 5.906 kilometers. Czarnecki saw the brilliance, humor and darkness -- all part of Donohues character. The guy never gained that flashy status. Both Olvey and Trammell got their start in trackside medical response in similar fashion: Answering a bulletin board call for med students to help out at the Indianapolis 500 - Olvey in about 1969, Trammell in 1972. Amongst his friends, he liked practical jokes and liked catching people out on things. Donohue was fiercely motivated and was one of the first drivers to bring a sense of mechanical engineering to his craft. Prof. Fritz Heppner, head of the neurosurgical department at Graz Hospital, said irreparable damage had been done to that part of the brain that controls involuntary body functions. The 1967 Z-28 won its last race by lapping the entire field of cars, causing suspicion throughout the paddock. It comes up quickly and, at more than 90 degrees, is the slowest corner on this course. This was not merely a celebrity autobiography, but a detailed, step-by-step record of the engineering approach he took to getting the absolutely highest performance from every car he drove, always looking for that elusive "unfair advantage".