Len Sutton (August 9, 1925 – December 3, 2006)Legendary racer Len Sutton, 81, dies from cancer complications was an American racecar driver. He is best known for finishing second at the 1962 Indianapolis 500.Biography at the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, Retrieved November 21, 2007

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. 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 four months. He also won midget car racing championships in Portland before he headed east to become a national touring driver.

National circuits Sutton 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). A report in the following day's Indianapolis News said "Sutton was at first believed dead by observers on the scene." His injuries included broken shoulder, serious abrasions on his back, and a fractured skull. 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 fourth, he led nine laps and finished second behind his teammate Rodger Ward. The next year, he set an unofficial Indianapolis Motor Speedway record when he went over 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.

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

Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 131415161718 Pos Points 1955 INDY MIL LAN SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC17 PHX17-0 1956 INDYDNQ MIL LAN DAR ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF SAC18 PHX-0 1957 INDY LAN MIL DET ATL SPRDNQ MIL19 DUQ7 SYR17 ISF4 TRE4 SACDNQ PHX17 16th 300 1958 TRE1 INDY32 MIL11 LAN9 ATL4 SPR9 MIL9 DUQ6 SYRDNQ ISFDNQ TRE8 SACDNQ PHX9 11th 670 1959 DAY20 TRE16 INDY32 MIL10 LAN14 SPR1 MIL19 DUQ4 SYR8 ISF5 TRE22 SAC16 PHX11 9th 520 1960 TRE18 INDY30 MIL3 LAN SPR8 MIL1 DUQDNQ SYRDNQ ISF7 TRE5 SAC10 PHXDNQ 8th 780 1961 TREDNQ INDY19 MIL4 LAN MIL2 SPR10 DUQ9 SYR9 ISF4 TRE11 SAC4 PHX8 7th 860 1962 TRE7 INDY2 MIL15 LAN TRE SPR MIL20 LAN SYRDNP ISF TRE2 SAC10 PHX9 7th 1,250 1963 TRE INDYDNQ MIL6 LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 20th 170 1964 PHX22 TRE INDY MIL LAN TRE10 SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE15 SAC PHXDNQ 17th 338 1965 PHX TRE INDY12 MIL LAN PPR TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL ISF MIL DSF INF TRE SAC PHX 35th 110

Indianapolis 500 results

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired19586827142.653273200Crash T31959822142.1072632340Crash T1196095145.443730470Piston196188145.89710191100Clutch196274149.328422009Running1964668153.8139151400Magneto19651612156.12113121770FlaggedTotals7089

Starts7Poles0Front Row0Wins0Top 51Top 101Retired5

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. Sutton participated in three World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.

References

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