Mr. Grant was once penalized for using another racer’s gas.
Indianapolis 500 driver Jerry Grant dies at 77
Mr. Grant was once penalized for using another racer’s gas.
Associated Press /
August 24, 2012
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ORANGE, Calif. — Jerry Grant, a race driver who made history by breaking 200 miles per hour in an Indianapolis 500-style car, has died.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway issued a statement saying that Mr. Grant died Aug. 12 at age 77.
Family friend Gary Bryson told the Los Angeles Times that Mr. Grant died of liver failure and diabetes at a hospital in Orange, Calif.
Mr. Grant was in 10 Indy 500s during the 1960s and ‘70s. His best finish was seventh place.
His second-place finish behind Mark Donohue in 1972 was thrown out because he used gas from another driver’s supply after pulling into Bobby Unser’s pit. Mr. Grant’s final 12 laps were not counted, and he fell to 12th place.
Three months later, Mr. Grant set a record when his Indy-style car topped 200 miles per hour at Ontario Motor Speedway.
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