The Indy 500 drivers — Where are they now?
by Richard Jenkins
Sections
I have endeavoured to try and provide as up-to-date and accurate information as possible for everyone featured on this site, and I am always indebted to the many contributors who help with the information on this site and sadly, space doesn't allow for me to thank everyone here. However, I would like to dedicate the ongoing work, progress and achievements on this site to those contributors who are sadly no longer with us but helped aide this project so much: Len Calinoff, Phil Harms, Gene Heeter, Earl Ma, Don Radbruch, Roscoe H Rann and Barry Lake.
Updates and corrections are always welcomed — please either join the debate here or feel free to contact me on with any information you might have.
This part of the site is also dedicated to the memory of Tony Marsh, as it was his post-Grand Prix life that served as the initial inspiration for "Where Are They Now" back in 1998 For more about what this part of the site is trying to achieve, please read my full introduction.
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| Name | Born | Died | Nat | Indy 500s | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnny O'Connell | 24 Jul 1962 Poughkeepsie, New York |
USA | 1 (1996-1997) |
Better known as an endurance racer and was a long-time racer in ALMS. In 2003, with co-driver, Ron Fellows, Johnny won the GTS class drivers championship in the series and in 2004, won his class at Sebring. In 2009, he took a Le Mans class win. In 2011, he switched to the SCCA World Challenge GT championship. and is still in the series. Now living in Georgia. (Last updated 23 Feb 2013) | |
| Pat O'Connor | 09 Oct 1928 North Vernon, Indiana |
30 May 1958 Indianapolis, Indiana |
USA | 5 (1953-1958) |
Killed in the 1958 Indy 500. A regular Champ Car competitor, he had a number of wins to his credit. (Last updated 5 Jan 2011) |
| Eddie O'Donnell | 22 Jun 1887 Whitewater, Wisconsin |
26 Nov 1920 Beverly Hills, California |
USA | 3 (1915-1920) |
Died in hospital of injuries sustained in a crash the day before in an AAA race. An excellent road racer, he was Eddie Rickenbacher's racing mechanic who helped save his driver's life after an incident during a race in 1914. (Last updated 13 Sep 2012) |
| Floyd O'Neal | 04 May 1900 Fayetteville, Tennessee |
20 Oct 1970 Fayetteville, Tennessee |
USA | 0 (1935) |
Dirt track specialist, a privateer who also raced in oval races occasionally. (Last updated 5 Jan 2011) |
| Cowboy O'Rourke | 25 Feb 1914 Minonk, Illinois |
28 Oct 1997 Chicago, Illinois |
USA | 0 (1948) |
An excellent midget driver, his real name was Cletus. (Last updated 5 Jan 2011) |
| Danny Oakes | 18 Jul 1911 Santa Barbara, California |
13 Jan 2007 Huntington Beach, California |
USA | 0 (1953-1954) |
Worked as a chief crewman in the 1960's. He was remarkably sprightly and was a regular attendee of reunions, historic meetings and to any race at the Irwindale Speedway, until a recent stroke. Sadly, he was in ill-health since and died in 2007. Also raced in boat racing for 10 years after he left motor sport. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Barney Oldfield | 29 Jan 1878 Wauseon, Ohio |
04 Oct 1946 Beverly Hills, California |
USA | 2 (1914-1916) |
One of the best known racing drivers in history, Barney was a film star, exhibitionist and match racer, who was prominent in the motorcar's appeal across America. He also marketed his own brand of tyres, which were on the 1920 winning car. (Last updated 7 Oct 2011) |
| Lee Oldfield | 06 Jun 1889 Newton, Kansas |
01 Nov 1978 Cathedral City, California |
USA | 0 (1912-1937) |
No relation to Barney. An AAA contest board member, he entered his own radical rear-engined race car in 1937, intending that Joel Thorne should ride it, but Oldfield decided to have a go as well, some 25 years after his 1st attempt. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Bobby Olivero | 24 Dec 1946 Compton, California |
USA | 1 (1976-1977) |
Still alive, but since his wife's death a few years back, has become a virtual recluse. Lives in California. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Danny Ongais | 21 May 1942 Kahului, Maui Island, Hawaii |
USA | 11 (1968-1998) |
Raced for many years at the top in America until a crash in 1997 forced him to seemingly retire. However, in 2002 he returned to racing, in the Grand Am series, despite being in his 60's. Also has business interests away from the sport. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Jan Opperman | 09 Feb 1939 Long Beach, California |
04 Sep 1997 Fountain, Florida |
USA | 2 (1974-1976) |
Free spirit of a man who was critically injured and left brain-damaged after a series of crashes. Died at his mother's home after being a virtual invalid for 16 years after a crash at Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Homer Ormsby | 09 May 1890 Fort Wayne, Indiana |
18 Jun 1926 Fort Wayne, Indiana |
USA | 0 (1922) |
No relation to Len, but brother Ralph also raced. Died of diphtheria. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Len Ormsby | 21 Sep 1890 New York City, New York |
13 Mar 1983 San Antonio, Texas |
USA | 1 (1912) |
Mostly in speed and road events and later worked for Chevrolet. |
| Vern Ornduff | 29 Dec 1910 McKinney, Texas |
Dec-84 Hesperus, Colorado |
USA | 0 (1934-1937) |
Real name Orenduff, he built midget cars in New Jersey. Also invented a tyre groove apparatus. However his hate of peanuts eventually led to a NASCAR rumour of a curse, similiar to the green cars at Indianapolis. (Last updated 9 Oct 2011) |
| Tom Orr | 27 Aug 1877 Chicago, Illinois |
11 Dec 1954 Denver, Colorado |
USA | 1 (1915) |
Worked as a engineer for Maxwell. Before joining them, he worked in the circus, for Barnum's, where he did the loop-the-loop! A car salesman, he was a Captain in WW1, and later moved to Colorado after a spell in Michigan. |
| Don Ostrander | 26 Jul 1892 Portland, Oregon |
15 Aug 1952 San Francisco, California |
USA | 1 (1927) |
Long-distance commercial truck driver (and later on, a railroad delivery driver) who put the finance together to attempt a crack at Indy and by relieving Jim Hill, got his chance at the top, but it didn't lead to a full-time career. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
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