Jerry Hoyt

Gerald F. Hoyt (January 29, 1929 – July 11, 1955) was American racing driver from Chicago, mainly competing in the National Championship. He died in 1955 after crashing in a Sprint car race at Oklahoma City.

Jerry Hoyt
Born(1929-01-29)January 29, 1929
Chicago, Illinois
DiedJuly 11, 1955(1955-07-11) (aged 26)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality American
Active years1950–1951, 1953–1955
TeamsKurtis Kraft, Stevens, Ewing
Entries5 (4 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions1
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1955 Indianapolis 500

Indy 500

In the 1955 Indianapolis 500 Hoyt surprised many, including himself, by winning the pole (first starting position) in qualifications. His average speed for the run of 140.045 miles per hour was at the time the second fastest ever at the speedway.[1] However an oil leak would force him to retire from the race after 40 laps. As the 500 was part of the FIA World Championship at the time, Hoyt was credited for being the youngest pole sitter in the history of the series to that point. In his four races at the speedway, he would never complete more than 130 laps in the 200 lap race.

Death

In July 1955, two months after winning the pole at Indianapolis, Hoyt was entered into a sprint car race in Oklahoma City. On the first lap, his car made contact with a fence, causing it to overturn. The cars of the time provided little protected for the driver's head, and Hoyt died the next morning of brain injuries. He had been married just two weeks earlier.[2]

He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[3]

Indianapolis 500 results
  • Although Hoyt started the 1955 race from the pole position, his qualifying speed ranked tenth behind fastest qualifier Jack McGrath. This is the lowest speed rank for a pole sitter in the Indianapolis modern era.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1950 Ludson Morris Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 GBR MON 500
21		 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0
1951 Pat Clancy Ewing Offenhauser L4 SUI 500
DNQ		 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0
1953 John Zink Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 ARG 500
23*		 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0
1954 Hoosier Racing Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 ARG 500
8 †		 BEL FRA GBR GER NC 0
1955 Jim Robbins Stevens Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
31		 BEL NED GBR ITA NC 0

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. Jerry Hoyt participated in 4 World Championship races, starting on the pole once but scoring no World Championship points.

References
  1. Speedway Gamble: Hoyt risked wind, won pole position United Press, May 25, 1955. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  2. Jerry Hoyt dies after crash in Oklahoma City Associated Press, July 11, 1955. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  3. "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
Records
Preceded by
José Froilán González
28 years, 282 days
(1951 British GP)		 Youngest Grand Prix polesitter
26 years, 121 days
(1955 Indianapolis 500)		 Succeeded by
Eugenio Castellotti
24 years, 238 days
(1955 Belgian GP)
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