Savage was the last driver to die in the race (1973) and no driver has been killed in May at IMS since pole-winner Scott Brayton in a fatal crash testing a backup car in 1996. Access the best of Getty Images and iStock with our simple subscription plan. (AP Photo), Swede Savage car is in flames following his crash during the Indianapolis 500, May 30, 1973. Even though Savage suffered extensive and complex fractures on his legs, his return to the tracks was considered sure, and Wally Dallenbach was recruited by George Bignotti for Team Patrick-STP as a temporary replacement during his absence. Also in attendance was a Ford public relations executive named Monte Roberts, who watched Savage calmly wheelie a motorcycle for the better part of a mile and, struck by Savage's "racy" name and obvious talent, encouraged Ford officials to take Savage under their wing. 65 Swede Savage Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Editorial Video Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 65 Swede Savage Premium High Res Photos Browse 65 swede savage stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Thats the short story. Bill Vukovich, Jr. was second, the only other car on the lead lap when the race was called, Roger McCluskey who set the fastest lap of the race, finished 3rd, two laps down. [12] Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. Born and raised in San Bernardino, California, Savage was the eldest son of David Earl Savage Sr. and Joetta Taylor Savage. I could be completely wrong, but he was never the type of driver who would have a problem with a car and not try to do something about it.. The right half of his rear wing had come loose, causing his car to twitch back and forth, then slid across to the inside of the track at nearly top speed, hitting the angled inside wall nearly head-on. Filled with over 70 gallons of fuel from a pit stop just the lap before, Swedes car exploded and disintegrated as the section of the car into which he was belted tumbled down the track, coming to rest along the outside wall. Were it not for the lessons taught by tragedy, the race would be better forgotten. FILE - This May 30, 1973, file photo, shows Swede Savage amid the burning wreckage of his race car after a crash during the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Ind. Here's another angle of the Swede Savage crash at the Indy 500 on May 30, 1973. Even the thought of it 40 years later still evokes a heart-wrenching response from Foyt, an owner who tries to shelter his emotions far more than he did as a driver. [1][2][3], The true cause of his death remains a point of dispute. Indianapolis, IN 5/30/1973 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X17734 TK1 R17 F19 ) PURCHASE A LICENSE While still being trapped into the wreckage, rescuers saw him moving, a fact that astonished Jim McKay and Chris Economaki, covering the race for ABC Sports broadcasts. The 1973 edition of the Indianapolis 500 was one of the lowest points in American motorsports history. A young crew member for Savage's Patrick Racing teammate Graham McRae, Armando Teran, ran out across the pit lane in an effort to come to Savage's aid and was struck by a fire truck rushing up pit road at 60mph (100km/h) (opposite the normal direction of travel) to the crash; Teran was killed instantly. Usage Notes: United States; Canada; . Later in the day, as the winds abated, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Mark Donohue each bettered Savage's time. It's you, the car and the racetrack.. Teran was killed instantly. He was just 26 years old when he died. Gurney, who owned his own auto racing team and race car construction business in Santa Ana, California, All American Racers, quickly took Swede under his wing and provided him the environment, equipment, and nurturing to develop into a top flight race car driver. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. In 1970, Savage and Gurney drove identical factory-sponsored Plymouth Barracudas in the Trans-Am Series. However, due to Savage's reputation in the racing world as a highly skilled driver who did not take unnecessary chances, Unser's comments have been attributed to his resentment of Savage's rapid rise in the racing world as opposed to the "hard knocks" experiences of Unser's career. Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. Walther's 75-gallon fuel tank, which was nearly full of methanol, shattered as his car slammed back onto the racetrack. He came to rest adjacent to the outer retaining wall, fully conscious and completely exposed while he lay in a pool of flaming methanol fuel. Savage died more than a month after the race. 5/30/1973 7307220348 . On May 5, Swede Savage upped the speed chart to 197.802 mph (318.331 km/h), inching closer to the elusive 200 mph (320 km/h) mark. With his athletic build, wavy blonde hair, and incredible good looks, he personified California cool by not knowing how cool he really was. He had been the fastest driver for much of practice. He oozed charm and charisma because he was unaware how charming and charismatic he really was. Age now has the upper hand on the square-jaw, tough-as-nails Texan whose countless injuries over four decades of racing have emboldened him to become the consummate survivor. He ultimately started 4th in the race mixed in among racing legends Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue and Johnny Rutherford; drivers who would go on to accumulate a total of eight Indy 500 victories between them. [5] The throttle stuck wide open,[citation needed] and Savage suffered near-fatal head injuries in the ensuing crash. Among those complaining about oil on the track was Jerry Grant, in an interview with Dave Diles of ABC Sports while the wreckage from Savage's crash was cleaned off the track. According to eyewitness reports, the right half of the car's rear wing had come loose before the crash, this has not yet been confirmed. Savage, still strapped in his seat in a large piece of the car, was thrown back across the circuit. Swede Savage Horrifying Fatal Crash: Rare Footage Alternate Angels AlvinKarpis007 1.71K subscribers Subscribe 148 86K views 10 years ago This rare footage shows Swede Savages fatal crash from. I had to accept that or do something else with my life. Swede Savage remains one of the sports most excruciating stories of unrealized potential; a superstar in the making who lost his life at a young age in one of auto racings deadliest eras. Sadly, though, Savage succumbed to a kidney infection whilst still in hospital thirty-three days later, on Monday, 02 July 1973. INDIANAPOLIS The images of Swede Savage's fiery wreck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway still burn brightly in the memories of those who witnessed it 40 years ago this Memorial Day weekend. In his autobiography, Bobby Unser wrote that when Savage exited the pits, he became alarmed at how hard Savage was pushing, and dropped back slightly in anticipation of an incident. However, he died in the hospital 33 days after the accident. The force of the impact, with the car carrying a full load of fuel, caused the car to explode in a 60-foot-high plume of flame. On the second lap of the race itself, 25-year-old David Salt Walther was injured critically as he suffered severe burns over most of his body when his car catapulted into the outside wall and fence a gory scene similar to the 2011 accident that killed two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon in the IndyCar Series finale at Las Vegas Speedway. It had been widely reported that Savage's death was caused by lung and kidney complications,[1] but Steve Olvey, Savage's attending physician at Indy (and later CART's director of medical affairs), claimed in his book Rapid Response that the real cause of death was complications related to contaminated plasma. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Savage was married with a six-year-old daughter; his widow Sheryl was expecting their second child at the time of his death. The exact cause of Savage's sudden turn across the race track and into the infield wall has not been settled. A few laps after this pitstop, on 58th lap, just as he was about to retake the lead from Al Unser in his Vel's Parnelli - Offy #4, who was in the process of coming into the pits for his second stop, Swede Savage's car suddenly veered off course on the left side at the exit of Turn 4. Swede Savage (1946-1973) - Find a Grave Memorial. He died at age 26 from complications while recovering from injuries suffered in a crash during the 1973 Indianapolis 500, nearly five weeks earlier.[1][2][3]. You have to be on the offensive but not stupid about it.. I would tell people for years that Johncock won the race that no one wanted to remember, IMS historian Donald Davidson recalled. Auto Racing: Indianapolis 500: Aerial view of Swede Savage with medical staff after sustaining injury during crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 2023 Getty Images. Savage was interred in the Mountain View Cemetery in his hometown of San Bernardino. Olvey claimed that Savage contracted hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing his liver to fail. Among pallbearers are Dan Gurney, second from left, and Jim Wright, dark glasses. Foyt, a four-time Indy 500 winner, said softly. Then again, he won the race that no one could ever forget.. This content is intended for editorial use only. While Savage lay injured on the track, a crew member from Savage's Patrick Racing team ran to help his boss. Debris were thrown into the grandstand and the number of injured spectators ranged from 11 to 13. He rejoined in second place, closely behind Al Unser and just ahead of Bobby Unser. Swede raced car #42 and Dan raced an identical car #48. Savage emerged from his stop with 70 gallons (nearly 500 lb.) 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. 7/6/1973 779743884872. He was just 26 years old when he died. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib. As the car spiraled along the front stretch, spectators were doused with fuel. Drivers Art Pollard and Savage and crew member Armando Teran were. [citation needed] However, according to Savage's father, the percentage of oxygen they were giving Swede just prior to his death, due to the damage to his lungs from the fumes inhaled from the accident, was such that there was no way he could have survived, even if he had not contracted hepatitis B. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you.