The greatest race

was once asked, given the availability of a suitable time machine, which motor race would I wish to attend? I’d struggle to top being in Indiana on Memorial Day sixty years ago. The 1960 Indianapolis 500 was an event of lasts. It was the last time the entire field was powered by a front-engined 4.1-litre four-banger known the world over as ‘the Offy’, and it was the last Indy 500 in which there were no rear- or mid-engined cars. It was also one hell of a race, with the result uncertain until late into proceedings. During the 1950s, post-war America had made many people rich and auto racing was one of many pursuits in which the recently wealthy could display their financial success. Larger-than-life characters saw winning the Indianapolis 500 as an opportunity to perpetuate the Midas touch they either possessed or believed was theirs. They came from a range of backgrounds, including the oil industry, trucking, soft drink investment, and paper products. Some found success quickly and only stayed a short time but most were in for the long haul — racers to the core, despite employing professionals to do the steering. Most of the