Eddie Sachs facts for kids

Edward Julius Sachs Jr, (May 28, 1927 – May 30, 1964) was a famous American race car driver. He was part of the United States Auto Club (USAC). People knew him as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing" because of his fun personality. Eddie Sachs once said, "If you can't win, be spectacular!"

Early Life of Eddie Sachs

Eddie Sachs was born on May 28, 1927, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Eddie Sachs' Racing Career

A restored "American Red Ball Special" car, similar to the one Eddie Sachs drove.

Eddie Sachs had a very successful racing career. He won eight races on the USAC Championship Trail. He also finished in the top five 25 times out of 65 races. In 1958, he won the USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship.

He raced in the famous Indianapolis 500 eight times, from 1957 to 1964. He started from the very front, called the "pole position," in 1960 and 1961. His best finish at the Indy 500 was second place in 1961. He was leading the race with only three laps left. But his right rear tire started to break apart. He decided to stop and change it. This meant he lost the lead to A. J. Foyt. Eddie Sachs never regretted his choice. He said, "I'd sooner finish second than be dead." This shows he cared more about safety than winning.

Tragedy at the Indianapolis 500

At the 1964 Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1964, a terrible accident happened. On the second lap, Eddie Sachs and another driver, Dave MacDonald, were in a fiery crash. MacDonald was a new driver at Indy. He was driving a car that was very hard to control. Other drivers had warned him about it.

MacDonald's car lost control and hit a wall, catching fire. His car then slid back onto the track. Eddie Sachs, trying to avoid it, hit MacDonald's burning car. This caused another explosion. Several other cars were also involved in the crash. The race was stopped for the first time in its history because of an accident.

Sadly, both Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs died from their injuries. This tragic event led to important safety changes in racing. For example, cars had to carry less fuel. They also had to make at least two pit stops during the race. Since 1965, all Indianapolis 500 races have used safer fuels like methanol or ethanol. These changes helped make racing much safer for drivers.

World Championship Races

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 to 1960. This meant that drivers who raced at Indy during those years also got points for the World Championship. Eddie Sachs raced in four World Championship races. He started from the pole position once, but he did not score any World Championship points.

Awards and Recognition

In 1999, Eddie Sachs was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Eddie Sachs' Family Life

Eddie Sachs married Nance McGarrity on June 3, 1959. They had a son named Edward Julius Sachs III, who was born on February 6, 1962. Nance Sachs passed away in 2005. She is buried next to Eddie in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Their son, Edward III, also became a race car driver. He raced on local dirt tracks. However, unlike his famous father, he never raced in the Indianapolis 500. Today, he is a businessman. He also owns a racing team in the USAC Silver Crown Series.

See also

• List of Indianapolis 500 fatal accidents

In Spanish: Eddie Sachs para niños