Jerry Grant facts for kids

Gerald Wayne "Jerry" Grant (born January 23, 1935 – died August 12, 2012) was an American race car driver. He was known for his exciting career in the USAC Championship Car series. Jerry Grant also faced some tough luck during his races, especially at the famous Indianapolis 500.

Who Was Jerry Grant?

Jerry Grant was born in Seattle, Washington. He started his racing journey in the early 1960s. He began by racing sports cars in Northern California.

Jerry's Racing Career

Jerry Grant raced professionally from 1965 to 1977. He competed in 54 major races during this time. This included the famous Indianapolis 500 race many times. He raced there in 1965-1968, 1970, and from 1972-1976. Jerry finished in the top ten positions 13 times. His best finish was third place in 1974 at Ontario.

The Unlucky Race at Indy

Jerry Grant is often remembered for a very unlucky race. This happened at the 1972 Indianapolis 500. He was leading the race and seemed sure to win. But then, his tire got a hole in it. This forced him to stop in the pit area with only 12 laps left.

When he pulled into the pit, he accidentally stopped at the wrong spot. His team quickly changed the tire. They also added fuel to his car. But they used fuel from his teammate's supply. Jerry got back on the track and finished second.

However, another team protested. They said Jerry had used fuel from another driver's tank. The race officials agreed. As a result, Jerry's last 12 laps were not counted. This dropped him from second place all the way down to twelfth.

Breaking Speed Records

Jerry Grant was the first USAC driver to go faster than 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). He achieved this amazing speed during a qualifying session. This happened at the Ontario Motor Speedway on September 3, 1972. He completed a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) lap in just 44.7 seconds.

Another Tough Race: Sebring 1966

Jerry Grant also had bad luck in another big race. This was the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1966. He was leading the race with his co-driver, Dan Gurney. But their car's engine broke down just two minutes before the end.

If they had left the car where it stopped, they would have still gotten second place. Instead, Dan Gurney tried to push the car across the finish line. This was against the rules. Because of this, they were disqualified from the race.

Life After Racing

After his racing career, Jerry Grant stayed involved in the racing world. He worked as a representative for companies like Champion Spark Plugs. He also worked for Prolong Super Lubricants.

Remembering Jerry Grant

Jerry Grant passed away on August 12, 2012. He was 77 years old. He died from liver failure and diabetes in Orange County, California.

A special memorial was held for Jerry. It took place at the Riverside International Raceway Museum. Many of his friends and fellow racers attended. His longtime friend and co-driver, Dan Gurney, also spoke at the event.

Jerry's Race Results

Indianapolis 500 Races

Le Mans Endurance Races

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1965	Shelby-American Inc.	Dan Gurney	AC Cobra Daytona Coupé	GT 5.0	204	DNF	DNF
1966	Ford Motor Company Shelby American	Dan Gurney	Ford GT40 Mk.II	P +5.0	257	DNF	DNF