Jim Rathmann (racing driver)

Jim Rathmann
BornRoyal Richard Rathmann
(1928-07-16)July 16, 1928
Alhambra, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 23, 2011(2011-11-23) (aged 83)
Melbourne, Florida, U.S.
Championship titles
Major victories
Race of Two Worlds (1958)
Indianapolis 500 (1960)
Champ Car career
38 races run over 14 years
Best finish2nd (1957)
First race1949 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race1963 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win1957 Milwaukee 200 (Milwaukee)
Last win1960 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
3 7 1
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 3 years
Best finish89th (1950)
First race1949 Race 4 (Langhorne)
Last race1951 Motor City 250 (Detroit)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1950, 19521960
TeamsWetteroth, Kurtis Kraft, Moore, Epperly, Watson
Entries10
Championships0
Wins1
Podiums4
Career points29
Pole positions0
Fastest laps2
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
First win1960 Indianapolis 500
Last win1960 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Royal Richard "Jim" Rathmann (July 16, 1928 – November 23, 2011), was an American racing driver who competed primarily in Championship Cars. Rathmann is best known for winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1960, emerging victorious after a race-long duel with Rodger Ward - as recently as 2023, a panel of fans and historians voted Rathmann's victory as the greatest '500' of all time. In Europe he is well-known for winning the 1958 Race of Two Worlds.

Rathmann and his older brother swapped names while teenagers. As a 16-year-old going by the name of Dick Rathmann, he wanted to start racing. To enter races, he borrowed his older brother's I.D. and assumed the identity of "Jim Rathmann."[1] The name change stuck for life in public circles.

  1. ^ "The Talk of Gasoline Alley - May 11, 2011