| Tom Sneva | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sneva in the 1980s | |||||||
| Born | Thomas Edsol Sneva June 1, 1948 Spokane, Washington, U.S. | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| USAC Championship Car (1977, 1978) Major victories Pocono 500 (1977) Indianapolis 500 (1983) | |||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 205 races run over 22 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1977, 1978) | ||||||
| First race | 1971 Marlboro 300 (Trenton) | ||||||
| Last race | 1992 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| First win | 1975 Michigan Grand Prix (Michigan) | ||||||
| Last win | 1984 Caesars Palace Grand Prix (Caesars Palace) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 8 races run over 7 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 53rd (1982) | ||||||
| First race | 1977 National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1987 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | ||||||
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Thomas Edsol Sneva[1] (born June 1, 1948) is a retired American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1983. He primarily raced in Indy cars, and was named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.
A former math teacher and junior high principal from Spokane, Washington, Sneva's win at Indianapolis came after three runner-up finishes and a spectacular crash in 1975. Nicknamed "The Gas Man,"[2] he was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position three times (1977, 1978, 1984). He was also the fastest qualifier on a fourth occasion in 1981, but because of qualifying rules did not start the race from the pole position that year.
Sneva won two consecutive USAC National Championships for Indy cars in 1977 and 1978.[3]
- ^ "Tom Sneva". The Indianapolis News. May 25, 1974. p. 23.
- ^ Herman, Steve (May 18, 1988). "Has Tom Sneva run out of gas?". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. p. D1.
- ^ "Tom Sneva". www.champcarstats.com.