Granatelli, Indy 500-winning car owner, dies at 90

[Zorro]

Source: AP

Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died. He was 90.

Granatelli's son, Vince, said his father died Sunday of congestive heart failure at a Santa Barbara hospital.

Granatelli is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.

''Everything he did was bigger than life,'' Vince Granatelli said. ''The thing that gave him the most gratification in his life was what he did at the Indianapolis 500.''

Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/granatelli-indy-500-winning-car-223202277--spt.html

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Another racing icon finishes the race.

[House of Roberts]

1. He also sponsored a Nascar racer named Richard Petty.

Just sayin’.

[zonkers]

3. "Happy Trails, Mister 500" I loved his autobiography...

"They call me Mister 500"

[Zorro]

6. And he also sponsored the Parnelli Jones turbine-engined 1967 Indy entry

That powerplant was so dominant during the race (only to fail a few laps from the finish because of a transmission bearing failure) that the powers that be immediately restricted turbine air intakes to eliminate that technology from competitive racing.

They wanted to hear piston whines instead of turbine whooshes at the races.

[House of Roberts]

8. The article disappointingly fails to mention his association with Petty.

Even with the restrictions, Joe Leonard had the Indy 500 won the next year also, when the fuel pump failed with nine laps to go.

[Mopar151]

2. His autobiography "They Call Me Mr. 500", is a must read

Growing up penniless in Chicago during the depression, fixing cars with his brothers, hot rods, dirt racing, promoting early roadster and stock car racing, Indianapolis - with humility and breathless laughter. You could get 10 movies out of this book - wait 'til you find out the origin of the "JATO car" urban legend!

[zonkers]

4. Hey Mopar... you beat me to the post by 2 min.

[Oldtimeralso]

5. RIP Andy

As a former Chicago area racer I remember the Soldier Field races and the 500 having attended in '67,'68 and 69 and saw Andy in his heartbreak and his greatest. Wishing Andy all green and checkers for eternity.

[ripcord]

7. Sad to see all the great people of my youth dying off.

[RoccoR5955]

9. A childhood hero

Back in the days when the only racing on TV was highlights of the Indy 500 on the Wide World of Sports, AFTER the race!

There were plenty of magazines though.

RIP Mr. 500.
I hope you are speeding past others in the turbine car. A car that would have revolutionized things, had they let it.

[DainBramaged]

10. Rest in Peace sir

[MyNameGoesHere]

11. Driving one of my favorite cars at Bonneville

and setting lots of records at the time. He was at Paxton at the time, makers of the famous supercharges of the same name.

[frylock]

12. The Racer's Edge..

rest in peace.