One of the greatest chief mechanics in American National Championship racing history, George Bignotti, has died at the age of 97. Cars prepared by Bignotti won 85 Indycar races—second-most all-time—including a record seven Indy 500s, two each for A.J. Foyt and Al Unser, and single wins for Graham Hill, Gordon Johncock and Tom Sneva. He also collected eight Indycar National Championships, four with Foyt, two with Joe Leonard (where he was co-chief with Johnny Capels), and one each with Unser and Johncock.
Born in San Francisco during World War I, Bignotti abandoned his trade as a ship builder to follow his two older brothers into racing, crafting a reputation for flawless preparation of both engines and chassis while working on midgets and sprint cars. He graduated to Indycars in the ’50s and hooked up with Bob Bowes to field Foyt for the 1960 season, guiding the talented Texan’s rising star to the first of his seven National Championships in 1960.
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