The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation has announced a pair of inductees for this year’s class at its Auto Racing Hall of Fame. The first is motorcycle champion Paul Goldsmith, who is better known for his stock car exploits with both USAC and NASCAR, but who also made six starts in the Indy 500 between 1958 and 1963, recording a best finish of 3rd in 1960 with Norm Demler’s Epperly laydown Offy. The second is U.E. “Pat” Patrick, whose cars won the Indy 500 in 1973, 1982 and 1989, the first two wins scored by Gordon Johncock (Wildcat-Cosworth), the third by Emerson Fittipaldi (Penske-Chevrolet) (above, IMS Photo). Patrick’s teams also won Indycar National Championships with Johncock in 1976 and Fittipaldi in 1989.
Goldsmith and Patrick will be honored this May 26 at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet presented by Pennzoil and held in collaboration with the International Association of Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers. The two groups will also honor Rick Mears, a 1998 inductee into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame, for his four Indianapolis 500 wins and overall contributions to the sport. Further, the defending Indianapolis 500 winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, and reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will also be recognized.
