Recently, the Motorsports Hall of Fame located in Novi, Michigan, announced its 2001 inductees. This year’s list included noted road racers Ken Miles and Emerson Fittipaldi, as well as NASCAR star Fred Lorenzen and Indianapolis legend Andy Granatelli.
Road racing legend Ken Miles came to prominence in the postwar Southern California racing scene competing in several MG TDs and specials, including his famed “Flying Shingle,” before moving on to Porsches. Miles next joined Carroll Shelby’s racing operation, and in 1965 brought the GT 40 its first victory codriving with Lloyd Ruby in the 2000 kms event at Daytona. Miles later racked up victories in the 12-Hours of Sebring and the 24-Hours of Daytona before being tragically killed while testing the Ford J-car at Riverside Raceway on August 17, 1966.
Emerson Fittipaldi joins the Hall of Fame as not only a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and 1989 CART Champion but also two-time Formula One World Driving Champion for Lotus in 1972 and McLaren in 1974.
NASCAR racer Fred Lorenzen was inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his winning achievements in an all-too-brief career. During the mid-’60s, Lorenzen held the NASCAR crown as the leader in superspeedway and major race wins. Despite only racing in the larger events, Lorenzen managed to win eight of 16 races entered in 1964 and laid claim to 26 wins, 33 poles and 8,000 laps led from just 158 starts.
Also included in this year’s class, in the At-Large position, is famed Indy team owner and STP promoter Andy Granatelli. Granatelli’s efforts at the brickyard included campaigning the fearsome Novis in the early ’60s, the introduction of the turbine-powered racecar, and victories in the 1969 and 1973 500s.
The entire 2001 class of inductees will be honored at the 13th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony on June 6, 2001, in Detroit.
