Tony Bettenhausen Jr.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tony Bettenhausen, Jr.
Nationality)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 1 0
Atlanta)
Last race1982 Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0

Tony Lee Bettenhausen Jr.

Champ Car team owner and driver who died in a 2000 plane crash. He was the son of former 14-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Tony Bettenhausen and the brother of 21-time Indy 500 racer Gary Bettenhausen. Another brother, Merle Bettenhausen
, was critically injured in his only Indy Car start.

Career

As a driver, he started 11

Penske chassis and then entering and qualifying two new Penskes for the 1993 race. One, number 76, was driven by himself, the other by former Formula One driver Stefan Johansson. A number of successful drivers passed through Bettenhausen's Alumax car, including Johansson for the first few years as well as four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Hélio Castroneves and former IndyCar rookie of the year Patrick Carpentier
.

Bettenhausen also competed in 33

Richmond International Raceway
.

A difficult 1999 plagued by a lack of sponsorship and a series of pay-drivers saw the team take on a new look in 2000 with the hiring of Michel Jourdain Jr. and his Herdez sponsorship.

The family holds the dubious distinction of the most combined starts in the famous race without a victory.

Death

Bettenhausen died in a light plane crash en route from

2012 season. On 11 November, 2015 the team was listed as up for auction officially listing the team as defunct.[3]

He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[4]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

Winston Cup Series
results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NWCC Pts Ref
1973 Buster Davis 84 Dodge RSD DAY RCH
CAR
BRI
ATL
40
NWS DAR
MAR
54th - [5]
Gordon Van Liew 38 Chevy
TAL

30
NSV
CLT
DOV
TWS
23
RSD
MCH

32
DAY
BRI
ATL
TAL
NSV
DAR
RCH
DOV
NWS
MAR
CLT CAR
16
1974 9 RSD
17
DAY
33
RCH

12
CAR

19
BRI
29
ATL
DAR

18
NWS

14
MAR

29
TAL

30
NSV

23
DOV

34
CLT
21
RSD

31
MCH

36
BRI

26
NSV

11
ATL
24
POC

27
TAL

32
MCH

25
DAR
11
RCH

7
DOV

15
NWS

25
MAR
14
CLT 20th 601.69 [6]
Langley Racing
64 Ford
DAY

14
Ulrich Racing
40 Chevy CAR
20
ONT
1982 Gordon Racing 24 Buick DAY
RCH
BRI
ATL
CAR
DAR
NWS
MAR TAL
NSV
DOV
CLT
POC
RSD
MCH
DAY
NSV
POC
TAL
MCH
24
BRI DAR
RCH
DOV
NWS
CLT
MAR
CAR
ATL
RSD NA 0 [7]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1974 Gordon Van Liew Chevrolet 26 33

American Open-Wheel racing results

USAC Championship Car

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
1979
Gilmore Racing
ONT TWS
9
INDY MIL
9
POC
13
TWS
13
MIL
15
17th 185

PPG Indycar Series

PPG Indycar Series
results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts Ref
1980
Medlin Racing Eagle Offenhauser t ONT INDY
DNQ
MIL

DNQ
POC

32
63rd 5 [8]
Agajanian Grant King Racers Kingfish 73 Chevrolet V8
MDO

DNQ
MCH
WGL

DNS
MIL
ONT
MCH
MEX
PHX
1981
Bettenhausen Racing
McLaren Cosworth DFX V8t
PHX
MIL

12
ATL
7
ATL
11
MCH

2
RIV
DNS
MEX
11
PHX

19
6th 107 [9]
Longhorn LR-1
MIL

14
Phoenix
MCH

10
WGL

8
1982
Bettenhausen Racing
March 82C Cosworth DFX V8t
PHX

12
ATL
19
MIL

12
CLE
MCH

10
POC

5
RIV
18
ROA

7
MCH

4
PHX

6
10th 80 [10]
Phoenix
MIL

20
1983
Bettenhausen Racing
March 83C Cosworth DFX V8t ATL
10
INDY
17
MIL

10
MCH

18
POC

10
RIV
8
MCH

9
CPL
21
PHX

18
17th 19 [11]
March 83P CLE
18
ROA

12
MDO

14
LAG

14
1984
Provimi Veal Racing
March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
DNQ
PHX

22
INDY
26
MIL
POR MEA CLE
MCH

15
ROA
POC

16
MDO
SAN
MCH
PHX
LAG
CPL NC 0 [12]
1985
All American Racers
Lola T900
Cosworth DFX V8t LBH INDY
29
MIL
POR MEA CLE
MCH
ROA
POC
MDO
SAN
MCH
LAG
PHX
MIA 59th 0 [13]
1986
Bettenhausen Racing
March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t
PHX
LBH INDY
28
MIL
POR MEA CLE
TOR
MCH
POC
MDO
SAN
MCH
ROA
LAG
PHX
MIA 50th 0 [14]
1987
Bettenhausen Racing
March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
11
PHX

15
INDY
10
MIL

DNQ
POR MEA
13
CLE
20
TOR

DNQ
MCH

11
POC

22
ROA

15
MDO

25
NAZ
LAG
MIA 29th 7 [15]
1988
Bettenhausen Racing
Lola T8700
Cosworth DFX V8t
PHX

6
LBH
DNQ
INDY
33
CLE
15
MCH

4
POC

15
MDO

16
ROA

16
LAG

26
MIA 17th 25 [16]
March 86C
MIL

19
POR
TOR

17
MEA
8
Lola T8700
Judd AV NAZ
13
1989
Leader Card Racing
Lola T8900
Cosworth DFX V8t
PHX
LBH INDY
DNQ
MIL
DET
POR CLE MEA
TOR
MCH
50th 0 [17]
Dale Coyne Racing
Lola T8900
POC

26
MDO
ROA
NAZ
LAG
1990
Bettenhausen Racing
Lola T8700
Cosworth DFX V8t
PHX
LBH
DNQ
MDO

20
ROA

DNS
NAZ
22
LAG
24th 4 [18]
Buick 3300 V6t INDY
26
MIL

13
DET

16
POR
17
CLE
12
MEA
10
TOR

26
MCH

22
DEN

24
VAN
1991
Bettenhausen Racing
Penske PC-19
Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF
10
LBH
12
PHX

18
INDY
9
MIL

12
DET

13
POR
13
CLE
13
MEA
21
TOR

11
MCH

5
DEN

10
VAN
18
MDO

18
ROA

13
NAZ
10
LAG

16
14th 27 [19]
1992
Bettenhausen Racing
Penske PC-20
Chevrolet 265A V8t
SRF

13
PHX

11
LBH
15
INDY
DNQ
DET
POR
21
MIL

18
NHA
TOR
MCH

9
CLE
ROA
VAN
MDO
NAZ
LAG
24th 6 [20]
1993
Bettenhausen Racing
Penske PC-22
Chevrolet 265C V8t SRF
PHX
LBH INDY
20
MIL
DET
POR CLE
TOR
MCH
NHA
ROA
VAN
MDO
NAZ
LAG
47th 0 [21]

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1980 Eagle
Offy
Failed to Qualify
1981
McLaren
Cosworth 16th 7th
1982 March 27th 26th
1983 9th 17th
1984 17th 26th
1985
Lola
29th 29th
1986 March 18th 28th
1987 27th 10th
1988
Lola
24th 33rd
1989 Failed to Qualify
1990 Buick 13th 26th
1991
Penske
Chevrolet 20th 9th
1992 Failed to Qualify
1993 22nd 20th

References

  1. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen, Jr". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  2. ^ 1980 Indianapolis 500 Daily track Report
  3. ^ "Key Auctioneers | Auction Detail". Archived from the original on 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  4. ^ "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  5. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen Jr – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen Jr – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tony Bettenhausen Jr – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1980 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1981 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  20. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "Tony Bettenhousen Jr. – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

External links