Jimmy Bryan

Interesting facts

Jimmy Bryan raced every event with an unlit cigar clenched in his teeth - it became his trademark. He won the USAC championship in 1957, and that same year also won the inaugural Race of Two Worlds at Monza, where American oval racers took on European constructors on the banked track. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1958. He was killed in a crash at Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania on 19 June 1960 - the very same day two Formula One drivers died at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, making it one of the darkest days in the sport's history. Jimmy Bryan raced in Formula 1 from 1952 to 1960, across 9 seasons as an American driver. He scored a total of 18 championship points over his career.