Andrew Logan Linden (April 5, 1922 – February 11, 1987) was an American racing driver whose career took him from the hot-rod scene of California to the Indianapolis 500. Better known as Andy Linden, he became a successful figure in American open-wheel racing and, thanks to the unusual way the World Championship operated during the 1950s, also holds a place in Formula One history.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Brownsville, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Born | 5 April 1922 |
| Died | 11 February 1987 |
| First Grand Prix | 1951 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last Grand Prix | 1957 Indianapolis 500 |
| Years Active | 1950–1957 |
| Current/Last Team | Kurtis Kraft |
Early life and military service
Linden was born on April 5, 1922, in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Before establishing himself behind the wheel of a racing car, he served in the United States Navy, where he proved himself as a talented boxer. He also served in the National Guard.
His appetite for speed wasn’t restricted to organised motorsport. Linden became involved with the burgeoning hot-rod culture in Los Angeles, California, an environment that proved a natural fit for a future racing driver. It was an era of home-built machinery, mechanical experimentation and drivers willing to find out exactly how fast their creations could go – sometimes the hard way.
That background eventually helped lead Linden towards professional competition, where his combination of speed and determination would make him a formidable presence in American racing.
Career
Linden went on to enjoy considerable success as a racing driver, becoming particularly associated with the fiercely competitive world of American open-wheel competition. His achievements ultimately carried him to one of the biggest races on the planet: the Indianapolis 500.
His Indy appearances also gave Linden an unusual connection to Formula One. From 1950 through 1960, the Indianapolis 500 counted as a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Although the American race operated largely independently from the European Grand Prix stage of the season, drivers competing at Indianapolis during this period were officially credited with World Championship appearances and could score championship points.
As a result, Linden is technically recognised as a former Formula One World Championship driver. He competed in seven World Championship events through his Indianapolis 500 appearances and accumulated a total of five championship points.
His racing career, however, came to a sudden and devastating end in 1957. Linden was involved in a serious crash in which a piece of metal penetrated or broke through his helmet, causing severe brain injuries. The damage proved career-ending, bringing his time as a competitive driver to an abrupt close.
Although he could no longer continue racing, Linden’s achievements were not forgotten. More than half a century after his final competition, he received major recognition when he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2013, cementing his place among the notable figures of American sprint car racing.
Linden died in Harbor City, California, on February 11, 1987, at the age of 64. He was laid to rest at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
His career remains an intriguing part of both American and Formula One history. Linden may never have raced a Grand Prix car around Monaco, Monza or Silverstone, but seven trips into the World Championship record books, five points and a place in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame make for a racing résumé with plenty of substance.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 8 |
| Race Starts | 7 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 2nd |
| Best Race Finish | 4th |
| Retirements | 4 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 8 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Points
| Points Scored | 5 |
| Points Finishes | 2 |
| Most Points in a Single Season | 3 (1951) |
| Seasons with Points | 2 |
Front Row Starts
| Front Row Starts | 1 |
| Poles | 0 |
| 2nd on Grid | 1 |
| Most Front Row Starts in a Season | 1 (1952) |
| Seasons with Front Row Starts | 1 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Sherman | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31st | 4th | 1 | 3 | 12th |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2nd | DNF | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1953 | Stevens, Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5th | DNF | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1954 | Schroeder, Nichels, Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23rd | 25th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1955 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8th | 25th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1956 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9th | 27th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12th | 5th | 1 | 2 | 18th |
