Carl Roy Forberg (4 March 1911 – 17 January 2000) was an American racing driver from Omaha, Nebraska, whose career included a single appearance in one of motorsport’s greatest events: the Indianapolis 500.
Driver Bio
| Born | 4 March 1911 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | 17 January 2000 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | American |
| Active years | 1950–1952 |
| Teams | Maserati, Miller, Kurtis Kraft |
| Entries | 3 (1 start) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last entry | 1952 Indianapolis 500 |
Indianapolis 500
Forberg made his one and only Indianapolis 500 start in 1951, driving car #68. He qualified 24th with a speed of 132.890 mph and went on to produce an impressive run on race day.
He completed 193 laps and was still running when the race was flagged, earning seventh place overall. Forberg didn’t lead a lap, but a top-ten finish on his Indy debut – and ultimately his only start at the Brickyard – made it a memorable appearance.
His Indianapolis record therefore reads: one start, no poles, front-row starts or victories, but one top-ten finish and, importantly, no retirement.
World Championship career
There is also a curious Formula One footnote to Forberg’s story. Between 1950 and 1960, the Indianapolis 500 counted as a round of the FIA World Championship, despite being run to very different regulations from the European Grands Prix.
As a result, Forberg’s 1951 Indianapolis appearance also became his sole World Championship start. His seventh-place finish fell just outside the points under the scoring system of the era, leaving him with no championship points – but with an official place in Formula One World Championship history nonetheless.
Forberg died on 17 January 2000, aged 88.
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24th | 7th | 0 | 0 | NC |
Stats by Constructor
| Constructor | Years | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kurtis Kraft | 1951 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24th | 7th | 0 | 0 |
