Eddie Russo was an American racing driver whose life blended open-wheel racing with military service.
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Leon Russo 19 November 1923 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | 14 October 2012 (aged 88) King, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Russo’s racing story began in 1950 when he captured the midget car track championship at Chicago’s famed Raceway Park. From there, he made an impact in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, competing from 1952 to 1957, and again in 1960. Across 21 career starts, Russo lined up on the grid for the Indianapolis 500 three times, one of motorsport’s ultimate proving grounds. Over his career, he notched five top-10 finishes, with his best performance coming in 1955 at Langhorne Speedway, a notoriously tough oval that tested even the bravest of drivers.
World Drivers’ Championship Career
During Russo’s racing years, the Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Drivers’ Championship (1950–1960), meaning that racers who took part at Indy shared the record books with Formula One legends. Russo competed in four World Drivers’ Championship events at Indianapolis, earning a best finish of 22nd place. While he didn’t collect any Championship points, his participation places him among that rare group of American racers who bridged the gap between Indy tradition and F1 history.
Personal Life
Racing was in Russo’s DNA. His father, Joe Russo, and uncle, Paul Russo, were both Indy car drivers, carrying the family name around the Brickyard before him.
Beyond the track, Russo served his country with distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing duty in World War II, the Korean War, and even the Vietnam War—a remarkable span of service that matched his endurance behind the wheel.
Born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Russo later made his home in Racine, where he lived for many years. In his later life, he resided at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, where he passed away in 2012.
Eddie Russo Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1954–1960 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft, Pawl, Epperly, Kuzma |
| Entries | 7 (4 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1954 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last entry | 1960 Indianapolis 500 |
Eddie Russo Teammates
| 5 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Crockett | 1 | 1954 | |
| Bob Schroeder | 1 | 1959 | |
| Chuck Daigh | 1 | 1959 | |
| Jack Ensley | 1 | 1959 | |
| Gene Force | 1 | 1959 |
Eddie Russo Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entrant | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Federal Engineering | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
| 1955 | Dr. R.N. Sabourin | Pawl-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
| 1956 | Hoyt Machine/Fred Sommers | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
| Belond Miracle/California Muffler | Epperly-Offenhauser | ||||
| Jim Robbins | Stevens-Offenhauser | ||||
| 1957 | Scalvi & Amos | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
| 1958 | Scalvi & Amos | Kuzma-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
| 1959 | Harry Turner | Epperly-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
| Midwest Manufacturing | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | ||||
| Roy McKay | |||||
| J.C. Agajanian | Kuzma-Offenhauser | ||||
| 1960 | Go-Kart/C.O. Prather | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC | Report |
