Born 6 January 1926, in Glendale, California, George Francis “Pat” Flaherty grew into one of American racing’s toughest and most determined competitors. Best remembered for conquering the 1956 Indianapolis 500, Flaherty built a career on an ability to rise to the sport’s biggest occasions. He passed away on 9 April 2002, in Oxnard, California.
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Born | George Francis Flaherty 6 January 1926 Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Died | 9 April 2002 (aged 76) Oxnard, California, U.S. |
Flaherty’s racing story began in 1946, behind the wheel of track roadsters in postwar America — a time when ingenuity mattered as much as horsepower. Two years later, in 1948, he moved to the Midwest to compete in Hurricane Hot Rod Association, founded by the innovative promoter Andy Granatelli.
The Midwest racing scene was raw, competitive, and unforgiving — perfect training ground for a driver who would later tame Indianapolis.
Championship Car Career
Flaherty competed in the premier American open-wheel series of his era — the AAA Championship Car and later the USAC Championship Car championships.
He made 19 starts across the 1950, 1953–1956, 1958–1959, and 1963 seasons, including five appearances in the Indianapolis 500 (1950, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1959).
The 1956 Indianapolis 500 was the defining moment. Starting from pole, Flaherty controlled the race, capturing America’s greatest motor race and cementing his name among the Speedway’s champions.
A Footnote in Formula One History
From 1950 through 1960, the Indianapolis 500 carried an unusual distinction: it counted toward the FIA World Drivers’ Championship.
That meant Flaherty wasn’t just an American champion, he was officially part of Formula One’s early record books. Across his five Indianapolis starts during those qualifying years he raced in five World Championship entries, took one pole position, one victory and eight World Championship points
Though he never competed on the European Grand Prix circuit, Flaherty remains one of the select group of Indianapolis specialists credited with World Drivers’ Championship points — a unique crossover in racing history.
Triumph and Injury
Less than three months after his Indianapolis triumph, Flaherty’s career took a brutal turn. A severe crash left him seriously injured, sidelining him from the 1957 Indianapolis 500 and altering the trajectory of his competitive life.
Even after stepping away from top-level racing, Flaherty’s competitive spirit never dimmed. For more than twenty years, he became an accomplished pigeon racer. But, never one to drift far from engines, he also built and promoted a portable go-kart track, challenging all-comers and turning grassroots racing into a traveling spectacle. It was classic Flaherty — competitive, accessible, and always ready to line up on the grid.
Honors and Recognition
Flaherty’s achievements were formally recognised when he was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2006 — a fitting tribute to a driver who mastered America’s most demanding oval and left his mark on international motorsport history.
Pat Flaherty Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1950, 1953 – 1956, 1959 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft, Watson |
| Entries | 7 (5 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 8 |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| First win | 1956 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last win | 1956 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last entry | 1959 Indianapolis 500 |
Pat Flaherty Wins
| Win No. | Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1956 Indianapolis 500 |
Pat Flaherty Teammates
| 3 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manny Ayulo | 1 | 1953 | |
| Troy Ruttman | 1 | 1956 | |
| Bob Veith | 1 | 1959 |
Pat Flaherty Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entreat | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Granatelli-Sabourin/Grancor | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC |
| 1953 | Peter Schmidt | Kuzma-Offenhauser | 0 | NC |
| 1954 | Bardahl/Ed Walsh | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC |
| 1955 | Dunn Engineering | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 0 | NC |
| 1956 | John Zink | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 8 | 5th |
| 1959 | John Zink | Watson-Offenhauser | 0 | NC |
