Sutton was an American racing car constructor that made a single appearance in the Formula One World Championship at the 1959 Indianapolis 500. Like many specialist Indianapolis constructors of the era, Sutton competed exclusively in the famous oval classic during the period when the event formed part of the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Although the constructor failed to score championship points, its only World Championship race became memorable for a dramatic accident from which driver Mike Magill escaped thanks to the quick actions of fellow drivers and the introduction of mandatory roll-over protection.
| Nationality | American |
| Base | United States |
| Years Active | 1959 |
| First Race | 1959 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last Race | 1959 Indianapolis 500 |
| Race Entries | 1 |
| Race Starts | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Pole Positions | 0 |
| Fastest Laps | 0 |
| Points | 0 |
| Constructors’ Championships | 0 |
| Drivers’ Championships | 0 |
| Best Start | 31st |
| Best Finish | 30th |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
| Retirements | 1 |
Formula One
Sutton entered the 1959 Indianapolis 500 with a Dayton Steel Foundry/Walther chassis powered by a KK500G Offenhauser inline-four engine. American driver Mike Magill qualified the car 31st on the starting grid, earning Sutton’s only Formula One World Championship start.
Magill’s race ended after 45 laps when he became involved in a serious multi-car accident. As Chuck Weyant‘s spinning car slid across the circuit, Magill was forced into the outside wall before his Sutton overturned. The car slid upside down across the track and into the infield before coming to rest.
Fellow drivers Jud Larson and Red Amick, who had themselves spun while attempting to avoid the incident, immediately stopped and rushed to Magill’s aid. Together, they lifted the overturned Sutton high enough to free the trapped driver from the cockpit.
The accident also highlighted the effectiveness of the newly introduced roll-over bars, which had become mandatory for the 1959 season. Combined with the rapid intervention of Larson and Amick, the safety improvements were widely credited with saving Magill’s life.
Magill was officially classified as retired after the accident, bringing Sutton’s only Formula One World Championship appearance to an early conclusion.
Sutton Stats by Season
| Year | Engine | Drivers | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Offenhauser | Mike Magill | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 30 | 0 | NC |
