VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. — The Indy 500 is fast approaching, and this is when we figure filberts try to show our expertise by discerning who this year’s winner will be.
Many simply go with the defending winner, in this case, Sam Hornish, Jr. Amateurs! Not only is the Indy 500 still one of the hardest races in the world to win, it’s even more difficult to defend.
The Indy 500 is in its 10th decade, and only five drivers have won the race in back-to-back years. They are Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Bill Vukovich, Al Unser and Helio Castroneves.
For fun, I thought I’d research every 500 winner and see how they did the following year.
One would think that many would get in a “groove,” but maintaining that level of success is rare.
Twenty-three drivers did not compete the year after winning. Six did not enter. They were Rene Thomas, Ralph de Palma, Dario Resta, Jacques Villeneuve, Kenny Brack and Juan Pablo Montoya.                                        
Ray Harroun, Floyd Davis  (1941 co-winner), Sam Hanks, Bobby Unser and Gil de Ferran retired after winning.
Lee Wallard, Troy Ruttman, Pat Flaherty and Buddy Rice were injured and unable to drive. Gaston Chevrolet, Joe Boyer (1924 co-winner), Ray Keech and George Robson lost their lives racing in the year they won.
Floyd Roberts and Vukovich died defending Indy 500 victories. Additionally, Joe Dawson, Kelly Petillo, who relief drove, and Al Unser, Jr., failed to qualify for 500s the year after winning.
Eight drivers finished second in the year following an Indianapolis victory, including Unser and Castroneves, who was runner-up after winning in his first two attempts. Rodger Ward put on one of the gamest efforts, battling Jim Rathmann in 1960 in the second half of the race before slowing to second with three laps to go with a worn tire.
Louis Meyer, Shaw, Bill Holland, Jim Clark and Johnny Rutherford were the others who finished second. Holland is the only one to finish second the year before and after winning the 500. In fact, Holland earned three second-place finishes and a victory within a four-year period — all in the same car.
Six drivers followed victories with third-place finishes. Seven finished fourth, and one was fifth. Six drivers finished between sixth and 10th while defending Indianapolis victories. Twenty-six drivers posted 11th through 30th-place finishes one year after winning, and four finished worse than 30th. Jimmy Bryan and Rutherford were the only winners to finish last. Three-time winner Rutherford also had a 32nd.
Of the three four-time winners, only Al Unser had success defending his title, earning three good finishes, including a victory. A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears combined for one top 10 and three DNFs in years following their eight victories.
Some Indy winners had difficult times. Hornish won last year in his seventh start without a previous top-10 finish. It took Sam Hanks 12 tries before he won in 1957. Rathmann finished second three times before winning in his 11th attempt. Ward had only an eighth-place finish in eight starts before winning in 1959. He then had six-straight top fours, including a second triumph.
Tom Sneva had three seconds before his 1983 victory but never finished in his last seven Indianapolis 500s.
Thus, Hornish has a lot of demons and 32 other drivers to beat on race day. He has 14-time winning owner Roger Penske at the helm. It’s easy to pick him to repeat, but as you can see, it will be a challenge.
Prepping Jim Nabors at 25 Emerson Place, Valley Stream, NY 11580. E-mail to racewri771@aol.com.