Jerry Hoyt

Gerald Frederick Hoyt^[1] (January 29, 1929 – July 11, 1955)^[2] was an American racing driver from Chicago, mainly competing in the National Championship. He died on July 11, 1955, after crashing in a sprint car race at Oklahoma City.^[3]

Jerry Hoyt
Born	Gerald Frederick Hoyt (1929-01-29)January 29, 1929 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 10, 1955(1955-07-10) (aged 26) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Champ Car career
19 races run over 5 years
Years active	1950–1951, 1953–1955
Best finish	19th – 1954
First race	1950 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race	1955 Langhorne 100 (Langhorne)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 1 1
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1950–1951, 1953–1955
Teams	Kurtis Kraft, Stevens, Ewing
Entries	5 (4 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1955 Indianapolis 500

Hoyt served in the 101st Airborne Division during the Second World War.

Indy 500

In the 1955 Indianapolis 500 Hoyt surprised many, including himself, by winning the pole (first starting position) in qualifications. His average speed for the run of 140.045 miles per hour was at the time the second fastest ever at the speedway.^[4] However an oil leak would force him to retire from the race after 40 laps. As the 500 was part of the FIA World Championship at the time, Hoyt was credited for being the youngest pole sitter in the history of the series to that point. In his four races at the speedway, he would never complete more than 130 laps in the 200 lap race.

Death

On July 11, 1955, two months after winning the pole at Indianapolis, Hoyt was entered into a sprint car race in Oklahoma City. On the first lap, his car made contact with a fence, causing it to overturn. The cars of the time provided little protection for the driver's head, and Hoyt died the next morning of brain injuries. He had been married just two weeks earlier.^[5]

He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.^[6]

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1950 81 15 129.520 31 21 125 0 Flagged 1953 55 7 135.731 24 23 107 0 Overheating 1954 99 30 137.825 27 26 130 0 Engine 1955 23 1 140.045 10 31 40 0 Oil leak Totals 402 0

Starts 4 Poles 1 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 0 Top 10 0 Retired 3

• Although Hoyt started the 1955 race from the pole position, his qualifying speed ranked tenth behind fastest qualifier Jack McGrath. This is the lowest speed rank for a pole sitter in the Indianapolis modern era.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC	Points
1950	Ludson Morris	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	GBR	MON	500 21	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA			NC	0
1951	Pat Clancy	Ewing	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 DNQ	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP		NC	0
1953	John Zink	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	ARG	500 23*	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	NC	0
1954	Hoosier Racing	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	ARG	500 8 †	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER				NC	0
1955	Jim Robbins	Stevens	Offenhauser L4	ARG	MON	500 31	BEL	NED	GBR	ITA			NC	0

• * Indicates shared drive with Andy Linden and Chuck Stevenson
• † Indicates shared drive with Paul Russo

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Jerry Hoyt participated in 4 World Championship races, starting on the pole once but scoring no World Championship points.

References

1. "Jerry Hoyt". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
2. "Motorsport Memorial - Jerry Hoyt". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
3. "Hoyt Dies Of Injury After Crash In Race". The New York Times. 1955-07-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
4. Speedway Gamble: Hoyt risked wind, won pole position^{[permanent dead link]} United Press, May 25, 1955. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
5. Jerry Hoyt dies after crash in Oklahoma City Associated Press, July 11, 1955. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
6. "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.

External links

• Jerry Hoyt at Find a Grave

Records
Preceded by José Froilán González 28 years, 282 days (1951 British GP)	Youngest Grand Prix polesitter 26 years, 121 days (1955 Indianapolis 500)	Succeeded by Eugenio Castellotti 24 years, 238 days (1955 Belgian GP)