Harry Knight (racing driver)

Harry C. Knight (August 6, 1889 July 4, 1913) was an American racecar driver. He competed in the first two Indianapolis 500 races as well as two "pre-500 era" races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910, finishing second in a 100-mile race. In the inaugural Indy 500, Knight heroically swerved out of the way to save another driver who had left the pits with a broken steering knuckle, and wrecked his car. Knight was regarded by some newspapers as the "Hero of Indianapolis" and it was said that had he not wrecked, he could have won the race. Knight suffered a severe brain concussion and bruises. The first words he cried were, “I didn’t hit him, I didn’t hit him!” according to eyewitnesses.[1][2] Knight and his riding mechanic Milton Michaelis were killed while racing in a 200-mile Championship Car race at the Columbus Driving Park, a 1-mile dirt oval, in July 1913.[3][4]

Harry Knight
NationalityAmerican
BornHarry C. Knight
(1889-08-06)August 6, 1889
Jonesboro, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 1913(1913-07-04) (aged 23)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Cause of deathInjuries from racing accident

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1911 7730900Crash FS
1912 10975.92242360Engine trouble
Totals960
Starts 2
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 0
Retired 2

References

  1. Martin, Steve (May 28, 2016). "Our Past: Quick thinking saves life at Indy 500". Palladium-Item. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. "Harry Knight". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  3. "Autoist killed in race at Columbus". The Saturday Evening Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. July 5, 1913. Retrieved July 11, 2022 via Google News Archive.
  4. "Two lives lost on the speedway". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 5, 1913. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com.


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