When Tom Sneva took the checkered flag on a sun-drenched May afternoon, in 1983, to win the 67th Indianapolis 500 in his Texaco Star March Cosworth, it marked the culmination of a decade of effort at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. lightning quick For nearly 10 years, the one-time, junior high school principal had thrilled fans at the Speedway with electrifying qualification runs and record speeds. Sneva was the first driver to officially break the 200-mph barrier in winning the pole…

Tom Sneva and crew in 1980. Sneva became the first driver in Indy history to start from the back of the grid and finish an impressive 2nd place behind winner Johnny Rutherford. Sneva would become known for a string of runner-up finishes and close calls before finally tasting victory in 1983.
Photo: IMS