27 Facts About Tom Sneva

Thomas Edsol Sneva was born on June 1,1948 and is an American former race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1983.

Tom Sneva primarily raced in Indy cars, and was named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.

Tom Sneva was the fastest qualifier on a fourth occasion in 1981, but because of qualifying rules did not start the race from the pole position that year.

Tom Sneva won two consecutive USAC National Championships for Indy cars in 1977 and 1978.

Tom Sneva graduated from Lewis and Clark High School, where he played football and basketball, before attending Eastern Washington State College, where he played a year of college basketball.

Tom Sneva was the eldest of five brothers, all racers; the next oldest was Jerry, who competed at Indy.

In 1978, Tom Sneva did not win a race but with 5 second-place finishes and 16 top fives, Tom Sneva still won the championship.

Three times Tom Sneva ended up the bridesmaid by finishing second.

Finally, Tom Sneva broke through in dramatic fashion in 1983 after a thrilling late race duel with Penske driver Al Unser and the lapped car of Unser's rookie son, Al Jr.

Several other times Tom Sneva was in contention for the win, but did not make it to the end of the race.

In 1983, Tom Sneva captured his first Indianapolis 500 win, engaging in a duel with Al Unser and his son in the final 20 laps.

Tom Sneva suffered one of the most famous crashes at Indianapolis during the 1975 race, his second.

Tom Sneva walked to the ambulance but was placed in the intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital, mainly for lung issues due to the fire retardant.

In 1987, Tom Sneva crashed three cars, two in practice, and one during the race.

Tom Sneva crashed during the Indianapolis 500 in 1975,1979,1985,1986,1987,1988, and 1992, a record for crashes during the race.

Tom Sneva's driving style was more apropos to bias ply tires.

Tom Sneva showed his versatility by competing in eight NASCAR Winston Cup Series events in his career, spanning from 1977 to 1987.

Tom Sneva earned one top-ten, a 7th in the 1983 Daytona 500.

Tom Sneva arrived at Indianapolis without a ride for 1993, and was unsuccessful in landing a car for the race.

Tom Sneva retired with 13 career Indycar wins and 14 pole positions.

Tom Sneva is heavily involved in the golf course business where he resides in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Tom Sneva's father, Edsol was a local racer in the Spokane region.

Tom Sneva is the oldest of five brothers and one sister: Jerry, Jan, Blaine, Ed and Robin.

Tom Sneva said the brothers were always racing something growing up.

Tom Sneva was an ace in mathematics, and graduated from Eastern Washington State College in nearby Cheney with an education degree.

Tom Sneva became a math teacher in a school district outside of Spokane city limits, and drove the school bus.

In 2004, Tom Sneva was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.