Item # 4417-CAR
1960 Indy 500
Car #2 Tony Bettenhausen - Dowguard

Tony Bettenhausen was AAA National Champion in 1951 and USAC National Champion in 1958. In 1959 he finished second in the championship to Rodger Ward, having chauffeured for six teams. For the 1960 Indianapolis 500, Bettenhausen carried #2 on his Lindsey Hopkins-owned "Dowgard Special" Watson Roadster. His car had been Jim Rathmann's 1959 Indy 500 second-place car. Unseasonably cold, windy weather and occasional rain kept speeds down for the first week of practice, but on 11 May Bettenhausen became the favorite for the pole when he turned a lap at 146.1 mph, just under Johnny Thomson's 1959 record. The following day he was fastest again, with a fast lap of 144.9 mph. Saturday 14 May was the Pole Day, and Bettenhausen's first two qualifying laps were an identical 144.718 mph, plenty fast enough to make the field. But Bettenhausen and his crew wanted the pole, so they waved off after three laps. When the gun went off to end qualifications, Bettenhausen was left second in line. The next day he qualified at an average speed of 145.214 mph, good for the 18th starting spot. At the start of the 1960 Indy, while Ward led from pole sitter Eddie Sachs, Jim Rathmann, and Troy Ruttman, Bettenhausen charged up to run in fifth spot by Lap 5. At the 100-mile mark, Bettenhausen was in third place behind Ward and Sachs. During the first scheduled stops, Ward killed his engine, briefly promoting Bettenhausen to second place before Bettenhausen made his own first stop. After the stops, Bettenhausen was in third, behind Sachs and J. Rathmann. When the yellow flew for Eddie Russo's wreck in Turn 2 on Lap 84, Ward and Bettehausen pitted together, but Ward gained the advantage with a quicker stop. Bettenhausen remained in the hunt past the halfway mark, until his engine began smoking. He made a stop while in fourth place, but his crew was unable to fix his problem, and he resumed farther behind J. Rathmann, Ward, and Thomson. On Lap 125 a connecting rod broke and Bettenhausen steered the car into the pit while sitting on the roll bar to avoid a small fire, finishing the race in 23rd place. Jim Rathmann won the 1960 Indianapolis 500 at a speed of 138.767 mph. 1960 was fated to be Tony Bettenhausen's last race at the Brickyard, because in May 1961 he lost his life testing another driver's car.

Car features detailed cockpit, clear-faced gauges, die-cast engine, full chassis detail, imprinted marking, positionable front wheel, hinged hood.

Limited Edition - 1200 pieces