Tom Sneva

TOM SNEVA was the first person to officially lap the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in excess of 200 miles per hour (1977) and 210 miles per hour (1984). After having been a three-time runner up (1977, 1978, and 1980), he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1983. Sneva was a three-time pole sitter (1977, 1978, and 1984) and came within the blink of an eye of earning what would have been an unprecedented third consecutive pole in 1979. He was also the fastest qualifier on a fourth occasion in 1981, but was required to start 25th by virtue of having been a second weekend qualifier. United States Auto Club National Champion in 1977 and 1978, Sneva had more than 200 starts in Indianapolis cars sanctioned by either Championship Auto Racing Teams or the United States Auto Club from 1971 through 1992, winning 13 races and finishing either second or third in 37 others.