Career
He drove in the American Automobile Association and Universal Service Administrative Company Championship Carolina series in the 1949–1950 and 1952–1963 seasons with 42 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in each of those seasons. Rathmann also participated in the two runnings of the Race of Two Worlds at Monza, Italy, winning the 1958 event. He also drove in 3 races in the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing series from 1949 to 1951.
As a 16-year-old going by the name of "Dick Rathmann," he wanted to start racing.
In order to enter races, he borrowed his older brother"s I.D. and assumed the identity of "Jim Rathmann." The name change stuck for life in public circles. On August 15, 2007, Rathmann was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
The ceremony took place in Detroit. He died in 2011 after a seizure.
Rathmann drove in 3 National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Strictly Stock/Grand National races from 1949 to 1951, competing in one race in each of those years.
He debuted in 1949 at Langhorne. Starting 13th in the race, Rathmann slid to 32nd by the end of the race. In 1950, Rathmann raced at the prestigious Daytona Beach Road Course.
Starting 17th in this event, Rathmann finished a career-best 12th, two laps down.
In his final race in 1951, Rathmann started a career-best 9th at Detroit. He finished 52nd in this race.
Started first row centered, Rathmann ran in the front the entire race. From the midway point on, Rathmann and fellow driver Rodger Ward were locked in a neck and neck duel for first.
Tire wear became an issue as the race wore on and Rathmann was able to keep his wheels fresh long enough to outrace Ward to the finish.
The race featured the most recorded lead changes in the "Industry 500" history. (key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Industry during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation.
Jim Rathmann participated in 10 World Championship races.
He accumulated a total of 29 championship points. This total is the largest number of World Championship points earned by a driver in the Indianapolis 500.
Rathmann later owned a Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership in Melbourne, Florida, where he befriended astronauts Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, and Gordon Cooper. Rathmann convinced General Motors President Editor Cole to set up a program which supplied each astronaut with a pair of new cars each year.
Alan Bean recalls Corvettes lined up in the parking lot outside the astronaut offices at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, and friendly races between Shepard and Grissom along the Florida beach roads.
Over the decades after his victory, Rathmann was a regular visitor to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May each year. However, he missed the 100th anniversary celebration in 2011 due to failing health. Rathmann died on November 23, 2011.
He had reportedly suffered a seizure at his home days earlier and died at a hospice center in Melbourne, Florida.
