Background
He was born on April 15, 1898 in Roseland, New Jersey.
racecar driver National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing team owner
He was born on April 15, 1898 in Roseland, New Jersey.
He drove in the 1922 Indianapolis 500 finishing 4th. He pulled out to a huge lead in the 1925 Indianapolis 500. His fingers became badly blistered around the midpoint of the race, and car owner Fred Duesenberg pulled DePaolo out of the car.
DePaolo had his hands repaired in the infield care center, and returned in the car after missing 21 laps.
He had dropped to fifth. The race was the first Indianapolis 500 to average over 100 miles per hour (101270 mph).
Pete becomes the first driver to average more than 100 mph at the Indianapolis 500, recording 101.13 in his Duesenberg, 1925. He began his only team in 1927.
He finished second in the 1927 Indianapolis 500, and added two wins on his way to the series drivers championship.
In 1934, DePaolo drove the Harry Miller four wheel drive race car in races throughout Europe and Africa. At the Avus course, near Berlin, while leading the race in a down pour, his engine threw 2 connecting rods which narrowly missed hitting Adolph Hitler in his track side box seat. He decided to retire after he was in a coma for 11 days after crashing in Spain in 1934.
He sang Back Home Again In Indiana in 1971, as of 2014, he was the only driver to sing the song prior to the Indianapolis 500.
He died on November 26, 1980 at age 82. He was car owner and team manager for Kelly Petillo"s 1935 Indianapolis 500 victory.
He was a successful National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing team owner from 1955 to 1957. His drivers finished second, third, and second in the final points standings.
The drivers accumulated 21 wins and 109 Top 10 finishes in 178 starts.
He wrote his biography in the book Wall Smacker, published in 1935.