Mark Donohue – F5000 and Indy 500 | The “forgotten” drivers of F1

1968 Indy Car Mosport Eagle 68 – Chevrolet. Photo Paul H. Gulde

1970 – The victorious Mark Donohue at the L&M F5000 Championship Race Sebring International Raceway, 25th October 1970, in the Carl Haas Roger Penske T192. Photo Lola Heritage

1970 L & M F5000 Championship Race at Sebring International Raceway on 25th October 1970 in the Carl Haas Roger Penske LOLA T192. Mark won the race. Photo and info Harry E. Hurst

1971 Pocono

1972 Mark Donohue (McLaren M16B Offy) winner of the Indianapolis 500

1972 Mark Donohue

1972 Indy 500 winner Mark Donahue was another American racing hero to step into Formula One through his successes with Indianapolis, Trans-Am and Can-Am in North America. It now seems incredible that Mark could have survived nearly 1,500 boosted horsepower in an unlimited Can-Am Porsche 917-30, as well as the unyielding walls of Indianapolis year after year, only to lured out of retirement to lead the Penske Formula One assault, and be felled by a simple catch fence post at the 1975 Austrian Grand Prix at the Osterreichring. In retrospect, the 70’s seemed to gather a massive number of racing stars and waste them in one unbelievable catastrophe after another… robbing their families and racing fans everywhere of too many husbands, fathers and heroes. If only they could have all survived to be our guides now… © Richard Kelley Photography 2013. All rights reserved. Discover more at www.richardkelleyf1.com

1973 Goodyear Tire Test at IMS, March 1973

1973 F5000 USA Seattle. Photo Bill Dolph Jr.