| 250px | |
| Nationality |  American
|
| Born | 11 January 1919 |
| Lowell, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Died | 2 September 1961 |
| Lakeville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Cause of Death | Injuries sustained in an accident during qualifying at Lime Rock Park |
| Achievements | 1954, 1956, 1957 Champ Car Champion 1958 Indianapolis 500 Champion. |
| Formula A World Championship Career | |
|---|---|
| 11 races run over 11 season(s). | |
| Championships | 0 |
| Pole Positions | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 3 |
| First Attempt | 1951 Indianapolis 500 |
| First Start | 1952 Indianapolis 500 |
| First Win | 1958 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last Win | 1958 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last Start | 1961 Indianapolis 500 |
| Best Result | 10th (1954) |
| World Stock Car Championship | |
| races run over 8 season(s). | |
| Team(s) | Hansen Motorsports |
| Championships | |
| Pole Positions | |
| Wins | |
| First Attempt | 1954 Icebreaker Sweepstakes |
| Last Attempt | 1961 Lime Rock Grand Prix |
| WSCC Canon Driver | |
Thomas Kirk Hansen (11 January 1919 - 2 September 1961) was an American race car driver best known for competing in open wheel racing, including winning the 1958 Indianapolis 500. He was the overall champion of the Champ Car series in 1954, 1956, and 1957, and raced sporadically in the National Stock Car Series through the latter half of the 1950's. He transitioned from open-wheel racing to stock cars in 1958, running for various owners before opening Hansen Motorsports in 1960 with his cousin, Ted, who had won championships with Cameron Yost previously.
He was killed during qualifying for the 1961 Lime Rock Grand Prix when his car struck an embankment driver's side first near the Klee Kurve at a high rate of speed; it is believed that Hansen's head struck the wall, causing his death.
Career[edit | edit source]
Death and Legacy[edit | edit source]
Hansen was killed during qualifying for the 1961 Lime Rock Grand Prix; he crashed entering the Klee Kurve from Schofield Straight. Witness reports of the incident conflict, with some reporting that his head hit the retaining wall and others reporting that he stayed contained in the car. He did not have a window net installed, as he was reportedly afraid of being trapped in a burning car.
His gravestone has the track layout of Lime Rock Park, with a checkered flag indicating the crash site.
Hansen Motorsports[edit | edit source]
Main article: Hansen Motorsports
Racing Record[edit | edit source]
Complete Champ Car Results[edit | edit source]
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA Contest Board | |||||||||||||||||
| 1951 | IND DNQ |
MIL | LAN | DAR | SPR | MIL | DUQ | DUQ | PIR | SYR | DET | DNC | SJS | PHX | BAY | - | 0 |
| 1952 | IND 6 |
MIL | RAL | SPR DNQ |
MIL | DET | DUQ | PIR | SYR | DNC | SJS 9 |
PHX 14 |
15th | 440 | |||
| 1953 | IND 14 |
MIL 2 |
SPR 8 |
DET 3 |
SPR 15 |
MIL 10 |
DUQ 7 |
PIR | SYR 17 |
ISF 11 |
SAC 1 |
PHX 15 |
9th | 621.4 | |||
| 1954 | IND 2 |
MIL DNS |
LAN 1 |
DAR 3 |
SPR 12 |
MIL 3 |
DUQ 3 |
PIR | SYR 4 |
ISF 1 |
SAC 1 |
PHX 1 |
LGV 1 |
1st | 2630 | ||
| 1955 | IND 25 |
MIL 4 |
LAN 1 |
SPR 1 |
MIL 23 |
DUQ 1 |
PIR | SYR 2 |
ISF 1 |
SAC 1 |
PHX 1 |
2nd | 1480 | ||||
| Champ Car | |||||||||||||||||
| 1956 | IND 19 |
MIL 4 |
LAN 6 |
DAR 8 |
ATL | ISF 1 |
MIL 1 |
DUQ 1 |
SYR 2 |
ISF 1 |
SAC 3 |
PHX 2 |
1st | 1860 | |||
| 1957 | IND 3 |
LAN DNQ |
MIL 19 |
DET 1 |
ATL 13 |
ISF 7 |
MIL 22 |
DUQ 18 |
SYR 4 |
ISF 2 |
TRE 8 |
SAC 2 |
PHX 1 |
1st | 1650 | ||
| 1958 | TRE | IND 1 |
MIL | LAN | ATL | SPR | MIL | DUQ | SYR | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | 6th | 1000 | ||
| 1959 | DAY | TRE | IND 33 |
MIL | LAN | SPR | MIL | DUQ | SYR | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | - | 0 | ||
| 1960 | TRE | IND 19 |
MIL | LAN | DUQ | SYR | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | - | 0 | |||||
| 1961 | TRE | IND 22 |
MIL | LAN | MIL | SPF | DUQ | SYR | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | - | 0 | |||
Complete Indianapolis 500 Results[edit | edit source]
|
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Complete World Stock Car Championship Results[edit | edit source]
Complete Icebreaker Sweepstakes Results[edit | edit source]
Complete Lime Rock Grand Prix Results[edit | edit source]
Complete Turkey Bowl Results[edit | edit source]
Complete Formula A Results[edit | edit source]
| Year | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Sterling | Kirkhauss L4 | SUI | 500 DNQ |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | ESP | NC | 0 | |||
| 1952 | Sanford Everett 3000 | Kirkhauss L4 | SUI | 500 6 |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | NED | ITA | NC | 0 | |||
| 1953 | Linwood | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG | 500 14 |
NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | NC | 0 | ||
| 1954 | Duke Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG | 500 2 |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | ESP | 10th | 6 | ||
| 1955 | Duke Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG | MON | 500 24 |
BEL | NED | GBR | ITA | NC | 0 | ||||
| 1956 | Duke Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG | MON | 500 19 |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | NC | 0 | |||
| 1957 | Duke Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG | MON | 500 3 |
FRA | GBR | GER | PES | ITA | 16th | 4 | |||
| 1958 | Sawyer Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG | MON | NED | 500 1 |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | POR | ITA | MOR | 13th | 8 |
| 1959 | Sawyer Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | MON | 500 33 |
NED | FRA | GBR | GER | POR | ITA | USA | NC | 0 | ||
| 1960 | Sawyer Indy Roadster | Kirkhauss L4 | ARG |
MON |
500 19 |
NED |
BEL |
FRA |
GBR |
POR |
ITA |
USA |
NC | 0 |
Links[edit | edit source]
| Sporting Positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous Steven Hill |
AAA Contest Board Champion 1954 |
Next Benny Stewart |
| Previous Benny Stewart (AAA) |
Champ Car Series Champion 1956, 1957 |
Next Terry Burton |
| Achievements | ||
| Previous Silas Hawking |
Indianapolis 500 Winner 1958 |
Next Randy Williams |