# Pancho Carter

Duane Claude Carter Jr. (born June 11, 1950), nicknamed "Pancho," is an American former open-wheel racing driver. Best known for his participation in Championship car racing, he won the pole position for the 1985 Indianapolis 500, and won the Michigan 500 in 1981.

## Racing career
### Midget cars

Carter's national career began while racing in a midget car. He won the 1972 USAC midget car championship. He won the 1972 and 1975 Hut Hundred. He had 23 midget car feature wins by the time he left the series in 1978.

### Sprint cars

Carter won the 1974 and 1976 national USAC sprint car championships. He was the first driver to win the two USAC championships – midgets and sprint cars. He has wins in three USAC divisions – midgets, sprints and Silver Crown (formerly known as dirt cars).
On May 30, 1977, Carter won two USAC Midget features, one USAC sprint feature and finished second in the second USAC sprint feature at Salem Speedway on a day the temperatures were near 100 degrees. This was one day after he finished 15th in the Indianapolis 500.
Carter ran well on dirt and pavement, but was exceptional on the paved high banks at Winchester and Salem, Indianapolis, and Dayton, Ohio. He won the Joe James/Pat O'Conner Memorial race at the half-mile at Salem, Indiana, on four consecutive occasions.
Carter was seriously injured during a testing crash at Phoenix International Speedway in November 1977. The injuries left him with a permanent disability in one of his legs that hampered his ability to perform well on road courses. He still ran very well on ovals. He made his return to racing at the end of March in 1978, winning a USAC Sprint race at the paved five-eighths mile Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night and at the high-banked half-mile Winchester Speedway the next day – his first races back in the cockpit of a racecar.
Carter was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1990, and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1991.

### Indycar

Carter drove his first Indianapolis 500 in 1974. He finished seventh, and was awarded the Rookie of the Year. In 1981 he finished third in the CART championship and captured his only Indy Car win at Michigan International Speedway. He finished third in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 behind the now-famous duel between Gordon Johncock and Rick Mears. In 1985, Carter drove the brand new Buick V6 engine to the pole position of the 1985 Indianapolis 500. He retired with mechanical problems after completing just six laps, becoming the first pole-sitter since Cliff Woodbury to finish dead-last. His last year as a full-time Indy Car driver was 1990 and his last appearance in an indy car was failing to qualify for the 1994 Indianapolis 500. In more recent years, Carter has served as a spotter for Sam Hornish Jr., Vítor Meira, Dillon Battistini, Dan Wheldon, Martin Plowman and Adrián Campos Jr. In 2019, he was the spotter for rookie Santino Ferrucci, who finished seventh, as the Rookie of the Year, at the Indianapolis 500. This was the same as Carter in his 500 debut.

### NASCAR

From 1985–1995 Carter ran 14 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races for multiple owners. His first start was at Darlington Raceway in 1985, which was the Southern 500. The race was best known for Bill Elliott locking up the Winston Million, Carter finished in 22nd. Carter began the 1986 season driving for Elmo Langley; at the 1986 Daytona 500, he and Kyle Petty were involved in a turn one accident, thus winding up in 34th place. After three races with Langley's team, he moved to driving for Roger Hamby, competing in six more races that year; he posted his best career NASCAR finish with Hamby, a seventeenth-place finish at the Michigan International Speedway. In 1990, he competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway, driving for Paul Romine; he drove for Donlavey Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1992, and his final two races in Winston Cup competition came for Triad Motorsports at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1994, where he tied his career-best finish, and Pocono Raceway in 1995.
In 1995, Pancho also raced two Craftsman Truck Series races, driving for Enerjetix Motorsports.

## Post-racing career

Carter currently acts as a spotter for Dale Coyne Racing.

## Personal life

Duane "Pancho" Carter Jr. is the son of Indy car racer Duane Carter Sr. He was born while his parents were on the way to a race at the Milwaukee Mile. His father's nickname was "Pappy". Pappy referred to his wife's pregnancy as "little paunch," so they nicknamed the child Pancho. Carter is the half-brother of Johnny Parsons. Their mother, Azra divorced Johnnie Parsons, and eventually remarried, to Duane Carter Sr.
His full brother, Dana Carter, also raced in USAC midgets, sprints and Silver Crown. Dana qualified but was bumped at the 1979 Indianapolis 500. He returned in 1980, but suffered a crash in practice. After a sabbatical from racing, he was back behind the wheel in 1982. Dana died of a heart attack on May 6, 1983, the morning after finishing second in a USAC midget race at the Indianapolis Speedrome.
Carter is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach. He is married, to Carla; they have two children, Dane and Cole which spot for Paul Miller Racing’s IMSA entries and also spot for Andretti Autosport’s Indy car and rally cross entries.

## Motorsports career results
### American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

#### USAC Champ Car/Gold Crown Series

USAC Champ Car/Gold Crown results :
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Rank | Points |
| 1974 | Fletcher Racing | ONT | ONT | ONT | PHX | TRE | INDY 7 | MIL | POC 15 | MCH 9 | MIL 12 | MCH 2 | TRE 9 | TRE 6 | PHX 9 | | | | | 12th | 1040 |
| 1975 | Fletcher Racing | ONT 2 | ONT | ONT 19 | PHX 8 | TRE | INDY 4 | MIL 6 | POC 24 | MCH 4 | MIL 14 | MCH 8 | TRE DNS | PHX 8 | | | | | | 9th | 1345 |
| 1976 | All American Racers | PHX 2 | TRE 7 | INDY 5 | MIL 18 | POC 14 | MCH | TWS | TRE | MIL | ONT 29 | MCH DNS | TWS 10 | PHX | | | | | | 12th | 920 |
| 1977 | All American Racers | ONT 3 | PHX 20 | TWS 11 | TRE 9 | INDY 15 | MIL 5 | POC 20 | MOS | MCH 10 | TWS 3 | MIL 2 | ONT 14 | MCH | | | | | | 8th | 1420 |
| 1977 | Alex Morales Motorsports | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHX 3 | | | | | 8th | 1420 |
| 1978 | Fletcher Racing | PHX | ONT | TWS | TRE | INDY 24 | MOS 15 | MIL 21 | POC 10 | MCH DNS | ATL 11 | TWS 11 | MIL | ONT 2 | MCH 18 | TRE 7 | SIL | BRH | PHX 9 | 10th | 1206 |
| 1979 | Alex Morales Motorsports | ONT | TWS | INDY 20 | MIL | POC | TWS | MIL | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1980 | Alex Morales Motorsports | ONT 18 | INDY 6 | MIL 4 | POC 6 | MDO 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 1078 |
| 1981-82 | Alex Morales Motorsports | INDY 28 | POC | ILL | DUQ | ISF | INDY 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |

#### PPG Indycar Series

CART IndyCar World Series results :
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Rank | Points |
| 1979 | Alex Morales Motorsports | PHX 20 | ATL 9 | ATL 11 | INDY 20 | TRE 10 | TRE 8 | MCH 7 | MCH 14 | WGL 16 | TRE DNS | ONT 28 | MCH 8 | ATL 13 | PHX 7 | | | | 13th | 452 |
| 1980 | Alex Morales Motorsports | ONT 18 | INDY 6 | MIL 4 | POC 6 | MDO 7 | MCH 3 | WGL 7 | MIL 22 | ONT 7 | MCH 7 | MEX 22 | PHX 19 | | | | | | 5th | 1855 |
| 1981 | Alex Morales Motorsports | PHX 7 | MIL 20 | ATL 5 | ATL 5 | MCH 1 | RIV 10 | MIL 10 | MCH 18 | WGL 15 | MEX 6 | PHX 5 | | | | | | | 3rd | 166 |
| 1982 | Alex Morales Motorsports | PHX 6 | ATL 10 | MIL 13 | CLE 19 | MCH 18 | MIL 6 | POC 28 | RIV 19 | ROA 11 | MCH 12 | PHX 11 | | | | | | | 17th | 47 |
| 1983 | Alex Morales Motorsports | ATL 16 | INDY 7 | MIL 14 | CLE 8 | MCH 6 | ROA 7 | POC 6 | RIV 7 | MDO 10 | MCH 15 | CPL 6 | LAG 25 | PHX 10 | | | | | 10th | 53 |
| 1984 | Galles Racing | LBH | PHX | INDY 19 | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH 6 | ROA | POC 7 | MDO | SAN | MCH | PHX 7 | LAG | CPL 11 | | 21st | 22 |
| 1985 | Galles Racing | LBH 13 | INDY 33 | MIL 5 | POR 13 | MEA | CLE 16 | MCH 16 | ROA | POC 12 | MDO | SAN 2 | MCH 10 | LAG | PHX 7 | MIA | | | 18th | 33 |
| 1986 | Galles Racing | PHX | LBH | INDY 16 | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH 3 | POC 3 | MDO | SAN 15 | MCH | ROA | LAG | PHX | MIA | 19th | 28 |
| 1987 | Machinists Union Racing | LBH | PHX | INDY 27 | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH 20 | POC 6 | ROA 14 | MDO 14 | NAZ 17 | LAG 12 | MIA 14 | | | 25th | 9 |
| 1988 | Machinists Union Racing | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ | MIL | POR | CLE | TOR | MEA | MCH | POC | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | MIA | | | NC | - |
| 1989 | Leader Card Racing | PHX 7 | LBH 17 | INDY 22 | MIL 9 | DET 10 | POR 9 | CLE 14 | MEA 13 | TOR 27 | MCH 26 | POC 12 | MDO 28 | ROA 19 | NAZ 18 | LAG 24 | | | 13th | 18 |
| 1990 | Leader Card Racing | PHX 8 | LBH | INDY 29 | MIL 15 | DET 9 | POR 15 | CLE 14 | MEA 18 | TOR 18 | MCH 18 | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | | 20th | 9 |
| 1991 | Arciero Racing | SRF | LBH | PHX | INDY 21 | MIL 14 | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | | | | | | | | 26th | 3 |
| 1991 | Leader Card Racing | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 10 | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | 26th | 3 |
| 1992 | Hemelgarn Racing | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ | DET | POR | MIL | | | | | | | | | | | 31st | 2 |
| 1992 | Gilmore Racing | | | | | | | | NHA 11 | TOR | MCH 17 | CLE | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | | 31st | 2 |
| 1994 | McCormack Motorsports | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MCH | MDO | NHA | VAN | ROA | NAZ | LAG | | NC | - |

#### Indianapolis 500

| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish |
| 1974 | Eagle | Offy | 21st | 7th |
| 1975 | Eagle | Offy | 18th | 4th |
| 1976 | Eagle | Offy | 6th | 5th |
| 1977 | Eagle | Offy | 8th | 15th |
| 1978 | Lightning | Cosworth | 21st | 24th |
| 1979 | Lightning | Cosworth | 17th | 20th |
| 1980 | Penske | Cosworth | 8th | 6th |
| 1981 | Penske | Cosworth | 10th | 28th |
| 1982 | March | Cosworth | 10th | 3rd |
| 1983 | March | Cosworth | 14th | 7th |
| 1984 | March | Cosworth | 21st | 19th |
| 1985 | March | Buick | 1st | 33rd |
| 1986 | Lola | Cosworth | 14th | 16th |
| 1987 | March | Cosworth | 29th | 27th |
| 1988 | March | Buick | Qualifying Crash | |
| 1989 | Lola | Cosworth | 32nd | 22nd |
| 1990 | Lola | Cosworth | 22nd | 29th |
| 1991 | Lola | Buick | 32nd | 21st |
| 1992 | Lola | Buick | Failed to Qualify | |
| 1994 | Lola | Chevrolet | Failed to Qualify | |

### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1985 | Ellington Racing | 1 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR 22 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | | | 88th | 97 | |
| 1986 | Langley Racing | 64 | Ford | DAY 34 | RCH | CAR 23 | ATL 38 | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 38th | 706 | |
| 1986 | Hamby Racing | 17 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | TAL 18 | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC 28 | MCH 17 | DAY 28 | POC | TAL 40 | GLN 31 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | | | 38th | 706 |
| 1990 | Romine Racing | 29 | Ford | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL 32 | | | 90th | 67 | |
| 1992 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 32 | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | 82nd | 67 | |
| 1994 | Triad Motorsports | 78 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | SON | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | DAY | NHA | POC | TAL | IND | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT DNQ | CAR | PHO | ATL 17 | 60th | 112 | |
| 1995 | Triad Motorsports | 78 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL DNQ | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | SON | CLT | DOV | POC 35 | MCH | DAY | NHA | POC | TAL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 63rd | 58 | |
| 1995 | Cave Motorsports | 78 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IND DNQ | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL | 63rd | 58 | |

#### SuperTruck Series

NASCAR SuperTruck Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | NSTSC | Pts | Ref |
| 1995 | Enerjetix Motorsports | 99 | Chevy | PHO | TUS | SGS DNQ | MMR 28 | POR 16 | EVG | I70 | LVL | BRI | MLW | CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | RCH | MAR | NWS | SON | MMR | PHO | 49th | 349 | |