# Pete Halsmer

John Peter Halsmer (born March 3, 1944, in Lafayette, Indiana), is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 5 seasons (1980, 1982–1985), with 33 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981–1982. He finished in the top five three times in the CART series, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1983 at Cleveland. In 1992, Halsmer raced in the IROC series, representing IMSA. Pete drove for Ford/Roush (NASCAR owner Jack Roush) from 1986 through 1989 and won six Trans Am races and four GTO races winning the 1989 GTO championship. From 1990 through 1992 he drove for Mazda and won another GTO championship in 1991. From 1994 through 1997 he drove BMWs, winning four GT2 races and winning the Manufacturer's Title in 1996. From 1999 to 2004 he drove for and provided technical consulting for Honda America Race Team winning several championships in Motorola Cup and Grand Am Cup series. Halsmer is also a 3 time class winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona and was trained as a helicopter pilot and served in the Vietnam War.

## Early life and education

Halsmer graduated from Purdue University with degrees in industrial supervision and aviation electronics. He was drafted into the army and became a helicopter pilot. He served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in 1970.

## Racing record
### CART PPG IndyCar World Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Rank | Points |
| 1980 | Wysard Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | ONT 20 | INDY DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 128 |
| 1980 | Wysard Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | | | MIL | POC | MDO | MCH | WGL | MIL | ONT | MCH | MEX | PHX 6 | | | | | 36th | 128 |
| 1982 | Arciero Racing | Eagle | Chevrolet | PHX | ATL | MIL | CLE | MCH | MIL | POC | RIV 24 | ROA 19 | MCH | PHX 24 | | | | | | 43rd | 2 |
| 1983 | Arciero Racing | Penske | Cosworth | ATL 4 | INDY DNQ | MIL 9 | CLE 2 | MCH 33 | ROA 14 | POC 14 | RIV 27 | MDO 24 | MCH 14 | CPL 5 | LAG 20 | PHX 7 | | | | 11th | 48 |
| 1984 | Arciero Racing | Penske | Cosworth | LBH 8 | PHX 14 | INDY DNQ | MIL DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | 29th | 9 |
| 1984 | Arciero Racing | March | Cosworth | | | | | POR 22 | MEA 26 | CLE | | | POC 18 | MDO 13 | SAN 24 | MCH 18 | PHX 18 | LAG 26 | | 29th | 9 |
| 1984 | Arciero Racing | Arciero | Cosworth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CPL 9 | 29th | 9 |
| 1984 | Curb-All American Racers | Eagle | Pontiac | | | | | | | | MCH 14 | ROA | | | | | | | | 29th | 9 |
| 1985 | Machinists Union Racing | March | Cosworth | LBH | INDY DNQ | MIL 15 | POR 8 | MEA 19 | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC | MDO | SAN | MCH 11 | LAG | PHX | MIA | | 32nd | 7 |

### Indianapolis 500

| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
| 1981 | Penske | Cosworth | 24 | 24 | Arciero Racing |
| 1982 | Eagle | Chevrolet | 32 | 25 | Arciero Racing |

### SCCA National Championship Runoffs

| Year | Track | Car | Engine | Class | Finish | Start | Status |
| 1974 | Road Atlanta | Brabham BT29 | Cosworth | Formula B | 15 | 9 | Retired |
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

### Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results

| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pos | Points |
| 1977 | Race Research Inc. | TRE | MIL | MOS | PIR 3 | | | | | | | 12th | 140 |
| 1978 | Simpson Racers | PIR1 4 | TRE1 9 | MOS 6 | MIL1 21 | TEX 24 | MIL2 15 | OMS1 10 | OMS2 10 | TRE2 19 | PIR2 23 | 12th | 318 |
| 1979 | | TEX1 4 | IRP 9 | MIL1 8 | POC 8 | TEX2 12 | MIL2 5 | MIN1 4 | MIN2 2 | | | 4th | 650 |
| 1980 | Frank Arciero | MIL 3 | POC 2 | MDO 23 | MIN1 4 | MIN2 14 | ONT 1 | | | | | 2nd | 628 |