# Dick Rathmann

James Merwin "Dick" Rathmann (January 6, 1926 – February 1, 2000) was an American racing driver.
Rathmann and his younger brother swapped names while teenagers. He was an 18-year-old going by the name of Jim Rathmann, when his brother wanted to start racing. To help him enter races, he traded I.D.s with him, and assumed the identity of "Dick Rathmann." The name change stuck for life in public circles.
He drove in the AAA Championship Car series in the 1949 and 1950 seasons with 4 starts, including the 1950 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, in 6th position at Milwaukee in 1950.
In 1951, he moved to NASCAR, where he was a very successful Grand National driver through 1955.
In 1956, he returned to the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956–1964 seasons with an additional 41 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1956 and 1958–1964. He finished in the top ten 21 more times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1959 at Daytona.
Rathmann sat on the pole for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. On the first lap, he and fellow front-row starter Ed Elisian raced into turn 3 and started a chain-reaction accident which involved 15 cars and claimed the life of Pat O'Connor. With that accident, Rathmann became the first Indy pole-sitter to complete no laps. This feat has been repeated only twice in Indy history, first by Roberto Guerrero and then by Scott Sharp.
Rathmann was the elder brother of 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann. The two switched names in 1946 so his younger brother could enter a race while underage. For what was supposed to be a short time, he adopted the name "Dick" and his brother adopted the name "Jim". The change stuck for life.
In 2009, Rathmann was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.

## World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Dick Rathmann participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once and accumulated a total of 2 World Championship points.

## Racing record
### American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

#### USAC Championship Car

| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos | Points |
| 1949 | ARL | INDY | MIL | TRE | SPR | MIL | DUQ | PIK | SYR | DET | SPR | LAN | SAC 17 | DMR DNQ | – | 0 |
| 1950 | INDY 32 | MIL 6 | LAN 13 | SPR | MIL | PIK | SYR | DET | SPR | SAC | PHX | BAY | DAR | | 35th | 80 |
| 1956 | INDY 5 | MIL 21 | LAN 15 | DAR 15 | ATL | SPR DNQ | MIL 25 | DUQ | SYR DNQ | ISF DNQ | SAC 9 | PHX DNQ | | | 16th | 540 |
| 1957 | INDY Rpl | LAN | MIL | DET | ATL | SPR 12 | MIL 16 | DUQ | SYR | ISF DNQ | TRE 16 | SAC | PHX DNQ | | 39th | 10 |
| 1958 | TRE | INDY 27 | MIL 14 | LAN | ATL | SPR | MIL 24 | DUQ | SYR | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | | – | 0 |
| 1959 | DAY 5 | TRE | INDY 20 | MIL DNQ | LAN 7 | SPR 6 | MIL 7 | DUQ 12 | SYR | ISF DNQ | TRE | SAC | PHX | | 16th | 370 |
| 1960 | TRE | INDY 31 | MIL 10 | LAN 10 | SPR | MIL 3 | DUQ DNQ | SYR | ISF DNQ | TRE 10 | SAC | PHX | | | 17th | 370 |
| 1961 | TRE 4 | INDY 13 | MIL 3 | LAN 6 | MIL 4 | SPR 3 | DUQ DNQ | SYR | ISF 10 | TRE 20 | SAC | PHX | | | 10th | 750 |
| 1962 | TRE 20 | INDY 24 | MIL DNQ | LAN | TRE 18 | SPR | MIL 16 | LAN | SYR | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | | – | 0 |
| 1963 | TRE | INDY 10 | MIL DNQ | LAN | TRE | SPR | MIL | DUQ | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | | | 23rd | 150 |
| 1964 | PHX | TRE | INDY 7 | MIL | LAN | TRE | SPR | MIL | DUQ | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | | 20th | 300 |

##### Indianapolis 500

| Year | Car | Start | Qual | Rank | Finish | Laps | Led | Retired |
| 1950 | 45 | 18 | 130.928 | 17 | 32 | 25 | 0 | Stalled |
| 1956 | 18 | 4 | 144.471 | 6 | 5 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 1957 | 73 | | 140.780 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1958 | 97 | 1 | 145.974 | 1st | 27 | 0 | 0 | Crash T3 |
| 1959 | 73 | 4 | 144.248 | 5 | 20 | 150 | 0 | Fire in the pit |
| 1960 | 97 | 4 | 145.543 | 6 | 31 | 42 | 0 | Brake Line |
| 1961 | 97 | 6 | 146.033 | 8 | 13 | 164 | 0 | Fuel Pump |
| 1962 | 9 | 13 | 147.161 | 13 | 24 | 51 | 0 | Magneto |
| 1963 | 22 | 17 | 149.130 | 14 | 10 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 1964 | 23 | 12 | 151.860 | 17 | 7 | 197 | 0 | Flagged |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 1029 | 0 | |
| Starts | 9 |
| Poles | 1 |
| Front Row | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Top 5 | 1 |
| Top 10 | 3 |
| Retired | 6 |
* Rathmann qualified for the 1957 race, but was mugged the night before the event. He was replaced in the car by Johnnie Parsons.

### NASCAR

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

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National 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 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | NGNC | Pts |
| 1951 | Warren Fraser | 12 | Ford | DAB | CLT | NMO | GAR 7 | HBO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 1040 |
| 1951 | Walt Chapman | 120 | Ford | | | | | | ASF 28 | NWS | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 1040 | |
| 1951 | Walt Chapman | 120 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | CAN 9 | CLS | CLB 31 | DSP 2 | GAR | GRS 2 | BAI 2 | HEI 31 | AWS | MCF | ALS | | | MOR 33 | ABS 9 | DAR | CLB | CCS | | | | | | | | | OAK 20 | NWS | HMS | JSP | ATL | GAR | NMO | | | | | | | 8th | 1040 |
| 1951 | Walt Chapman | 21 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MSF 55 | | | | | | | LAN 3 | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 1040 | |
| 1951 | Walt Chapman | 121 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | FMS 25 | | | | | | | | DSP 25 | WIL | HBO | TPN | PGS | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 1040 |
| 1952 | Walt Chapman | 120 | Hudson | PBS | DAB 60 | JSP | NWS 23 | MAR 1 | CLB 3 | ATL 16 | CCS 24 | LAN 1** | DAR 1 | DSP 1* | | | FMS 2 | HBO 3 | CLT 5 | MSF 38 | NIF 12 | OSW 3 | MON 14 | MOR | PPS | MCF 3 | AWS 15 | | | LAN 5 | DSP 1 | WIL 5 | | MAR 16* | NWS 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 3952.5 |
| 1952 | | | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | CAN 11 | HAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 3952.5 | |
| 1952 | Walt Chapman | 20 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 35 | CCS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 3952.5 |
| 1952 | Bruce Atchley | 107 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HBO 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 3952.5 | |
| 1952 | George Hutchens | 2 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 14 | PBS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 3952.5 |
| 1953 | Walt Chapman | 120 | Hudson | PBS 22 | DAB 12 | HAR 2 | NWS 2 | CLT 13 | RCH 2 | CCS 1 | | CLB 16 | HCY 5 | MAR 3 | PMS 2 | RSP 6 | LOU 2 | FIF 2 | LAN 1** | TCS 2 | WIL 2 | MCF 2 | PIF 10 | MOR 1* | ATL 2 | RVS 2 | LCF 1 | DAV 4 | HBO 19 | AWS 14 | PAS 4 | | DAR 42 | CCS 16 | LAN 1 | BLF 2 | WIL 6 | NWS 24 | MAR | ATL | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7362 |
| 1953 | | | Plymouth | | | | | | | | LAN 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7362 | |
| 1953 | | | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HCY 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 7362 | |
| 1954 | John Ditz | 3 | Hudson | PBS 23 | DAB 4 | JSP 23 | ATL 3 | OSP | | NWS 1 | HBO 4 | CCS 2 | LAN 3 | WIL 13 | MAR 11 | SHA 3 | RSP 2 | | | CLB 3 | LND 8 | HCY 4 | MCF 3 | WGS 2 | PIF 7 | AWS 3 | SFS 1* | GRS 3 | MOR 4* | OAK | CLT 2 | | | DAR DNQ | CCS | CLT 4 | LAN 7 | MAS 2 | MAR 4 | NWS 5* | | | | | | | | | 4th | 6760 |
| 1954 | Ray Erickson | 3 | Hudson | | | | | | OAK 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 6760 | |
| 1954 | Gene Comstock | 108 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 13 | GAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 6760 |
| 1954 | Don Oliver | 12 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 6760 | |
| 1954 | Frank Christian | 8 | Hudson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | COR 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 6760 | |
| 1955 | John Ditz | 13 | Hudson | TCS 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2298 |
| 1955 | John Ditz | 3 | Hudson | | PBS 4 | JSP 2 | | OSP 3 | CLB 3 | | NWS 2 | MGY 9 | LAN 4 | CLT 18 | HCY 17 | ASF | TUS | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2298 |
| 1955 | Ernest Woods | 88 | Olds | | | | DAB 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2298 |
| 1955 | Dave Terrell | 98 | Olds | | | | | | | HBO 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2298 | |
| 1955 | John Ditz | 3 | Chrysler | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RCH 24 | NCF 23 | FOR 4 | LIN | MCF | FON | AIR | CLT | PIF 14 | CLB | AWS | MOR 27 | ALS | NYF | | | | | | DAR 62 | MGY | LAN 30 | RSP | GPS | MAS | CLB | MAR | LVP | NWS | HBO | 18th | 2298 |
| 1955 | Don Oliver | 5 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN 24 | CLT | FOR | MAS | RSP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2298 |

#### Pacific Coast Late Model Division

NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division 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 | 32 | NPCC | Pts |
| 1954 | Ray Erickson | 3 | Hudson | OAK 1 | CAS | HMS | BST | OAK | VSP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 660 |
| 1954 | Don Oliver | 12 | Olds | | | | | | | SAN 3 | BST | CAP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 660 |
| 1955 | Don Oliver | 5 | Olds | ASF | TUS | LAS | COS | HMS | BST | LAS | SAN 24 | COS | BST | LAS | LVP | LAS | WSS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | – |
| 1956 | Hoyt Platt | 66 | Mercury | LAS | ASF | LAS | LAS | SMS | LAS | BMT | POR | LAS | EUR | MER | BST | HBS | POR | LAS | BST | CSF | BMT | COS | BKS | LAS | SAN | POR | BST | LAS | HUG | POR | LAS | SCF | LAS | WSS | LAS DNQ | – | – |

### Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | WDC | Pts |
| 1950 | A. J. Watson | Watson | Offenhauser L4 | GBR | MON | 500 Ret | SUI | BEL | FRA | ITA | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1956 | Lee Elkins | Kurtis Kraft 500C | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | MON | 500 5 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | | | | 19th | 2 |
| 1957 | Chapman Root | Kurtis Kraft 500G | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | MON | 500 Rpl | FRA | GBR | GER | PES | ITA | | | | – | – |
| 1958 | Lee Elkins | Watson | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | MON | NED | 500 Ret | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | POR | ITA | MOR | NC | 0 |
| 1959 | Lee Elkins | Watson | Offenhauser L4 | MON | 500 Ret | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | POR | ITA | USA | | | NC | 0 |
| 1960 | Jim Robbins | Watson | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | MON | 500 Ret | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | POR | ITA | USA | | NC | 0 |