September 21, 1953
Arie Luyendyk
Also known as "The Flying Dutchman", Luyendyk is a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He started racing in the early 1970s, winning a number of Dutch national titles. In 1977, he won the European Super Vee championship, and switched to Formula Three. Success continued to elude him until he moved to the United States in 1984, where he immediately won the Super Vee championship.
Luyendyk ran his first full Champ Car season in 1985, winning the rookie of the year title both for the season and the Indianapolis 500. His first win in the series came five years later in 1990, at the most important race of the series, with a record average speed of 185.981 mph, Luyendyk won the 1990 Indianapolis 500 for Doug Shierson Racing.
Luyendyk continued to perform well at Indianapolis, scoring pole positions in 1993, 1997 and 1999, and retiring from the race while leading on three occasions. In 1996, he set the qualifying lap record at 237.498 mph (382.216 km/h), although he did not start on the pole because he qualified on the second day of time trials. He won the 1997 Indianapolis 500 from the pole over Treadway Racing teammate Scott Goodyear. It came under severe controversy when on the final restart the white & green flag waved to end a caution but the yellow lights stayed on with Arie Luyendyk pulling away to the win while the other competitors were confused. A similar finish involving a similar mistake almost took away a win from Luyendyk two weeks later. As a result USAC was removed of scoring the races.
Luyendyk also was selected to participate in the 1992, 1993, and 1998 editions of the International Race of Champions. He retired from racing after the 1999 season, and for a short time, joined ABC Sports as a color commentator. He returned to the Indy 500 in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, he entered at Indianapolis for the final time. He suffered a crash during practice, and did not make an attempt to qualify.
Other Luyendyk victories include the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The last corner of the Zandvoort track in the Netherlands carries his name. In 1999, he was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash award, reflecting upon his Indy 500 career.
His son, Arie Jr., is an Indy Lights racer. In 2014, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
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(Photo; Arie Luyendyk 2010 Indy 500 Practice Day - Manningmbd)
Born in Sommelsdijk, Netherlands.Also known as "The Flying Dutchman", Luyendyk is a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He started racing in the early 1970s, winning a number of Dutch national titles. In 1977, he won the European Super Vee championship, and switched to Formula Three. Success continued to elude him until he moved to the United States in 1984, where he immediately won the Super Vee championship.
Luyendyk ran his first full Champ Car season in 1985, winning the rookie of the year title both for the season and the Indianapolis 500. His first win in the series came five years later in 1990, at the most important race of the series, with a record average speed of 185.981 mph, Luyendyk won the 1990 Indianapolis 500 for Doug Shierson Racing.
Luyendyk continued to perform well at Indianapolis, scoring pole positions in 1993, 1997 and 1999, and retiring from the race while leading on three occasions. In 1996, he set the qualifying lap record at 237.498 mph (382.216 km/h), although he did not start on the pole because he qualified on the second day of time trials. He won the 1997 Indianapolis 500 from the pole over Treadway Racing teammate Scott Goodyear. It came under severe controversy when on the final restart the white & green flag waved to end a caution but the yellow lights stayed on with Arie Luyendyk pulling away to the win while the other competitors were confused. A similar finish involving a similar mistake almost took away a win from Luyendyk two weeks later. As a result USAC was removed of scoring the races.
Luyendyk also was selected to participate in the 1992, 1993, and 1998 editions of the International Race of Champions. He retired from racing after the 1999 season, and for a short time, joined ABC Sports as a color commentator. He returned to the Indy 500 in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, he entered at Indianapolis for the final time. He suffered a crash during practice, and did not make an attempt to qualify.
Other Luyendyk victories include the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The last corner of the Zandvoort track in the Netherlands carries his name. In 1999, he was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash award, reflecting upon his Indy 500 career.
His son, Arie Jr., is an Indy Lights racer. In 2014, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Buy this photo
This Day In Motorsport History - Home Page
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