Jim McElreath (February 18, 1928 – May 18, 2017)

(AP) – Jim McElreath, a teenage dirt-track racer who went on to
become the 1962 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and race
in 15 Indy 500s, has died.

Separate statements issued by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
and Texas Motor Speedway say McElreath died Thursday in his
sleep at his home in Arlington, Texas.

McElreath had been one of eight surviving drivers who had driven
a front-engine car in the Indy 500, where rear-mounted engines
are now standard. He finished sixth or higher in the 500 six times,
finishing as high as third in the 1966 race.

McElreath retired from competition in 1984 and has been inducted
into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, the Texas
Motorsports Hall of Fame and the National Sprint Car Hall of
Fame.