Danny Sullivan

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Infobox racing driver

Daniel John Sullivan III (born March 9, 1950), better known as Danny Sullivan, is an American former racing driver. He earned 17 wins in the CART Indy Car World Series, including the 1985 Indianapolis 500. Sullivan won the 1988 CART Championship, and placed third in points in 1986. Sullivan also scored a victory in IROC. He competed in the 1983 Formula One season with Tyrrell, scoring 2 championship points.

Before racing

Sullivan was born in Louisville, Kentucky to a building contractor father. He attended the Kentucky Military Institute and then the Jim Russell Racing School. He had several odd jobs before his racing career, including lumberjack, and most famously, New York City cab driver.<ref name="forix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Formula One

Sullivan was given a 21st birthday present of a course at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at the Snetterton circuit in England. He competed in Formula Ford, Formula Three and Formula Two before returning to race in the United States.

In 1980–81, he drove for Garvin Brown Racing in the SCCA Can-Am Series, scoring one victory in 1981 at the season-ending Caesars Palace Grand Prix.

In 1982, he made his début in the PPG Indycar series, and was recruited by the Tyrrell Formula One team for the Template:F1 season at the request of primary sponsor Benetton, who wanted an American driver. Sullivan competed in the fifteen races of the 1983 season, scoring two points with a fifth place at the Monaco Grand Prix and finishing seventeenth in the World Drivers' Championship. He also performed strongly in the non-championship Race of Champions held at the Brands Hatch circuit in April, seeing off an early race challenge from Template:F1 World Champion Alan Jones, before finishing second behind reigning World Champion Keke Rosberg, finishing only half-a-second behind the Williams after 40 laps of racing.

Nevertheless, he was somewhat overshadowed by his more experienced teammate, Michele Alboreto (who won the 1983 Detroit Grand Prix for the team, its last F1 victory), and was not retained at the end of the season.

CART career

File:DannySullivanLola.jpg

Sullivan's Lola T800 at Laguna Seca in 1984.

File:1988Indy500timetrials.jpg

Sullivan during time trials as the 1988 Indianapolis 500.

For 1984, Sullivan returned to North America, where he competed in the CART PPG Indy Car series. He first landed at Shierson Racing, winning three races including the Pocono 500, and placing 4th in points. In 1985, he moved to Penske Racing, winning the 1985 Indianapolis 500. His victory at Indy, known in auto racing lore as the "spin and win" is one of the most legendary moments in Indy 500 history.

Sullivan would set the pace at Indy again in 1988, qualifying second and leading 91 of the first 101 laps. Sullivan was part of the all-Penske front row with teammates Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr. A wing adjuster broke on Sullivan's car just after the halfway mark, and his car hit the outside wall in turn one, ending his day. Nevertheless, he rebounded, posting finishes of 4th or better over the next six races, winning at Portland and the Michigan 500. The win at Michigan completed a career Indy car Triple Crown (Indianapolis, Michigan, Pocono). He finished the season with five top-5 finishes over the final five races, including two wins. At the second-to-last race of the season at Laguna Seca, Sullivan won the pole position, led the most laps, and won the race. With still one race remaining, Sullivan clinched the 1988 CART championship, holding an insurmountable 35-point lead. It was Sullivan's first championship title and Penske's first since 1985.

In 1989, Sullivan suffered a broken arm in a crash during practice for the Indy 500, and would miss two races. He rebounded to win the Pocono 500 in August - his second win in that event - and one other race to place a respectable 7th in points. Sullivan's last season with Penske Racing was 1990. He won two races in 1990, including the season finale at Laguna Seca. He won the pole and led wire-to-wire in his final start for Roger Penske.

In 1991, Sullivan switched to the Patrick Racing Alfa Romeo team. After going winless in 1991 in a very uncompetitive machine, he parted ways with Patrick. Sullivan won two more CART races between 1992 and 1993, driving for Galles-Kraco Racing. He scored the first win for the Galmer chassis at Long Beach. It came after he bumped teammate and race leader Al Unser Jr. on the backstretch with less than four laps to go. The incident sparked friction within the team. His later years were plagued with inconsistency, leading to a semi-retirement in 1994. His brief tenure at Galles was described as particularly toxic.<ref name="MPP">Template:Cite episode</ref>

In 1986, Sullivan was a guest star on the television show Miami Vice ("Florence Italy") playing a race car driver accused of murdering a prostitute. The episode featured some short outdoor scenes in the pit lanes of the Miami Grand Prix. Sullivan had limited dialogue in the episode; his longest piece of dialogue was in a police station interrogation scene.

Also in 1991, the Leland Corporation released the arcade game Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat, featuring his likeness.

After Indy

File:Danny Sullivan - Alfa Corse - Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI 94 (46745275091).jpg

Danny Sullivan - Alfa Corse - Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI 94, Donington 1994 DTM

File:1994Brickyard400DannySullivan.jpg

Sullivan (#99) at the 1994 NASCAR Brickyard 400

In 1994, Sullivan took a sabbatical from Indy car racing. After being released from Galles Racing very late after the 1993 season, Sullivan was unable to find a new ride as most seats at that point had already been filled. He joined ABC/ESPN as a color commentator. He also attempted to run selected events in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series that season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, he failed to qualify for several events;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he qualified for only one race (the 1994 Brickyard 400), and finished 33rd for a very underfunded team. In 1994, he had some guest starts for Alfa Romeo in the DTM and together with Thierry Boutsen and Hans-Joachim Stuck he was third overall with the Dauer 962 LM at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He returned to CART racing for one final year in 1995. His season ended early after a serious crash at Michigan International Speedway. While recovering from a broken pelvis and other injuries, he announced his retirement from open-wheel competition. He returned to ABC-TV for 1996–1998.

Sullivan was a paid celebrity endorser for Danny Sullivan Lexus in Jacksonville, Florida. The Lexus Dealership was owned primarily by members of the Davis family, who were the founders of Winn Dixie supermarkets.

Sullivan was also instrumental in the Red Bull Driver Search program to find an American driver to compete in Formula One. The program successfully promoted American Scott Speed from California, who drove for the Scuderia Toro Rosso team in Template:F1 and Template:F1.

He was the drivers' representative on the stewards' panel for the 2010 German Grand Prix,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 2010 Singapore Grand Prix,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2013 Australian Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2014 Spanish Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2018 Chinese Grand Prix,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 2018 Monaco Grand Prix.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sullivan and Michael Andretti were inducted into the Motorsports Walk of Fame on April 5, 2010, along the route of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which both men have won.<ref name="longbeach">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sullivan serves as a senior advisor at Tempus Jets and its parent company, Orion Air Group, LLC. He also has various business relationships with Lexus, ABC/ESPN, CBS, Red Bull, Acura, and Toyota.<ref name="tempusjets">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards

Sullivan was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2012,<ref name=MSHoF>Danny Sullivan at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America</ref> and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2022.

Racing career results

CART career results

Year	Team	No.	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Rank	Points	Ref
1982	Forsythe Newman	33	March 82C	Cosworth DFX	PHX	ATL Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	CLE	MIS	MIL	POC	RIV	ROA	MIS2	PHX2							22nd	28	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1984	Shierson Racing	30	DSR-1	Cosworth DFX	LBH Template:Small	PHX Template:Small		MIL Template:Small														4th	110	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Lola T800				INDY Template:Small		POR Template:Small	MEA Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	POC Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	SAN Template:Small	MIS2 Template:Small	PHX2 Template:Small	LS Template:Small	LVG Template:Small
1985	Team Penske	4	March 85C	Cosworth DFX	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	POR Template:Small	MEA Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	POC Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	SAN Template:Small	MIS2 Template:Small	LS Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	MIA Template:Small			4th	126	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	Team Penske		March 86C	Cosworth DFX	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	POR Template:Small	MEA Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	POC Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	SAN Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	LS Template:Small	PHX2 Template:Small		3rd	147	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Penske PC-15	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A																	MIA Template:Small
1987	Team Penske	3	Penske PC-16	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A	LBH Template:Small	PHX Template:Small			POR Template:Small	MEA Template:Small												9th	87	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			March 86C				INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small			CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	POC Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small	MIA Template:Small
1988	Team Penske	9	Penske PC-17	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MEA Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	POC Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small	MIA Template:Small			1st	182	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	Team Penske	1	Penske PC-18	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR	CLE	MEA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	POC Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small			7th	107	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1990	Team Penske	7	Penske PC-19	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	MEA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	DEN Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small		6th	139	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1991	Patrick Racing	20	Lola T91/00	Alfa Romeo Indy V8	SRF Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	MEA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	DEN Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small	11th	56	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1992	Galles Racing	18	Galmer G92	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A	SRF Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	NHA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small		7th	99	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1993	Galles Racing	7	Lola T93/00	Ilmor-Chevrolet 265C	SRF Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	MIS	NHA Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	VAN Template:Small	MDO Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	LS Template:Small		12th	43	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1995	PacWest Racing	17	Reynard 95i	Ford XB	MIA Template:Small	SRF Template:Small	PHX Template:Small	LBH Template:Small	NAZ Template:Small	INDY Template:Small	MIL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	POR Template:Small	ROA Template:Small	TOR Template:Small	CLE Template:Small	MIS Template:Small	MDO	NHA	VAN	LS	19th	32	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired	Team
1982	53	13	196.292	17	14	148	0	Crash T4	Forsythe
1984	30	28	203.567	17	29	57	0	Broken Wheel	Shierson
1985	5	8	210.298	8	1	200	67	Running	Penske
1986	1	2	215.382	2	9	197	0	Flagged	Penske
1987	3	16	210.271	6	13	160	4	Engine	Penske
1988	9	2	216.214	2	23	101	91	Crash T1	Penske
1989	1	26	216.027	15	28	41	0	Rear Axle	Penske
1990	7	9	220.310	9	32	19	0	Crash T1	Penske
1991	20	9	218.343	17	10	173	0	Turbo	Patrick/Alfa Romeo
1992	18	8	224.838	9	5	199	0	Flagged	Galles/Kraco
1993	7	12	219.428	19	33	29	0	Crash T3	Galles
1995	17	18	225.496	29	9	199	0	Running	PacWest
Totals						1523	162

Starts	12
Poles	0
Front Row	2
Best Start	2nd
Wins	1
Top 5	2
Top 10	5
Retired	8
Laps Led	162
Races Led	3
Total Laps	1,523
Winnings	$2,064,211

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	WDC	Points
1983	Benetton Tyrrell Team	Tyrrell 011	Cosworth V8	BRA Template:Small	USW Template:Small	FRA Template:Small	SMR Template:Small	MON Template:Small	BEL Template:Small	DET Template:Small	CAN Template:Small	GBR Template:Small	GER Template:Small	AUT Template:Small	NED Template:Small	ITA Template:Small			17th	2
		Tyrrell 012															EUR Template:Small	RSA Template:Small

Non-Championship Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1
1983	Benetton Tyrrell Team	Tyrrell 011	Cosworth DFV V8	ROC Template:Small

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	Template:Tooltip	Pts	Ref
1994	Mattei Motorsports	99	Pontiac	DAY	CAR Template:Small	RCH																													74th	64	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Virtue Racing		Chevy				ATL Template:Small	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	SON	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	DAY	NHA	POC	TAL	IND Template:Small	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	PHO	ATL

24 Hours of Le Mans results

File:Dauer 962 LM - Hans-Joachim Stuck, Thierry Boutsen & Danny Sullivan enters the Esses at the 1994 Le Mans (31933503946).jpg

The Dauer 962 Le Mans Sullivan shared with Hans-Joachim Stuck and Thierry Boutsen in 1994

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
1988	Template:Flagicon Silk Cut Jaguar Template:Flagicon Tom Walkinshaw Racing	Template:Flagicon Price Cobb Template:Flagicon Davy Jones	Jaguar XJR-9LM	C1	331	16th	14th
1994	Template:Flagicon Le Mans Porsche Team	Template:Flagicon Thierry Boutsen Template:Flagicon Hans-Joachim Stuck	Dauer 962 Le Mans	LMGT1	343	3rd	2nd
1996	Template:Flagicon Team Bigazzi SRL	Template:Flagicon Johnny Cecotto Template:Flagicon Nelson Piquet	McLaren F1 GTR	LMGT1	324	8th	6th
2004	Template:Flagicon Barron Connor Racing	Template:Flagicon Thomas Biagi Template:Flagicon John Bosch	Ferrari 575-GTC	GTS	163	DNF	DNF

See also

• List of people from the Louisville metropolitan area

External links

• Grand Prix encyclopedia entry on Danny Sullivan
• Sullivan's 1985 win on Indy500.com Template:Webarchive
• The Greatest 33
• Sullivan spins 360 degrees and goes on to win the Indy 500
• Template:Racing-Reference driver
• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0838020

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