James Ernest Bryan (January 28, 1926 - June 19, 1960) was an American racecar driver.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bryan died as a result of injuries sustained in a champ car race at Langhorne Speedway. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1952-1960 seasons with 72 starts, including each year's Indianapolis 500 race. He finished in the top ten 54 times, with 23 victories.

Bryan won the 1958 Indianapolis 500 and the 1954 AAA and 1956 and 1957 USAC National Championship. During his 1957 championship season, Bryan also won the inaugural running of the Race of Two Worlds at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy.

He died after a crash in a Champ car race at Langhorne Speedway in 1960, on the same day that two drivers were killed in the Belgian Grand Prix, making the day one of the most tragic in racing history.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1952 77 21 134.142 27 6 200 0 Running 1953 8 31 135.506 29 14 183 0 Flagged 1954 9 3 139.665 4 2 200 46 Running 1955 1 11 140.160 7 24 90 31 Fuel Pump 1956 2 19 143.741 9 19 185 0 Flagged 1957 1 15 141.188 17 3 200 0 Running 1958 1 7 144.185 8 1 200 139 Running 1959 6 20 142.118 24 33 1 0 Clutch 1960 10 10 144.532 13 19 152 0 Fuel Pump Totals 1411 216

Starts 9 Poles 0 Front Row 1 Wins 1 Top 5 3 Top 10 4 Retired 3

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. Jimmy Bryan participated in 9 World Championship races. He started on the pole 0 times, won 1 race, set 0 fastest laps, and finished on the podium 3 times. He accumulated a total of 18 championship points.

Awards

• He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1994.
• He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1999.
• He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001.

References

External links

• Grand Prix History, Jimmy Bryan