Second in His First Indianapolis 500

Mike Nazaruk finished second on his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1951, when the race counted toward the World Championship.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Mike Nazaruk served as a Marine at Guam and Guadalcanal during the Second World War and promised himself he would become a racing driver if he survived. Nicknamed Iron Mike, he raced midgets, sprint cars and championship cars, joining the AAA in 1950.

His first Indianapolis 500, in 1951, was then a round of the World Championship, and he finished second from seventh on the grid. He started again in 1953 and 1954, finishing fifth in the latter, for three championship starts in all. He won 14 national midget tour events, and he was killed in a sprint car race at Langhorne in May 1955.

0 world titles, 0 wins, 0 pole positions, 3 starts.

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