As many will know, from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s one of the most prestigious achievements for an Indy 500 driver was to attain membership of the Champion 100mph club. This was done by driving the full 200 laps (without relief assistance) at an average speed of over 100mph.
The club died off at the end of the 1960s, and most references state that the final membership list consisted of 124 members. The final two to make the list were Denny Hulme and Ronnie Duman for finishing respectively 4th and 6th in 1968. The 1969 race had no new qualifying members, and the club had ceased to be by the time Al Unser qualified by winning in 1970.
This would seem to make Ronnie Duman the final driver to gain membership. However, the few contemporary sources that I have all say he was only credited with 199 laps. His engine blew on the final corner, and although he did make it across the line, it was implied that as starter Pat Vidan was already showing both the red and chequered flags then the race was officially over just before Duman made it.
A cruel way to miss out on club membership if so, and sadly just days later Duman was killed in that horrific accident at Milwaukee. Pure speculation, but did this have any influence on the officials or the club membership? Nowadays many sources credit him with completing the full 200 laps, but I don't know if this change was made within his lifetime.
I assume he was granted Champion 100mph club membership (posthumously of course) as part of that 1968 cohort, but don't know that for sure.
Does anyone know more?
Edited by Collombin, 08 July 2024 - 18:42.