"The Clown Prince," Eddie Sachs
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"I think of Indianapolis every day of the year, every hour of the day, and when I sleep, too. Everything I ever wanted in my life, I found inside the walls of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I love it all, from the first to the last day in May. On the morning of the race, if you told me my house had burned down, I'd say, "So what?" The moment that race starts is always the greatest moment of my life, and the day I win that race, it will be as if my life has ended. There is nothing more I could want out of life."
- Eddie Sachs.
This quote represents the inspiration behind the "Road to Indy" 2016. It is the goal of Eddie Sachs Jr. and the entire operation of ESR to be in the Indy 500 in memory of Eddie Sachs' tragic death. For more information, please contact one of the team representatives located under the "Contact" link.
Eddie Sachs (May 28, 1927 – May 30, 1964) was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing.” He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular."
Sachs was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
His career highlights included:
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8 USAC Championship Trail wins
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25 top-five finishes in 65 career AAA and USAC starts, including the 1958 USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship
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8-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, 1957–64, winning the pole position in 1960 and 1961, with his best finish being second in 1961. Leading the race with only three laps to go, he saw his right rear tire begin to delaminate and pitted, handing victory to A.J. Foyt. Sachs never regretted his decision not to gamble on the tire, saying, "I'd sooner finish second than be dead."
Eddie Sachs Jr., the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 polesitter Eddie Sachs, has hopes to someday put together a Verizon IndyCar Series program for the Indianapolis 500 to honor his father
As a step into the Indy Car series, Sachs would like to try and put together an Indy Lights program for the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In order for the both of these programs to come together, the team needs to locate additional partnerships to put the final pieces in place.
If you would like to be involved with the "Road to Indy" program, please go to the "Contact" page! Thank you!