 Palmer, uyo akarererwa muSyracuse, New York akanga atamira kuIndianapolis muna 1953. Nokukurumidza pashure pokujoinha dhipatimendi renhau reWIBC muIndianapolis akagamuchira kokero kubva kuVoice of the 500, Sid Collins kuti ajoine IMS Radio Network nokuda kwe1958 Indianapolis 500. Somunhu mutsva panhepfenyuro yacho, Palmer akagoverwa kunzvimbo iri kure zvikuru yechikamu chechitatu chenzira yacho nokuti hapana chinhu chinomboitika ikoko. Zvisinei, parutivi rwokutanga rwomutambo, Palmer akasundirwa kubasa, achishuma nezvokupindana kukuru kwemotokari 15 kwakaitika mukutendeuka. Tsaona yacho yakavhara nzira yacho chose chose ndokuguma norufu rwomutyairi Pat OConnor. Motokari yaJerry Unser yakabvisa rusvingo rwokunze rwokuchengetedza rwenzira zvichiita kuti atambure papfudzi rakakanganiswa panguva yekurovera kwekutanga. 