In the 1972 Indianapolis 500, Bettenhausen led 138 laps (of 200), and appeared on his way to victory. But he suffered a blown engine with only 24 laps remaining, and dropped out to finish 14th. In the 1991 Indianapolis 500, Bettenhausen was the fastest qualifier at 224.468 mph. As his time was recorded on the second day of qualifying, Rick Mears, who had qualified slower (224.113 mph), started on the pole position. NASCAR Bettenhausen competed in eight career NASCAR Winston Cup events. He had four Top 10 finishes. His highest career finish was a fourth-place finish at the 1974 Motor State 360 at the Michigan International Speedway. Awards He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993. He was a 1998 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Motorsports career results American open-wheel racing (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) USAC Championship Car PPG Indy Car World Series Indianapolis 500 NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) Grand National Series Winston Cup Series Daytona 500 References External links 1941 births 2014 deaths People from Tinley Park, Illinois Racing drivers from Illinois Indianapolis 500 drivers Champ Car drivers NASCAR drivers National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees People from Monrovia, Indiana People from Blue Island, Illinois Bettenhausen family Team Penske drivers USAC Silver Crown Series drivers Bettenhausen Racing drivers