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Herk qualified and drove a conventional rear-engined Eagle in the 1974 Indy 500. I was there the day he qualified. The front-engine Mallard roadster was at the track every year after that including 1978. Jim made his last 500 in '74, running in the top 15 in that rear-engined car -- if not the top 10 -- before he had mechanical problems.
He made qualifying runs in 1978, but did not have enough speed. Finally, USAC officials did not allow another attempt -- prompting Jim to jump over the pit wall and start running down the front straight after telling them that if they would not allow him to qualify his car, then he would qualify himself. He was banned from the Speedway until 24 hours after the completion of the race.
I miss heroes like that. It made the 500 interesting. Now the focus is on if Danica has the longest hair in the IRL, and on what part of the body.
Jim Morrison
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