RedAmick

Richard "Red" Amick: An American Racer's Brief Stint in Championship Cars

Richard "Red" Amick, an American racecar driver, was born on January 19, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri. His professional career in top-level open-wheel racing was concentrated across a three-year period in the late 1950s, primarily within the competitive landscape of the USAC Championship Car series. Amick's journey in motorsport concluded with his passing on May 16, 1995, in Crystal River, Florida.

USAC Championship Car and Formula One World Championship Appearances

Amick's presence in the USAC Championship Car series spanned the 1958, 1959, and 1960 seasons. During this relatively short timeframe, he accumulated five starts in this demanding championship. A significant highlight of his career was his participation in the iconic Indianapolis 500. During the era of Amick's racing, the Indianapolis 500 held a unique status, being formally recognized as a round of the Formula One World Championship. This meant that Amick's appearances at the Brickyard contributed to the official records of the nascent Formula One series, even though his primary focus was American championship racing. He contested the Indianapolis 500 on two occasions, making back-to-back starts in 1959 and 1960. In these high-stakes events, Amick navigated the challenging oval, securing his best finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1960, where he crossed the line in 11th position. Throughout his limited engagements in the USAC Championship Car series, Amick managed to achieve a single top-ten finish, a testament to his capabilities within a field of seasoned competitors. While his career statistics are concise, they reflect his participation in a pivotal period of American open-wheel racing, with its unique intersection with the global Formula One narrative.