Indianapolis 500 veteran Phil Krueger dies at 74

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday announced that Indianapolis 500 veteran Phil Krueger died at the age of 74.

Krueger, a veteran of two Indianapolis 500 starts, died Monday in Indianapolis.

Krueger, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, competed in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1986 and 1988. His best finish was eighth in 1988, completing 196 laps in the No. 97 CNC Systems Sales March-Cosworth fielded by R. Kent Baker Racing. Krueger also qualified a “500” career-best 15th that year.

Krueger’s performance in 1988 also earned him the Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award for his work tuning the 2-year-old car into a solid qualifying spot and top-10 finish, and guiding an all-new crew for the team.

Krueger was a regular competitor in May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the 1980s, turning laps every year from 1981-89 with small, low-budget teams with older equipment. He failed to qualify from 1983-85 and in 1989. He didn’t attempt to qualify in his first attempt at the race in 1981, or in 1982 or 1987 due to crashes in practice.

Krueger started his Month of May in 1987 as the chief mechanic for the Raynor Motorsports entry for Dennis Firestone. Krueger climbed into the team’s backup car as a driver after ...