Close Enough Engineering

Gary Bettenhausen prepares to take a spin in the 1951 Indianapolis 500 winning, Belanger Special. Gary's father, Tony Bettenhausen, raced the #99 on the Championship Trail that year, winning 8 of the 14 races and taking the national championship. Tony had the opportunity to drive the car at Indianapolis but didn't think the little car would withstand the 500 miles. He was nearly correct, as Lee Wallard took the checkered flag with the shocks and brakes failing on the car. This was originally the Offenhauser/Meyer-Drake house car. But, it was sold to Belanger because their customers complained about the factory beating them so often.
The late Bill Spoerle, the IMS Museum's restorationist, and the man who kept the cars running leaning into the cockpit