Rose, Mauri

A member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Rose is one of the greatest Jewish auto racers in history. He won the Indianapolis 500 three times during his professional career. Rose was known as a careful driver who tried to qualify for a race on the first day and then watch his competition drive. He became only the second driver in history to win two consecutive Brickyard races (the first was the legendary Wilbur Shaw).

Rose dominated the Indy in the late 1940s before retiring to become an engineer in 1951. He took greater pride in his engineering skills than his driving, specifically his invention which allowed amputees to drive automobiles. During his prestigious career at Indianapolis, Rose had six podium finishes (top three), eight finishes in the top ten, and won the pole in 1945. He later drove the pace car at the 1967 Indy 500.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 26, 1906 � d. Jan. 1, 1981

Career Highlights:
Born in Ohio, Rose began his career in the late 1920s racing around dirt tracks before moving west to California and making a name for himself in the sport. In 1934, one year after his first competition at Indianapolis, Rose finished second at the famed Memorial Day 500 at the Indianapolis Speedway, losing to the legendary Wild Bill Cummings. Controversy surrounded the finish, as the owner of Rose�s car protested that Cummings had violated a caution flag and gained a lap as other drivers slowed down. The protest was not approved and Rose officially placed second.

In 1936, Rose finished fourth at the Indianapolis 500, but won the National (AAA) Driving Championship. Five years later, Rose finally won the elusive Indianapolis 500, but only with the help of another driver. In a Maserati owned by Lou Moore, Rose was forced to retire from the race after only 152 miles because of a broken carburetor. Another of Moore�s drivers, Floyd Davis, pulled into the pits a few moments later and complained he was too tired to continue the race. So Rose hopped into Davis� car, made up a significant amount of distance, and won the race at a speed of 115.117 miles per hour (it was the second time in race history that there were co-winners). The 1941 Indy 500 is also significant because half of pit row (Gasoline Alley) burned down on race morning; and because of World War II, the 500 was not raced again until 1945.

In 1947, six years after his first Indianapolis title, Rose won his second championship, again with the help of another driver, although this time Rose remained in his own car the entire race. Owner Lou Moore always entered two cars and in 1947, the other driver was a rookie by the name of Bill Holland. With 25 miles remaining in the race, Holland and Rose were 1-2 respectively when Moore flashed a sign reading �EZY� from the sidelines (Moore was afraid they would blow their engines and neither would win). Holland obeyed the sign and slowed down, but Rose, who had crashed the previous year, continued at a furious pace and passed his teammate. Rose crossed the line at a speed of 116.338 mph, the second fastest in Indianapolis history.

What made the race interesting, besides Rose's speed, was the fact that Holland miscalculated his lap count and believed that he, and not Rose, had won the race. Upon reaching the pits, he was informed of his mistake and admitted that he had slowed down because because he was so far ahead of the field, he had no fear of losing the race.

The following year, the racing world looked forward to another brilliant race between Rose and Holland at the Indianapolis Speedway, and they were not disappointed. On the 187th lap (out of 200), Holland was first and Rose second before the Jewish racer made history by passing his teammate and crossing the finish line at a record speed of 119.813 miles per hour. Only the second man to win back-to-back 500s (Wilbur Shaw was first), Rose also became only the third person to win the 500 for a third time (Shaw and Lou Meyer).

Rose raced in the Memorial Day 500 three more times (including almost winning a third straight title in 1949 before a cheap bolt broke and forced him out of the race; he finished 13th, and a third place finish in 1950) before walking away from a crash in 1951, his 16th Brickyard race. After retiring from racing, he became an engineer for an auto manufacturer, specializing in brakes. According to the encyclopedia of JEWS in sports, Rose observed, �At first, I think of the money, but then, pretty soon the dough is only part of it. You�re like the dope addict who can�t break away. After a while, you just can�t quit.� Rose finally did quit after 24 years in the sport and three 500 wins.

Origin:
Ohio

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