Pat O'Connor

[ca. April 1957]

The most powerful car ever tested on the Indianapolis speedway is being taken to Monza, Italy, by a Firestone racing crew to test American race tires on the "fastest track in the world," the Autodrome di Monza. Veteran driver Pat O'Connor (left) and mechanic Ray Nichols, shown here with the test car, will drive thousands of miles on the Italian race track to determine the safest tires for the June 29 running of the International 500 race in which American drivers and American made tires are scheduled to appear for the first time. Speeds of more than 175 miles an hour are reached on the 2 1/2 mile banked oval at Monza.