Jimmy Murphy (racing driver)
James Anthony Murphy was an American racing driver who won the 1921 French Grand Prix, the 1922 Indianapolis 500, and the American Racing Championship in 1922 and 1924.
Murphy, right, with his riding mechanic Ernie Olson in 1920
Murphy, who began his racing career as a riding mechanic, is shown here with his own mechanic at Tacoma Speedway in 1922
1922 Indianapolis 500 and 1921 French Grand Prix winning car
The 1921 French Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Le Mans on 25 July 1921. The race was held over 30 laps of the 17.26 km circuit for a total distance of 517.8 km and was won by Jimmy Murphy driving a Duesenberg. This was the last victory for an American constructor in a major European race until the Ford GT40's triumph at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as in a Grand Prix race until the Dan Gurney's win with the Eagle car at the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix. The race did not feature a massed start, with cars released in pairs at one-minute intervals instead.
Jean Chassagne
Jimmy Murphy in his Duesenberg
Jimmy Murphy crossing the finish line to win the race