Josele Garza is a Mexican professional race car driver. He started seven Indianapolis 500 races. Garza was the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after starting sixth, leading 13 laps, and finishing 23rd at the age of 19. At 19 years, two months, and nine days, Garza is the second youngest driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and was not surpassed until 2003 by A. J. Foyt IV. USAC rules at the time required drivers to be 21 years of age, but Garza's racing license listed him as being 22 years old. Garza claims he does not know how the error occurred, but he did not notify officials of the error. He finished 10th in the 1984 Indianapolis 500.
Garza at the 1986 Indianapolis 500
Garza qualifying for the 1987 Indianapolis 500
Josele Garza at the 2016 Brickyard SVRA Pro-Am race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The 65th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday, May 24, 1981. The race is widely considered one of the most controversial races in Indy history. Bobby Unser took the checkered flag as the winner, with Mario Andretti finishing second. After the conclusion of the race, USAC officials ruled that Unser had passed cars illegally while exiting the pit area during a caution on lap 149. Unser was subsequently issued a one-position penalty. The next morning, the official race results were posted, and Unser was dropped to second place. Andretti was elevated to first place and declared the race winner.
1981 Indianapolis 500
Ticket stub
Bobby Unser finished first but was penalized after the race for an infraction, and was dropped to second place in the official results. He was reinstated the victory on October 9.
Mario Andretti finished second, but was declared the winner after Bobby Unser's penalty was issued. Andretti was returned to second on October 9 when Unser's victory was reinstated.