Lewis Strang (born Louis Putnam Strang, August 7, 1884 – July 20, 1911)[1] was an American racing driver.[2][3]
Strang was born on August 7, 1884, in Amsterdam, New York. In 1908, he won the First American International Road Race, held in Briarcliff Manor, New York. As the first entrant for the 1911 Indianapolis 500, which predated modern on-track qualifications, Strang was pole sitter for the race.
Strang was killed in a testing accident in Wisconsin on July 20, 1911. He was driving approximately 5 to 10 miles an hour and trying to avoid an approaching farmer. Strang's car became embedded in soft dirt, causing it to tumble down an embankment. He was pinned underneath the overturned vehicle and was crushed to death. [2][4]
In 1951, negationist sportswriter Russ Catlin selected Strang as the 1908 AAA National Champion.[5]
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Lewis Strang was killed today when his motor car went into a ditch near Blue River, Wis. ... Lewis Strang was 26 years old and was born in New York, but had been connected with the Case company for years. He had driven in practically every race of importance since 1907. In 1907 he was the winner of the circular track mile at Birmingham, Ala., and made a mile record in Nashville. He was a winner in 1908 at Savannah in a road race, also at Lowell, Mass., and at Brighton Beach. In 1909 he was a winner at Ormond Beach, making 100 miles in 94 minutes. In 1910, on the Indianapolis motor speedway, he made a quarter mile record in 8 seconds, making 119 miles an hour, one kilometer, 22 seconds; five miles in 3 minutes 17 seconds.
