Manny Ayulo

Manny Ayulo (October 20, 1921 - May 16, 1955): Born Manuel Leonedas Ayulo in Burbank, California, to a Peruvian diplomat stationed in Los Angeles, this American racing driver became one of the most innovative and promising talents in post-war American motorsport. Ayulo's contributions to racing extended beyond his driving ability - alongside his friend and teammate Jack McGrath, he helped establish track roadsters as viable and competitive race cars, fundamentally changing the landscape of American open-wheel racing in the early 1950s. His Hollywood connections and California roots brought a touch of glamour to the rough-and-tumble world of championship car racing. Throughout the early 1950s, Ayulo competed in the AAA Championship Car series, earning respect for his speed and technical understanding.

He made multiple starts at the Indianapolis 500, with his finest performance coming in 1951 when he secured a remarkable third-place finish on the podium, demonstrating his ability to compete with the sport's elite. His performances from 1951 through 1954 made him a Formula One participant during the era when Indianapolis counted toward the World Championship. Tragically, Ayulo's promising career ended during practice for the 1955 Indianapolis 500. On May 16, 1955, near the end of the practice day, Ayulo had been working intensively on his racing car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Some observers noted he appeared exhausted from the demanding preparation work in the days leading up to practice. When he realized the track was about to close, he quickly reassembled his car and took to the track for practice laps. His car suddenly crashed straight into a concrete wall, possibly due to a steering fault. Investigation revealed that Ayulo was not wearing a seat belt, and his pockets were found to be filled with wrenches from his recent mechanical work.

He succumbed to his injuries the following day at age 33, becoming one of two fatalities during the tragic 1955 Indianapolis 500 weekend.