Danny Sullivan

Lore & Background

Sullivan was born in Louisville, Kentucky to a building contractor father. He attended the Kentucky Military Institute and then the Jim Russell Racing School. He had several odd jobs before his racing career, including lumberjack, and most famously, New York City cab driver. Sullivan was given a 21st birthday present of a course at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at the Snetterton circuit in England. He competed in Formula Ford, Formula Three and Formula Two before returning to race in the United States. From 1980 to 1981, Sullivan drove for Garvin Brown Racing in the SCCA Can-Am Series, scoring one victory in 1981 at the season-ending Caesars Palace Grand Prix. In 1982, he made his début in the PPG Indycar series, and was recruited by the Tyrrell Formula One team for the 1983 season at the request of primary sponsor Benetton, who wanted an American driver. Sullivan competed in the fifteen races of the 1983 season, scoring two points with a fifth place at the Monaco Grand Prix and finishing seventeenth in the World Drivers' Championship. He also finished second in the non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. He was not retained at the end of the season. For 1984, Sullivan returned to North America, competing in the CART PPG Indy Car series. He first landed at Shierson Racing, winning three races including the Pocono 500, and placing fourth in points. In 1985, he moved to Penske Racing, winning the 1985 Indianapolis 500. His victory at Indy, known in auto racing lore as the 'spin and win,' is one of the most legendary moments in Indy 500 history. Sullivan would set the pace at Indy again in 1988, qualifying second and leading 91 of the first 101 laps. A wing adjuster broke on his car just after the halfway mark, and he hit the outside wall in turn one, ending his day. He rebounded, posting finishes of 4th or better over the next six races, winning at Portland and the Michigan 500. The win at Michigan completed a career Indy car Triple Crown (Indianapolis, Michigan, Pocono). He clinched the 1988 CART championship at the second-to-last race at Laguna Seca. In 1989, Sullivan suffered a broken arm in a crash during practice for the Indy 500, missing two races. He rebounded to win the Pocono 500 in August and one other race, placing seventh in points. His last season with Penske Racing was 1990, winning two races including the season finale at Lag

In Their Own Story

In Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat, players take on the role of Sullivan as they compete across 14 tracks in the arcade version, all based on real Indy car circuits. The game's season culminates with the Tradewest Speed Bowl, which loosely resembles the Indianapolis 500. Players earn money based on their finishing positions and spend it on car upgrades, similar to the gameplay of Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road. The arcade version supports three-player capability, while the NES port supports four players. The NES version includes nine of the 14 tracks, all renamed—for example, Indianapolis becomes 'Tradewest' after the NES publisher, and Pocono is moved to Illinois. The game was reviewed by British magazine The One in 1991, which praised its tracks as 'very prettily constructed' and highlighted the strategic choice between driving carefully to minimize pit stops or driving aggressively for speed at the risk of breakdowns. The One called it 'my game of the month' due to the dynamic strategy within and between races.

Reader's Guide

Danny Sullivan is an American former racing driver known for his 17 CART wins, including the 1985 Indianapolis 500 (the 'spin and win'), and the 1988 CART Championship. He also competed in Formula One in 1983 with Tyrrell, scoring 2 points. After retiring, he worked as a commentator and served as a drivers' representative on F1 stewards' panels.

Did You Know?

• Sullivan worked as a lumberjack and a New York City cab driver before his racing career.
• His victory at the 1985 Indianapolis 500 is known as the 'spin and win' after he spun 360 degrees and continued to win.
• Sullivan completed a career Indy car Triple Crown by winning at Indianapolis, Michigan, and Pocono.
• In 1991, the Leland Corporation released the arcade game Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat, featuring his likeness.
• Sullivan was a guest star on the television show Miami Vice in 1986, playing a race car driver accused of murder.