1959 Watson Indy Roadster

The Leader Card Special #5 Indy Roadster, built during the winter of 1958-59 by A.J. Watson, started third at Daytona in 1959, and finished second, with Rodger Ward driving. Later that year, the car won the Indianapolis 500, finished 13th at the Milwaukee 100-mile race, won the Milwaukee 200-mile race, and finished 18th at Trenton. in 1960, with Chuck Stevenson driving, the #5 Leader Card Special finished 15th at the Indianapolis 500, finished 20th at the Milwaukee 100-mile race, and finished 25th at the Milwaukee 200-mile race. In May of 1961, at the Indianapolis 500, Paul Russo was to drive this car. Before the race, Doug Stearly bought the car, and Tony Bettenhausen was killed while checking it out for Russo. Several years later, A.J. Watson got the wreckage from Doug Stearly and rebuilt the car in his shops in Indianapolis during the winter of 1978-79.

The fifth of twenty-three Indy Roadsters built by A.J. Watson, 1956-1963. One of two built for the 1959 racing season, Raced five consecutive years at Indy, Milwaukee, and Trenton. Never failed to qualify at the Speedway. First owned by Miami investment banker, Lindsey Hopkins; Jack Beckley was Chief Mechanic. On April 4, 1959, Jim Rathmann won two races at the new Daytona International Speedway setting a world closed-course race speed record of 170.261 mph. Only car ever to win two USAC Championship races on the same day. Rathman finished second in the 1959 Indy 500 after leading many laps. Tony Bettenhausen drove his last Indy 500 in the car in 1960. Also driven by Dick Rathmann, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hurtubise, Wayne Weiser, Gene Hardisty, and Eddie Johnson.

It was restored in 1989-1992 by Jim Mohn and the current owner, Larry Pfitzenmaier. The car won 'Best of Class' and the 'Tony Hulman Cup' at the 1995 Pebble Beach Concours.

At Indianapolis on May 21, 1960, rookie sensation Jim Hurtubise drove the A.J. Watson-built 'Travelon Trailer Special' to a new one-lap qualifying record of 149.601 and a four-lap average of 149.056. He had made his qualifying attempt at noon on the last day of qualifying as the dark clouds moved in. His first lap was the fastest ever clocked at Indy - 148.002 MPH. Second at 149.229, third at 149.601, and the fourth at 149.056, 2.464 MPH faster than Eddie Sachs who had qualified on the first day of qualifying.

Hurtubise started the race in 23rd, made it up to 8th by lap 10, 5th by lap 32. Hurtubise made it to lap 182 when an oil tank leak caused a connecting rod failure, ending his day at the Indianapolis 500 with an 18th-place finish. Hurtubise earned the honor of being named 'Rookie of the Year.'

Built in 1959, the car qualified for five consecutive Indianapolis 500-mile races.