Patrick Bedard

Patrick Bedard
Born (1941-08-20) August 20, 1941
Waterloo, Iowa, US[1]
Champ Car career
6 races run over 3 years
First race1982 Stroh's 200 (Atlanta)
Last race1984 Indianapolis 500
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0

Patrick Bedard (born August 20, 1941)[2] is an American former journalist and racing driver. Bedard worked for Car and Driver from 1967 to 2009.

Career

Bedard joined Car and Driver in 1967.[3] In the early 1970s, Car and Driver magazine challenged its readers to a series of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)-sanctioned, 25-lap "showroom stock sedan" races. In the Car and Driver SS/Sedan Challenge II, Bedard finished first, driving Car & Driver's own Opel 1900 sedan. In the Car and Driver SS/Sedan Challenge III in 1974, Bedard drove a 1973 Chevy Vega GT No. 0, winning the tie-breaker race. This lone Vega beat 31 other well-driven showroom stocks.[4]

The first racing victory by a Wankel-engined car in the United States was in 1973, when Bedard won an IMSA RS race at Lime Rock Park in a Mazda RX-2.[5] Bedard also captured a pole position at the Pocono Raceway road course, but did not finish due to a blown clutch at the start of the race.[6]

Bedard entered the 1981 and 1982 Indianapolis 500 but did not qualify. At the age of 41 Bedard qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1983,[7] finishing in 30th after crashing in turn 4 on lap 25.[3] Bedard raced at the 1983 Michigan 500, spinning behind Gordon Johncock's broken car and in front of race leader Tom Sneva.[3]

After qualifying for the 1984 Indianapolis 500,[3] Bedard was involved in a major accident on lap 59. Bedard's car spun exiting turn 3 and into the inside guardrail, flipping three times. Bedard suffered a concussion and a broken jaw.[8][9] Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times criticized Bedard's participation, claiming "just because you can drive 10 laps on an empty, manicured track early in May does not mean you are ready for the firefight of the last Sunday in May."[10] Bedard retired from racing after this crash.[11]

After nearly 42 consecutive years of employment with Car and Driver, Bedard announced he was leaving the magazine in his regular column after the August 2009 issue.[12]

Racing record

USAC Mini-Indy Series results

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos Points
1980 MIL POC MOH MIN1
8 		MIN2
11 		ONT 21st 70

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Note Team
1981 Vollstedt Offenhauser — — Failed to qualify Escort Radar Detector
1982 Penske PC-7 Cosworth — — Failed to qualify Escort Radar Detector
1983 March 83C Cosworth 17 30 Crash Escort Radar Detector
1984 March 84C Cosworth 19 30 Crash Escort Radar Detector

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1982 BF Goodrich Paul Miller
Manfred Schurti 		Porsche 924 Carrera GTR IMSA
GTO 		128 DNF DNF

References

  1. ^ Dunkin, Zach (May 6, 1981). "Writer Drops His Typewriter For 500 Run". The Indianpolis News. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  2. ^ "Patrick Bedard career results". race-database.com. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d Duin, Steve (May 19, 1984). "Patrick Bedard: 'Racing is last secret sport I know of'". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  4. ^ Car and Driver-January 1975. An unlikely victory in an unlikely car.
  5. ^ "The Rotary Club", Don Sherman, Automobile Magazine, February 2008, pp 76-79
  6. ^ Simmons, Bill (June 10, 1973). "Craw Is Triumphant In Long Pond Race; Marcus Car Fails". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  7. ^ "Oldest rookie: Magazine columnist will start in middle of field". Trenton Times. Associated Press. May 25, 1983. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  8. ^ Jensen, Christopher (May 28, 1984). "Bedard survives crash; Guerrero 2 near accidents". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  9. ^ "Bedard has improved considerably since crash". The Brattleboro Reformer. United Press International. May 30, 1984. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Murray, Jim (May 31, 1984). "Indy field should be as tough to get into as a bank vault". The Belleville News-Democrat. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  11. ^ "The thrill is gone: Indy's 'as good as life gets', says injured driver". The Daily Sentinel. Associated Press. May 18, 1985. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  12. ^ Bedard, Patrick (July 17, 2009). "Patrick Bedard: Thoughts on My Last Day". Car and Driver. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
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