Art Cross

Art Cross (24 January 1918, Jersey City, New Jersey - 15 April 2005) was an American racing driver best remembered for his remarkable performances at the Indianapolis 500 during the early 1950s. Cross began racing midget cars in 1938 before World War II interrupted his career. During the war, he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart for his service. After the war, Cross moved to the Midwest in 1949 to pursue the lucrative purses of AAA racing and settled in La Porte, Indiana, with his wife Margaret.

He captured the 1951 AAA Midget championship before turning his focus to Indianapolis. Cross's Indianapolis 500 career was exceptional despite spanning just four races from 1952 to 1955. In 1952, he became the first recipient of the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award after finishing fifth in his debut. His finest moment came in 1953 when he finished second to Bill Vukovich, coming tantalizingly close to victory at the Brickyard.

Cross returned to Indianapolis in 1954 and 1955, leading both races but never capturing the elusive victory he sought. These four Indianapolis 500 appearances counted toward the Formula One World Championship, as the race was part of the F1 calendar from 1950-1960. Cross last raced at Milwaukee in 1955, never formally announcing his retirement but simply choosing to stop competing. Art Cross had three life goals: win the Indianapolis 500, buy a farm, and raise corn and kids.

With his racing winnings, he purchased a 40-acre farm near La Porte where he contentedly raised corn and children with Margaret. Both Art and Margaret died within weeks of each other in 2005, ending a remarkable partnership.