Gerald Wayne "Jerry" Grant (January 23, 1935 – August 12, 2012) was a driver in the USAC Championship Car series. Born in Seattle, he began racing sports cars in Northern California in the early 1960s. He raced in the 1965-1977 seasons, with 54 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1965-1968, 1970 and 1972-1976. He finished in the top ten 13 times, with his best finish in 3rd position in 1974 at Ontario.
Grant is best remembered for his bad luck at the 1972 Indianapolis 500 that cost him first victory and then second place. He was leading the race comfortably over Mark Donohue when a punctured tire forced him to pit with 12 laps to go. In later interviews, Grant said that he had adopted a higher line for improved handling, and this may have left him vulnerable to debris on the outside of the racing line. As Donohue went past into the lead, Grant overshot his pit and stopped at his teammate Bobby Unser's. His mechanics changed the tire in Unser's pit, and also refueled the car—from Unser's pit tank. Grant returned to the track and finished second to Donohue. The team of third-place finisher Al Unser filed a protest, saying that Grant had used fuel from another driver's supply. The protest was upheld and Grant's final 12 laps were not counted, dropping him from 2nd to 12th.Grant was the first USAC driver to break 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). He accomplished the feat in qualifying at the Ontario Motor Speedway on September 3, 1972, completing a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) lap in 44.7 seconds. however on raceday Grant's Eagle failed to complete a lap.
In addition to the controversial finish at Indianapolis in 1972, Grant suffered another famous stroke of bad luck in 1966, when his Ford GT Mk.II, with co-driver Dan Gurney behind the wheel, suffered an engine failure while leading two minutes from the end of the 12 Hours of Sebring. As at Indy, Gurney and Grant would have been awarded second place had they simply left the car where it came to rest. Instead, Gurney attempted to push the car over the finish line in violation of FIA rules, and the pair were disqualified.Later in his career, Grant was the racing representative for Champion Spark Plugs, years later he was hired by Elton Alderman, then President of Prolong Super Lubricants to be a representative. The arraignment fell apart after Alderman did not follow through as promised.
Grant died August 12, 2012 from liver failure and diabetes at an Orange County, California hospital at the age of 77.A memorial was held for Jerry at the Riverside International Raceway Museum in Riverside, California. Conducted by Ed Justice Jr., many of Jerry's close friends spoke, including longtime friend, co-driver and car owner, Dan Gurney.
Sol turns thousands of years of human wisdom from the world’s spiritual traditions into a totally unique personality profile. To get your own profile, check compatibility with friends and much more, download the Sol App today.
Some of their strengths
Jerry Grant has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Curious, Loyal, Generous, Optimistic, Passionate, Intelligent, and Artistic.
Smart and Hardworking
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Jerry Grant is someone who is a smart, hardworking, reliable, and loyal person, who is detail-oriented and orderly, but also generous and optimistic. A person who is known for being fun and creative.
Warm and Caring
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Jerry Grant well know them as someone who can be warm, caring, and compassionate, like a lamp or torch.
Methodical and Exacting
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Jerry Grant as someone who is careful, methodical, and a perfectionist.
A person who forms successful business partnerships, who appreciates the variety the world has to offer, who takes a frugal approach to life and tends to be a workaholic, and who engages in things that let them express their opinion.
Charismatic and Playful
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Jerry Grant is someone who is used to being the center of attention, and who has a playful approach to dealing with life.
They are also someone who is creative, expressive, and insightful, and who has a pioneering spirit with self-determination and natural artistic expression.
Patient and Perseverent
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Jerry Grant tends to be someone who is patient, faithful, hardworking and persistent, and who wants to achieve a lot in life. Who tends to be rather private when it comes to expressing feelings, enjoys being independent and self-sufficient, and who is not afraid of any obstacle.
Some of Jerry Grant's challenges
While Jerry Grant has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Jerry Grant can be Suspicious, Stubborn, Difficult, Perfectionist, Sensitive, Critical, and Irritable.
Suspicious and Stubborn
One of Jerry Grant's key challenges is that they are someone who can be suspicious and stubborn.
Sensitive and Critical
Jerry Grant is someone who can be insecure, critical, and pessimistic, who can have difficulty relaxing, can be possessive and jealous, and who can have difficulty listening to others' opinions and perspectives and make hasty decisions.
Callous and Stubborn
Finally, Jerry Grant also can come across as cold and unemotional, be too dismissive of others' opinions, and be overly suspicious, selfish and crafty.
