Jim Clark won the 1965 Indianapolis 500 while also competing as a leading Formula 1 driver.
Driving a Lotus 38-Ford for Team Lotus, Clark led 190 of the 200 laps at Indianapolis and became the first non-American winner since 1916. The victory was part of a remarkable 1965 season in which he also won the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
Clark’s Indianapolis success was especially notable because Formula 1 drivers and American open-wheel racers followed different championship calendars and technical traditions. He adapted quickly to the high-speed oval and defeated a strong field.
Graham Hill later became the only driver to complete motorsport’s traditional Triple Crown, so Clark’s Indianapolis victory should not be mistaken for that achievement. Clark never won the Monaco Grand Prix or Le Mans 24 Hours.