Donohue in July 1975, at the British Grand Prix
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Born |
Haddon Township, New Jersey |
March 18, 1937
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Died | August 19, 1975 Graz, Austria |
(aged 38)
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | American |
Active years | 1971, 1974, 1975 |
Teams | Penske and Penske-entered McLaren and March chassis |
Entries | 16 (14 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 1 |
Career points | 8 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 1971 Canadian Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1975 Austrian Grand Prix |
Mark Neary Donohue Jr. (March 18, 1937 – August 19, 1975), nicknamed "Captain Nice," and later "Dark Monohue," was an American racecar driver known for his ability to set up his own race car as well as driving it to victories.
Donohue is probably best known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp "Can-Am Killer" Porsche 917-30 and as the winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1972. Cars that Donohue raced include: AMC Javelin, AMC Matador, Chevrolet Camaro, Eagle-Offy, Elva Courier, Ford GT40 MK IV, Ferrari 250LM, Ferrari 512, Lola T70, Lola T330, Lotus 20, McLaren M16, Porsche 911, Porsche 917/10, Porsche 917/30, Shelby Cobra, and Shelby Mustang GT350R.
Born in Haddon Township, New Jersey, Donohue grew up in Summit, graduated from the Pingry School in Hillside, and entered Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. At the age of twenty-two, while a senior at Brown, Donohue began racing his 1957 Corvette. He won the first event he entered, a hillclimb in Belknap County, New Hampshire. He graduated from Brown in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.