1971 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Denny Zimmerman and the car he drove in the 1954 Soap Box Derby, which was donated to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum.

By Jana Strange
indy500.com

Friday, October 12, 2007

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1971 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Denny Zimmerman returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in 32 years to see his Soap Box Derby car donated Oct. 12 to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum.

The All-American Soap Box Derby donated the car that Zimmerman raced in the 1954 Soap Box Derby World Championship finals in Akron, Ohio. Zimmerman did not win the race, but Soap Box Derby racing gave him his start into auto racing.

"Winning the local Soap Box Derby was probably, at the time, the most important event in my life," Zimmerman said. "Coming here (to race at IMS) was another important event in my life."

Zimmerman competed twice in the "500," finishing eighth as a rookie in 1971 in the No. 43 Fiore Racing Vollstedt/Offy.

All-American Soap Box Derby General Manager Jeff Iula was at the ceremony and presented the car and commemorative plaque to Hall of Fame Museum Director Ellen Bireley.

"We're very proud that the car is going here," Iula said. "Not only because this is such a great museum but because it's great exposure for us.

"The Derby is a great beginner's sport for people that can end up in racing their whole life, like Denny."

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