TED HALIBRAND - USAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023

As sportswriter Shav Glick of the L.A. Times so aptly wrote, “Thanks to Halibrand, drivers can get old.”

Ted Halibrand was a pioneer in many facets of racing, first as the designer of magnesium wheels and disc brakes.  Working behind the scenes, Halibrand was tireless in revolutionizing numerous safety aspects throughout the sport.

A Paterson, New Jersey native, and later a resident of southern California, Halibrand long served as the Chairman of USAC's safety committee where he introduced many regulations in terms of car design and racetrack construction that remain in use to this day and have been adopted by racing organizations throughout the world.  His ideas were ultimately illustrated in a series of Halibrand Engineering manuals.

When Pat Clancy’s six-wheeled machine arrived at Indianapolis in 1948, it was outfitted with Halibrand magnesium wheels.  In 1951, Lee Wallard won the 500 with Halibrand mag wheels, and his disc brakes were aboard Bill Vukovich’s 1953 winner.

In fact, Halibrand quick-change rear-end assemblies, steering gears and suspension components were on every Indianapolis 500 winner from 1951 until 1965.  With the advent of the rear-engine car, Halibrand had begun building complete chassis, named the Shrike, which were outfitted with an innovative fuel cell.