After blowing three engines, Willy T Ribbs was about to give up on his dream of running in the Indy 500. With only hours left to get into the race, his team disassembled the engine, assessed the situation, and tried for a fourth time. They succeeded. That was the day Willy became a part of racing - and more importantly - American history. But why did it take so long for Willy to get the start he deserved? Where did he get his brash attitude and how did that affect his career? And how did he finally become the first African-American driver to race in the Indy 500? Today on Past Gas, we look at a legend of both racing and civil rights, Willy T Ribbs.
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