Willy T. Ribbs

Willy T. Ribbs was born in San Jose, California, in 1955. He raced in Britain in the 1970s before returning to the United States.

Trans-Am success

Ribbs became a race winner in the Trans-Am Series in the 1980s, one of America's leading road-racing championships.

Formula 1 test

In 1986 he tested a Brabham Formula 1 car at Estoril, Portugal. Reference sources describe him as the first African-American to test a Formula 1 car.

Indianapolis 500

In 1991 Ribbs qualified for the Indianapolis 500, becoming, according to Speedway and reference records, the first African-American driver to start the race. He raced there again in 1993.

What is the Indy 500?

The Indianapolis 500 is a 500-mile race on a 2.5-mile oval in Indiana, first run in 1911 and one of the most famous races in the world.