A.J. Foyt won the Indy 500 on May 30, 1964 – 51 years ago today – but that race is best remembered for a fiery seven-car death-crash.

Dave MacDonald passed at least five other cars on the first lap of the race. As he was passing the car being driven by Johnny Rutherford, Rutherford observed MacDonald’s car zigging and zagging and throwing grass and dirt up from the edge of the track. Rutherford later said that he thought:

“He’s either gonna win this thing or crash.”

MacDonald continued taking risks as he attempted to pass more cars.

Then on the second lap, MacDonald’s car spun out of control coming out of the fourth turn. It slid across the track and hit the inside wall. An instant after impact, the gasoline in the tank ignited and burst into flames.

MacDonald’s car then slid back across the track – which put it directly in harm’s way of other drivers – and seven cars plowed into the flaming wreckage of McDonald’s car.

Ronnie Durham’s car crashed, spun out of control, and also burst into flames when it crashed into the pit-lane wall.

Bobby Unser’s car hit two other cars – including the one being driven by Rutherford – and crashed into the outside wall.

Chuck Stevenson and Norm Hall also joined the pile-up.

Eddie Sachs tried to aim his car into a narrow opening alongside the outside wall, but MacDonald’s burning car slid into his path. Sachs hit MacDonald’s car broadside and exploded in flames.

Sachs died instantly – his body trapped inside the burning vehicle.

MacDonald was pulled from the wreckage and taken to the infield hospital – badly burned but still breathing. Unfortunately, his lungs had been seared by inhaling flames – which caused acute pulmonary edema and took his life within hours.

A.J. Foyt led for the final 146 laps and cruised to victory without ever changing tires.

After winning the first game of the series from the Colt 45s, Gene Mauch was sending Chris Short (2-2) out to face Don Nottebart (0-6).

Nottebart was on the short end of a 4-0 shutout tossed by Dennis Bennett two weeks earlier in Houston.

Chris Short had complied an amazing 0.55 ERA in his first five starts, and he’d shut out the Colts 2-0 on May 17th in Houston.

Gene Mauch was starting Cookie Rojas and Ruben Amaro as his double-play combination for the fourth straight game. Rojas was hitting .565 ─ 13-for-23 ─ since getting a chance to play.

No score in the first inning.

In the top of the second, Walt Bond led off with a single. One out later, Bob Aspromonte doubled to put runners on second and third with one out.

John Bateman hit a sacrifice fly to open the scoring at 1-0 Houston.

In the bottom of the second, Tony Gonzalez roped a line drive to left and decided to try for second. Jim Wynn fielded the ball and threw to second in time to get Gonzalez.

John Herrnstein tripled over Mike White’s head in centerfield and Clay Dalrymple tied the score 1-1 with a sacrifice fly.

From there, Chris Short and Don Nottebart locked down for the next four innings and the score remained 1-1 going into the seventh-inning stretch.

Tony Gonzalez drew a walk. One out later, Clay Dalrymple singled and Gonzalez moved to third.

Gene Mauch then called for the squeeze play.

Ruben Amaro laid down a bunt and Gonzalez scored to put the Phillies ahead 2-1.

Short retired the Colts in the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Richie Allen singled with one out.

Johnny Callison lined a ball into the rightfield corner and Allen scored easily from first. Callison rounded second and headed for third. Walt Bond fished the ball out of the corner and made a strong throw back to the infield, but cutoff man Dave Roberts couldn’t handle the throw allowing Callison to come all the way around to score. It was Callison’s third triple of the season and the Phils led 4-1.

Wes Covington followed with his sixth homer and it was 5-1 Phillies.

In the top of the ninth, Chris Short (3-2) walked Jim Wynn, but he got Bob Aspromonte to ground into a 6-4-3 double-play. He then struck out John Bateman to end the game and pick up the complete-game victory.

Don Nottebart (0-7) took the loss.

Once again, the Giants lost to the last-place Mets at Shea Stadium.

Jack Fisher (3-3) threw a six-hit, complete-game 6-2 victory over Ron Herbel (2-1). Former Phillie Charlie Smith helped the Mets cause with a two-run home run – his third of the season.

The Giants loss enabled the Phillies to jump into first place by one game over the Giants.

(Excerpted from 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant by Barry Bowe.)