Tom Sneva

Tom Sneva
Sneva in the 1980s
Born	Thomas Edsol Sneva (1948-06-01) June 1, 1948 (age 76) Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Championship titles
USAC Championship Car (1977, 1978) Major victories Pocono 500 (1977) Indianapolis 500 (1983)
Champ Car career
205 races run over 22 years
Best finish	1st (1977, 1978)
First race	1971 Marlboro 300 (Trenton)
Last race	1992 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win	1975 Michigan Grand Prix (Michigan)
Last win	1984 Caesars Palace Grand Prix (Caesars Palace)
Wins Podiums Poles 13 50 14
NASCAR driver
NASCAR Cup Series career
8 races run over 7 years
Best finish	53rd (1982)
First race	1977 National 500 (Charlotte)
Last race	1987 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0

Thomas Edsol Sneva^[1] (born June 1, 1948) is a retired American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1983. He primarily raced in Indy cars, and was named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.

A former math teacher and junior high principal from Spokane, Washington, Sneva's win at Indianapolis came after three runner-up finishes and a spectacular crash in 1975. Nicknamed "The Gas Man,"^[2] he was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position three times (1977, 1978, 1984). He was also the fastest qualifier on a fourth occasion in 1981, but because of qualifying rules did not start the race from the pole position that year.

Sneva won two consecutive USAC National Championships for Indy cars in 1977 and 1978.^[3]