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Courtesy photo. Paul Newman, Hollywood icon, philanthropist and race-car driver, was a fan-favorite at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. The 83-year-old actor died in February.
DAYTONA BEACH -- He was known for his role on the big screen as "Cool Hand Luke" and behind the wheel of a sports car, he had the steady hand as well, taking the checkered flag in the GTS-1 class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 5, 1995. Paul Newman was 70 then, but continued to race well into the 2000s. The Hollywood icon and racing enthusiast who started out at a small racing track in Thompson, Conn., 30 minutes from his Hole in the Wall Camp for cancer-stricken children, died Feb. 26, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 83.
A Wikipedia online profile of Newman's racing career notes that among his final experiences in racing was competing in the Baja 1000 in 2004 and the 24 Hours of Daytona once again in 2005.
Newman initially owned his own racing team, which competed in the Can-Am series, but later co-founded Newman/Haas Racing with Carl Haas, a Champ Car team, in 1983. The 1996 racing season was chronicled in the IMAX film Super Speedway, which Newman narrated. He was also a partner in the Atlantic Championship team Newman Wachs Racing. Newman also owned a car NASCAR Winston Cup before selling it to Penske Racing, where it now serves as the No. 12 car.
Carl A. Haas, co-owner of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing said of Newman's passing: “On behalf of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, my wife Bernadette and myself, I want to express our most sincere condolences to Joanne and the entire Newman family on the loss of a great human being. Paul and I have been partners for 26 years and I have come to know his passion, humor and above all, his generosity. Not just economic generosity, but generosity of spirit. His support of the team’s drivers, crew and the racing industry is legendary. His pure joy at winning a pole position or winning a race exemplified the spirit he brought to his life and to all those that knew him. We will truly miss him.”