The quickest route to get to the Indianapolis 500 in the 1950s-60s was also the fastest way to end up in the funeral home. Salem, Winchester and Dayton were high-banked, half-mile bowls of bravado that weren't for everyone, but could be the fast ticket to stardom if a driver excelled on them.Bob Sweikert, the 1955 Indy champ, lost his life at Salem, while brave men like Bill Vukovich and Rodger Ward simply chose not to run them."Anytime anybody ran fast on the high banks they felt like you'd make a good race driver at Indy," explained A.J. Foyt, who triumphed at Salem and Winchester on his way up. "I think the only reason I got an Indy ride was winning at Salem."They...
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