Pioneering IndyCar crew member Hardy Allen has died of pancreatic cancer. A native of Los Angeles, Allen worked for two of the sport's icons as a mechanic, fueler and parts man in the 1960s and early 1970s for Dan Gurney's All American Racers before moving over to A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Allen's presence on pit lane at the Indianapolis 500, and other stops on the championship trail, came at a time in the sport when men and women of color were rarely welcome. With his hulking frame and dark skin, Allen cut an imposing silhouette, but as RACER's Robin Miller recalls, he broke down barriers with grace. "He disarmed people because he was so warm and funny," he said. "He'd make...
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