Mark Donahue—whom SI biblically referred to as the "Job of contemporary motor sports"—shows off the Borg-Warner Trophy after winning in 1972. Donahue had a very fast car the previous year but failed to win the pole, broke down during the race and then had his car destroyed in a crash after he pulled to the side with engine failure. He also had recently separated from his wife and was sleeping on a cot at Roger Penske Racing's headquarters in Philadelphia.

photograph by Heinz Kluetmeier

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