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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Indy Winning Mechanic Mark Bridges Dies
“Mark knew everything and he knew how everything worked,” 1983 Indy 500 winner Tom Sneva said of his chief mechanic.
Mark Bridges, center, is surrounded by his 1983 Indy 500 winner Tom Sneva, left, and team co-owner, George Bignotti, right. (IMS Photo)
He began working on Indy cars as a teenager, got elevated to chief mechanic by the age of 21 and spearheaded Tom Sneva’s Indy 500 winner in 1983. But, as adept as he was at making race cars run fast, Mark Bridges was even better at understanding people and shaping them into a team.
“He obviously understood what it took to be a chief mechanic but he treated people like he wanted to be treated, with respect and friendship,” said Tim Coffeen, the current crew chief for James Hinchcliffe who worked with Bridges in the ‘80s.
“I don’t think you could find anybody in Gasoline Alley who had more friends than Mark. He was something else.”
Bridges, who died Monday night of complications from his six-month battle with cancer, spent four decades in racing and thrived when only three or four guys composed a team and a chief mechanic had to do a little bit of everything.
His best days were with Gordon Johncock and Sneva, who gave Mark his finest hour in 1983 when he pulled into victory lane at Indianapolis.
“Mark knew everything and he knew how everything worked,” said Sneva, who was driving for George Bignotti and Dan Cotter in ’83. “But, more importantly, he knew how to make those guys on our team work.”
While Sneva was arguing with Bignotti about shocks or springs or the time of day, Bridges was trying to ride herd on an eclectic bunch that included fabricator Ed Stone, engine man Mike Fanning and mechanic Billy Bignotti.
“We had some dandies,” chuckled Sneva, “but Mark was able to make them into a cohesive team – against all odds.”
As physically strong as any two men, the former Tech High School football player threw himself into auto racing after graduation. His first job was on the Federal Engineering Special with Bud Tinglestad and the little shop located in Houghville fit right in with Mark’s blue collar work ethic.
At 21, MVS Racing named him chief mechanic for Sammy Sessions before Parnelli Jones’ Super Team snapped him up to wrench for Mario Andretti. Then he joined Patrick Racing and immediately hit it off with Johncock.
Bridges loved working with Johncock because nobody drove any harder and gave him less static about how to set up the chassis.
“I always got along great with Mark. We never had any problems and he was a great guy and a great mechanic,” said Johncock, a two-time Indy winner.
Following Sneva’s win at Indy, Bridges came home second the following May with Roberto Guerrero before going with the Machinists Union (Josele Garza) and then on to Dick Simon’s operation.
He later worked on the technical staff for the Indy Racing League during the day and on his son’s (Mike and David) sprint cars on the weekends.
“He lived and breathed racing, it was his life and it was a racing family,” continued Coffeen. “That’s why it was so cool he won Indy.”
In between taking heavy does of chemo and radiation the past few months, Bridges made it to team lunch on Fridays with Lee Kunzman, Bill Vukovich, Johnny Parsons, Steve Chassey, Steve Long, Jim Bob Luebbert and John Coogan to laugh, lie and re-live the good old days. Sneva even called one day to ask Mark about the hot setups for quarter midgets for his grandson.
He never complained about his health and seemed to be doing just fine a couple weeks ago.
“What a shame,” said Sneva. “Mark was one of the good ones.”
WAKE ON SATURDAY
There will be a wake for Bridges on Saturday afternoon from 1-4 at the Brickyard Pavilion with the eulogy set for 2 p.m.
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
“He obviously understood what it took to be a chief mechanic but he treated people like he wanted to be treated, with respect and friendship,” said Tim Coffeen, the current crew chief for James Hinchcliffe who worked with Bridges in the ‘80s.
“I don’t think you could find anybody in Gasoline Alley who had more friends than Mark. He was something else.”
Bridges, who died Monday night of complications from his six-month battle with cancer, spent four decades in racing and thrived when only three or four guys composed a team and a chief mechanic had to do a little bit of everything.
His best days were with Gordon Johncock and Sneva, who gave Mark his finest hour in 1983 when he pulled into victory lane at Indianapolis.
“Mark knew everything and he knew how everything worked,” said Sneva, who was driving for George Bignotti and Dan Cotter in ’83. “But, more importantly, he knew how to make those guys on our team work.”
While Sneva was arguing with Bignotti about shocks or springs or the time of day, Bridges was trying to ride herd on an eclectic bunch that included fabricator Ed Stone, engine man Mike Fanning and mechanic Billy Bignotti.
“We had some dandies,” chuckled Sneva, “but Mark was able to make them into a cohesive team – against all odds.”
As physically strong as any two men, the former Tech High School football player threw himself into auto racing after graduation. His first job was on the Federal Engineering Special with Bud Tinglestad and the little shop located in Houghville fit right in with Mark’s blue collar work ethic.
At 21, MVS Racing named him chief mechanic for Sammy Sessions before Parnelli Jones’ Super Team snapped him up to wrench for Mario Andretti. Then he joined Patrick Racing and immediately hit it off with Johncock.
Bridges loved working with Johncock because nobody drove any harder and gave him less static about how to set up the chassis.
“I always got along great with Mark. We never had any problems and he was a great guy and a great mechanic,” said Johncock, a two-time Indy winner.
Following Sneva’s win at Indy, Bridges came home second the following May with Roberto Guerrero before going with the Machinists Union (Josele Garza) and then on to Dick Simon’s operation.
He later worked on the technical staff for the Indy Racing League during the day and on his son’s (Mike and David) sprint cars on the weekends.
“He lived and breathed racing, it was his life and it was a racing family,” continued Coffeen. “That’s why it was so cool he won Indy.”
In between taking heavy does of chemo and radiation the past few months, Bridges made it to team lunch on Fridays with Lee Kunzman, Bill Vukovich, Johnny Parsons, Steve Chassey, Steve Long, Jim Bob Luebbert and John Coogan to laugh, lie and re-live the good old days. Sneva even called one day to ask Mark about the hot setups for quarter midgets for his grandson.
He never complained about his health and seemed to be doing just fine a couple weeks ago.
“What a shame,” said Sneva. “Mark was one of the good ones.”
WAKE ON SATURDAY
There will be a wake for Bridges on Saturday afternoon from 1-4 at the Brickyard Pavilion with the eulogy set for 2 p.m.
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
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