INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Mark Bridges, co-chief mechanic on Tom Sneva’s Indianapolis 500-winning car in 1983, has died. He was 60.
Bell Mortuary said that Bridges died of natural causes at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis on Monday.
Bridges was a lifelong Indianapolis resident who grew up near Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A statement released by the track Thursday said he started working at IMS in his teens, becoming chief mechanic for the MVS team and driver Sam Sessions as a 22-year-old.
He went on to work with drivers such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Roberto Guerrero, Gordon Johncock, Wally Dallenbach and Chip Ganassi. He later became a race official in USAC and IndyCar.
Survivors include his wife, Marlene; daughter, Julie Wilkinson; and sons David and Michael.