Indy 500 Folklore Figure Leon Duray Jigger Sirois Dies at 91
Leon Duray “Jigger” Sirois, an iconic figure in Indianapolis 500 history who nearly secured an improbable pole position for the 1969 race, died September 23 at the age of 91. Hailing from Shelby, Indiana, Sirois made enduring motorsport folklore despite logging zero starts in the Indianapolis 500 across his qualifying attempts from 1969 through 1975.
The Fateful 1969 Pole Day Rain Delay and Wave-Off
The defining moment of Sirois’ speedway legacy unfolded on May 17, 1969. Drawing first in line to qualify on Pole Day in the No. 14 Gerhardt-Offenhauser owned by Myron Caves, Sirois waited out a lengthy rain delay before hitting the 2.5-mile oval late in the afternoon. His opening three laps hovered between 160 and 162 mph. Facing a perceived lack of speed, car owner Myron Caves elected to wave off the fourth and final lap, officially negating the run.
Immediately following the wave-off, Arnie Knepper took to the track for his qualifying attempt, but rain began falling during his warmup laps and washed out the remainder of the weekend’s track activity. Had Caves not waved off that final lap, Sirois would have stood as the weekend’s sole qualifier, capturing the provisional pole and potentially starting the race from the top spot. Instead, subsequent qualification attempts the following weekend were thwarted by mechanical issues and low speeds, keeping him out of the starting grid.
Engineering Eras and Qualification Rule Changes
The unique circumstances surrounding the 1969 qualifying format prompted officials to rewrite the rulebook. In 1971, Indy 500 qualification rules changed to guarantee every car in line on the opening day at least one guaranteed chance to make the field during the first round, permanently closing the door on a repeat of the Sirois scenario.
Sirois continued his pursuit of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” through 1975, piloting distinctive machines including the sluggish Jack Adams Turbine in 1970, marking the final qualifying attempt for a turbine-engine car in Indianapolis 500 history. By 1974, he came close once more, falling short as the race’s second alternate.
Open-Wheel Versatility and Midget Racing Dominance
While Indianapolis success eluded him on race day, Sirois proved his immense skill across multiple tiers of open-wheel competition. After failing to qualify for five USAC Champ Car races in 1967 with car owner Bob Cavanaugh, he turned heads in 1968 when clutch failure forced him to withdraw from the inaugural USAC Champ Car race at Michigan International Speedway while running second in low-budget equipment. Across 10 career USAC Champ Car starts, his highest finish was fifth at Phoenix in 1969. He also secured a third-place finish in a turbine-engine car behind A.J. Foyt and Arnie Knepper during the rain-shortened Ted Horn Memorial USAC National Dirt Car Championship at DuQuoin, Illinois, in September 1972.
Sirois built his strongest legacy in midget car racing, predominantly around the Chicago area. He captured four championships in 1961, including the UARA midget title, earning an induction into the National Midget Racing Hall of Fame in 2013.
A Family Legacy and the Creation of the Jigger Award
Motorsport ran deep in the Sirois family. His father, Earl “Frenchy” Sirois, worked as an Indianapolis 500 mechanic for 40 years, contributing to the race-winning efforts of Lee Wallard, Sam Hanks, and Jimmy Bryan. Baptized after two-time pole winner Leon Duray, Sirois inherited his legendary nickname from family friend and two-time Indy 500-winning riding mechanic Jigger Johnson.
Sirois maintained remarkable sportsmanship regarding the 1969 wave-off, refusing to publicly blame Caves or his crew. That grace inspired the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) to establish the annual “Jigger Award,” honoring each year’s hardest-luck driver during qualifying. Sirois was named its inaugural recipient in 1969.
Away from the track, Sirois managed a stutter acquired during a childhood tornado scare near Shelby when he was three years old. Entering speech therapy in his mid-60s, he successfully managed the condition and dedicated significant time to promoting awareness and treatment for youth struggling with stuttering disorders. He remained a beloved presence at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, returning annually to interact with fans and media members.
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