Tom Sneva

Thomas E. "Tom" Sneva (born June 1, 1948 in Spokane, Washington, USA) is an American race car driver, famous for racing in Formula One and Indycar.

His younger brother, Jerry, also raced in Formula One.

Tom Sneva at the 1976 Indy 500, prior to his Formula One debut.

Formula One

1976

After a moderately successful Indy 500, Sneva was drafted into the Marlboro Team McLaren squad for the final seven races of the 1976 season, replacing Jochen Mass.

Sneva would immediately get up to speed with the McLaren M23 and Formula One racing, taking podiums in his first two races, followed by a win at the Dutch Grand Prix. Sneva's other win in 1976 would be at his home race, the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Despite missing most of the season, Sneva would end up finishing fourth overall in the driver's standings as well as helping McLaren take constructor's honours.

1977

A remarkable end to the 1976 season would not be enough for Sneva to immediately retain his seat at McLaren for the following year as it emerged that Leonhard von Gottorp had been signed by the British team to partner last year's runner-up Carlos Reutemann.

However, contractual issues meant that Sneva would eventually take the seat from von Gottorp - a decision he'd immediately repay by winning the season-opening Argentine Grand Prix - his only victory of the season.

1978

Sneva's teammate Reutemann retired at the end of 1977 and as such he was joined by Swiss driver Clay Regazzoni for 1978. Unfortunately for the pair, McLaren had begun to lose some of their usual pace - with the M23B chassis now getting long in the tooth and well behind their rivals. At the season opening Argentine Grand Prix, Sneva could only manage sixteenth position in qualifying, which saw the American storm straight out of the paddock in fury.