Legion Car will race June 13 at O'Reilly Raceway Park

The American Legion No. 76 Freedom Car will race in the 2009 American Speed Association Challenge Series on June 13 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. The race car will carry a special decal to honor USS Indianapolis survivors from World War II. Team Johnson Motorsports and associate sponsor The David Law Firm have invited the Indianapolis survivors to participate in a number of activities at the race track and American Legion Post 64.The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) holds a special place in wartime history. Her sinking was the deadliest event at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy. After delivering critical parts for the first atomic bomb to the island of Tinian, she was attacked by a Japanese submarine July 26, 1945, and sank in 12 minutes. About 300 of the 1,196 sailors on board went down with the ship. The remaining crew was left floating in shark-infested waters without lifeboats and little food or water. By the time survivors were spotted four days later, only 316 men remained alive.