Pete Halsmer

3/3/1944

Record updated 03-Mar-23

Pete Halsmer is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced for 5 seasons and also started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981 and 1982.

John Peter Halsmer was born in Lafayette, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University with degrees in industrial supervision and aviation electronics. He was drafted into the army and became a helicopter pilot. He served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in 1970.

He raced in CART for 5 seasons (1980, 1982–1985), with 33 career starts. He started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981–1982. He finished in the top five three times in the CART series, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1983 at Cleveland.

He won two IMSA GTS Championships in 1989 for Roush Racing and in 1991 for Mazda. He earned three GT class wins in the Daytona 24 Hours event, 1983, '88 and '89.

In 1992, Halsmer raced in the IROC series, representing IMSA. Pete drove for Ford/Roush (NASCAR owner Jack Roush) from 1986 through 1989 and won six Trans Am races and four GTO races winning the 1989 GTO championship.

From 1990 through 1992 he drove for Mazda and won another GTO championship in 1991. From 1994 through 1997 he drove BMWs, winning four GT2 races and winning the Manufacturer's Title in 1996.

From 1999 to 2004 he drove for and provided technical consulting for Honda America Race Team winning several championships in Motorola Cup and Grand Am Cup series.

He also competed in off-road and Mickey Thompson stadium trucks.