Born in San Jose in 1955, Willy T. Ribbs took his father’s racing hobby and made it into a riveting career.

A fierce competitor with a penchant for winning, Ribbs rose to the top of the rankings in nearly every level of racing he competed in. He is best known for being the first African-American man to have tested a Formula One car (he did so in 1986) and to compete in the Indianapolis 500 (tested in 1985, raced in 1991 and 1993).