Treadway once competed in the Indianapolis 500.

Former IndyCar driver Rick Treadway dies in motorcycle accident at 56

Treadway once competed in the Indianapolis 500.

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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June 1, 2026 7:26 p.m. ET

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Rick Treadway racing in 2002. Credit:

Robert LaBerge/Getty

- Rick Treadway died at 56 in a motorcycle accident.

- The former IndyCar driver once raced in the Indianapolis 500.

- Arie Luyendyk was among those to post social media tributes.

Former IndyCar racer Rick Treadway died Saturday in a motorcycle accident. He was 56.

Treadway raced in IndyCar during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, competing in his one and only Indianapolis 500 in 2002. He finished 29th in the prestigious event, after a collision cut his day short.

Treadway's family was a part of launching the IndyCar series. His father, businessman Fred Treadway, owned one of the original Indy racing teams, Treadway Racing, for which the younger Treadway raced for during his two seasons.

Following the news of Rick's passing, former teammate Arie Luyendyk, who won the Indianapolis 500 for Treadway Racing in 1997, was among the auto royalty to pay tribute.

"Sad news hearing Rick Treadway passed away last Saturday," Luyendyk wrote on social media. "Our condolences go out to my former @IndyCar team owner Fred Treadway, Janice and Brian Treadway. Rick was a fun, crazy, humble, wild and brave personality/ RIP Ricky. We are thinking of you Treadway family."

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IndyCar driver and *Amazing Race* alum Conor Daly also sent his well wishes.

"Really sad to see this news today," he wrote. "If you listen to @SpeedStreetPod you know how much this name means to a certain segment of our show. RIP Ricky. We'll keep doing our #indy500 driver research in your honor!"

Treadway's death comes just over a week after the sudden loss of NASCAR star Kyle Busch. The 41-year-old died as a result of his severe pneumonia progressing into sepsis. Busch was subsequently celebrated at last month's Indianapolis 500.

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