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Kraines was a successful businessman who opened the doors to Kraco Enterprises in 1954 at the age of 34 and never looked back.
Kraines and Mario Andretti formed quite a dynamic duo from 1984 to 1988 scoring victories and podium finishes, alas the championship was one item missing. Andretti earned the Indy 500 rookie title in 1985, his second full-time season in CART (now Champ Car).
Taking over the Kraco seat in 1989 was the man who bested Andretti for the championship in 1986 and '87. Bobby Rahal stayed with Kraco until he ventured out as his own, forming his own team in 1992.
Rahal's teammate for the 1990 two-car Galles-Kraco team gave Kraines his one and only CART championship as a team owner. Al Unser, Jr. had a year filled with with tight fights between himself, Andretti, Rick Mears and Rahal to score the title at the season end.
In the same year, the fastest 500 on record, at that time, was won by Unser Jr ahead of Rahal at the Michigan 500. The The Galles-Kraco team posted a one-two finish at an all-time record average speed of 189,727 mph at Michigan International Speedway.
In 1992, Unser Jr gave Kraines the opportunity to drink the milk in victory circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, clinching the Indy 500 was on the top of Kraines' hopes.
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