George Francis "Pat" Flaherty (1926–2002) was an American race car driver, primarily active in the 1950s in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series. His career is inextricably linked to the 1956 Indianapolis 500, which he won from pole position at the wheel of a Watson-Offenhauser car for the John Zink team. On that occasion, he also set a new average speed record for the race. As the Indianapolis 500 was part of the Formula 1 World Championship calendar at the time, Flaherty is officially credited with one win, one pole position, and one fastest lap in the category, despite never having competed in a European Grand Prix. His promising career was cut short by a serious accident during a race in 1958, which caused severe injuries and forced him to retire from top-level competition. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1996.