Mostly known for his roles in such American film classics as "Cool Hand Luke," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, "The Sting" and "The Color of Money," for which he received the Academy Award for "Best Actor," Newman was also a major figure in the racing community.

Newman first took interest in motor racing while filming 1968's "Winning," in which he played the role of an Indy car driver. His racing career began in 1972 at Thompson, CT in a Lotus Elan. He earned his first Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) national title in 1976 in the D-production category, and followed up with a C-production class championship in 1979. Newman was a GT-1 champion in 1985 and '86.

Newman's first professional victory came in a SCCA Trans-Am series event at Brainerd, MN in 1982. His second career Trans-Am victory came in 1986 at his "home track" in Lime Rock, CT.

His last victory took place in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995 when he and his co-drivers won the GTS-class. He was 70 years old at the time.

Newman drove in the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in that race.

Newman competed in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona for the final time in 2006.

Before joining forces with Carl Haas for a Champ car team in 1983, Newman fielded cars for drivers Danny Sullivan, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser, Teo Fabi, Keke Rosberg and Elliott Forbes-Robinson in the Can-Am series for five years.

As co-owner of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Newman became involved in the IndyCar Series when the two-car team joined the circuit after the unification of IndyCar and Champ car earlier this year.

"On behalf of my mother, Mari Hulman George, and the entire Hulman-George family at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar Series, our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and loved ones of Paul Newman," Tony George, CEO of the Indy Racing League and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said. "To all his fans world-wide and those close to him in our racing community, we share a deep sense of loss, but cherish the many fond memories we will forever carry with us."

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing recorded two victories in its first IndyCar season with Graham Rahal picking up the winning in St. Petersburg, FL and Justin Wilson capturing the victory in Detroit.

"On behalf of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, my wife Bernadette and myself, I want to express our most sincere condolences to (wife) Joanne (Woodward) and the entire Newman family on the loss of a great human being," Haas said. "Paul and I have been partners for 26 years and I have come to know his passion, humor and above all, his generosity. Not just economic generosity, but generosity of spirit. His support of the team's drivers, crew and the racing industry is legendary. His pure joy at winning a pole position or winning a race exemplified the spirit he brought to his life and to all those that knew him. We will truly miss him."

Newman was also remembered in the NASCAR garage at the Kansas Speedway, where the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series are competing this weekend.

"Paul Newman was a phenomenal individual who made a profound impact throughout his life," two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart said. "His acting skills are well-known, but equally impressive was his desire to give back and help those who just didn't get the same shake out of life that we did.

"I got to know him through our time helping build Victory Junction Gang Camp and during my handful of races in the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona. We connected as racers, but Paul's ideas of what we should do for charity is what really resonated with me the most.

"He set the bar, not only with his giving, but in how he gave. Whether it was through his own line of food products - Newman's Own - or his work in helping create the Hole in the Wall Camps, Paul did it right, and he did it with class. He'll be terribly missed."

Newman was the godfather of Nationwide driver and Hollywood stuntman Stanton Barrett.

"Just remind everyone how great a person he was," Barrett said. "If everyone could give back as much as he did, the world would be a much greater place."

In 2006, Newman served as the voice of "Doc Hudson," a Hudson Hornet, in the Disney-Pixar blockbuster "Cars."

Newman was also the founder of the Hole in the Wall Camps, a place where children facing serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions come to experience the simple joys of childhood without jeopardizing their medical needs. There are currently 10 camps operating in six countries.