1948 Indianapolis 500

Last updated
32nd Indianapolis 500
Indy500WinningCar19471948.JPG
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 31, 1948
Winner Mauri Rose
Winning Entrant Lou Moore
Average speed119.814 mph (192.822 km/h)
Pole position Rex Mays
Pole speed130.577 mph (210.143 km/h)
Most laps led Mauri Rose (81)
Pre-race
Pace car Chevrolet Fleetmaster
Pace car driver Wilbur Shaw
Starter Seth Klein [1]
Honorary referee Albert G. Feeney [1]
Estimated attendance200,000 [2]
Chronology
PreviousNext
1947 1949

The 32nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1948.

Contents

For the second year in a row, the Blue Crown Spark Plug teammates Mauri Rose and Bill Holland finished 1st-2nd. Rose became the second driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in consecutive years. Unlike the previous year's race, no controversy surrounds the results. Coupled with his co-victory in 1941, Rose became the third three-time winner at Indy.

Fourth place finisher Ted Horn completed a noteworthy record of nine consecutive races from 1936 to 1948 completing 1,799 out of a possible 1,800 laps. His nine consecutive finishes of 4th or better (however, with no victories) is the best such streak in Indy history. The only lap he missed in 1940 was due to being flagged for a rain shower.

Duke Nalon's third-place finish would be the best-ever result for the popular Novi engine. [3]

Starting grid

RowInsideMiddleOutside
15 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Rex Mays 2 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Holland 3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mauri Rose  W 
261 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Jackson 1 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Horn 74 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Doc Williams
336 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Cantrell  R 98 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Mantz  R 34 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Les Anderson
455 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joie Chitwood 54 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Nalon 4 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles Van Acker
552 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack McGrath  R 63 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Hal Cole 76 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Hanks
68 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Emil Andres 9 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Connor 64 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Hal Robson
731 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Miller 19 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Devore 35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mack Hellings  R 
86 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Bettenhausen 7 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tommy Hinnershitz 53 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Sheffler
925 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Paul Russo 65 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry McQuinn 33 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Mauro  R 
1091 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lee Wallard  R 16 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duane Carter  R 51 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Spider Webb  R 
1186 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mike Salay  R 26 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Agabashian 17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mel Hansen
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

Failed to Qualify

Box score

FinishStartNoNameChassisEngineQualRankLapsStatus
133 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mauri Rose  W  Diedt Offenhauser 129.1294200119.814 mph
222 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Holland Diedt Offenhauser 129.5153200+1:23.77
31154 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft Novi 131.6031200+3:46.45
451 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Horn Maserati Maserati 126.5659200+4:07.14
52135 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mack Hellings  R  Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 127.9686200+14:15.19
61463 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Hal Cole Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 124.39118200+18:27.53
72891 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lee Wallard  R Meyer Offenhauser 128.4205200+24:23.67
82733 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Mauro  R 
(Louis Durant Laps 112–140)
Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 121.79033198Flagged
9237 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tommy Hinnershitz Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 125.12214198Flagged
10461 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Jackson Diedt Offenhauser 127.5107193Spindle
11124 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles Van Acker Stevens Offenhauser 125.44013192Flagged
122019 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Devore Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 123.96721190Flagged
13898 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Mantz  R  Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 122.79127185Flagged
14226 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Bettenhausen Stevens Offenhauser 126.39610167Clutch
151864 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Hal Robson Adams Offenhauser 122.79626164Valve
16736 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Cantrell  R  Stevens Fageol 123.73322161Steering
171055 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joie Chitwood
(Paul Russo Laps 54–74)
(Johnny Shackleford laps 106–136)
Shaw Offenhauser 124.61915138Fuel leak
182453 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Sheffler Bromme Offenhauser 124.52917132Spark plugs
1915 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Rex Mays Kurtis Kraft Winfield130.5772129Fuel leak
201931 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Miller
(Ken Fowler laps 30–50)
(Louis Tomei laps 51–108)
Mercedes Mercedes 127.2498108Oil trouble
211352 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack McGrath  R Bromme Offenhauser 124.5801670Stalled
222916 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duane Carter  R  Wetteroth Offenhauser 126.0151159Lost wheel
233226 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft Duray122.7372858Oil line
24934 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Les Anderson Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 122.3373058Gears
253317 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mel Hansen Adams Sparks122.1173242Too slow
261576 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Hanks Adams Sparks124.2661934Clutch
273051 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Spider Webb  R Bromme Offenhauser 125.5451227Oil line
28179 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Connor Stevens Offenhauser 123.0182524Drive shaft
29674 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Doc Williams Cooper Offenhauser 124.1512019Clutch
303186 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mike Salay  R  Wetteroth Offenhauser 123.3932413Stalled
31168 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Emil Andres Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 123.5502311Steering
322525 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Paul Russo Maserati Maserati 122.595297Oil leak
332665 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry McQuinn Maserati Maserati 122.154311Supercharger
[6] [7]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses [8]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

Race statistics

Broadcasting

Radio

The race was carried live on the Mutual Broadcasting System, the precursor to the IMS Radio Network. The broadcast was sponsored by Perfect Circle Piston Rings and Bill Slater served as the anchor. The broadcast feature live coverage of the start, the finish, and live updates throughout the race.

Sid Collins, from WIBC, joined the crew for the first time, serving as a turn reporter at the south end of the track.

See also

Notes

Works cited

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN   0-915088-05-3.
  2. Stranahan, Bob (June 1, 1948). "Noses Out Teammate, Duke Nalon". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 1, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 20, 2007
  4. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  5. ""1948 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes"". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  6. "Indianapolis 500 1948". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. "Indianapolis Motor Speedway". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  8. "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 31, 1948". ChampCarStats.com.
  9. Fifer, Orien W. (May 31, 1948). "Average Speed Slightly Over Last Year's Mark (clip 1)". Indianapolis News . p. 1. Retrieved April 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. Fifer, Orien W. (May 31, 1948). "Average Speed Slightly Over Last Year's Mark (clip 2)". Indianapolis News . p. 3. Retrieved April 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. Clark, Al (June 1, 1948). "The Witness Chair". Indianapolis News . p. 19. Retrieved April 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
1947 Indianapolis 500
Mauri Rose
1948 Indianapolis 500
Mauri Rose
1949 Indianapolis 500
Bill Holland
Preceded by
117.200 mph
(1938 Indianapolis 500)
Record for the fastest average speed
119.814 mph
Succeeded by