Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
Date | May 31, 1948 | ||||
Winner | Mauri Rose | ||||
Winning Entrant | Lou Moore | ||||
Average speed | 119.814 mph (192.822 km/h) | ||||
Pole position | Rex Mays | ||||
Pole speed | 130.577 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 attendance | 200,000 [2] | ||||
Chronology | |||||
|
The 32nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1948.
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]
Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Rex Mays | 2 | Bill Holland | 3 | Mauri Rose W |
2 | 61 | Jimmy Jackson | 1 | Ted Horn | 74 | Doc Williams |
3 | 36 | Bill Cantrell R | 98 | Johnny Mantz R | 34 | Les Anderson |
4 | 55 | Joie Chitwood | 54 | Duke Nalon | 4 | Charles Van Acker |
5 | 52 | Jack McGrath R | 63 | Hal Cole | 76 | Sam Hanks |
6 | 8 | Emil Andres | 9 | George Connor | 64 | Hal Robson |
7 | 31 | Chet Miller | 19 | Billy Devore | 35 | Mack Hellings R |
8 | 6 | Tony Bettenhausen | 7 | Tommy Hinnershitz | 53 | Bill Sheffler |
9 | 25 | Paul Russo | 65 | Harry McQuinn | 33 | Johnny Mauro R |
10 | 91 | Lee Wallard R | 16 | Duane Carter R | 51 | Spider Webb R |
11 | 86 | Mike Salay R | 26 | Fred Agabashian | 17 | Mel Hansen |
Finish | Start | No | Name | Chassis | Engine | Qual | Rank | Laps | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 3 | Mauri Rose W | Diedt | Offenhauser | 129.129 | 4 | 200 | 119.814 mph | |
2 | 2 | 2 | Bill Holland | Diedt | Offenhauser | 129.515 | 3 | 200 | +1:23.77 | |
3 | 11 | 54 | Duke Nalon | Kurtis Kraft | Novi | 131.603 | 1 | 200 | +3:46.45 | |
4 | 5 | 1 | Ted Horn | Maserati | Maserati | 126.565 | 9 | 200 | +4:07.14 | |
5 | 21 | 35 | Mack Hellings R | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 127.968 | 6 | 200 | +14:15.19 | |
6 | 14 | 63 | Hal Cole | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 124.391 | 18 | 200 | +18:27.53 | |
7 | 28 | 91 | Lee Wallard R | Meyer | Offenhauser | 128.420 | 5 | 200 | +24:23.67 | |
8 | 27 | 33 | Johnny Mauro R (Louis Durant Laps 112–140) | Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | 121.790 | 33 | 198 | Flagged | |
9 | 23 | 7 | Tommy Hinnershitz | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 125.122 | 14 | 198 | Flagged | |
10 | 4 | 61 | Jimmy Jackson | Diedt | Offenhauser | 127.510 | 7 | 193 | Spindle | |
11 | 12 | 4 | Charles Van Acker | Stevens | Offenhauser | 125.440 | 13 | 192 | Flagged | |
12 | 20 | 19 | Billy Devore | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 123.967 | 21 | 190 | Flagged | |
13 | 8 | 98 | Johnny Mantz R | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 122.791 | 27 | 185 | Flagged | |
14 | 22 | 6 | Tony Bettenhausen | Stevens | Offenhauser | 126.396 | 10 | 167 | Clutch | |
15 | 18 | 64 | Hal Robson | Adams | Offenhauser | 122.796 | 26 | 164 | Valve | |
16 | 7 | 36 | Bill Cantrell R | Stevens | Fageol | 123.733 | 22 | 161 | Steering | |
17 | 10 | 55 | Joie Chitwood (Paul Russo Laps 54–74) (Johnny Shackleford laps 106–136) | Shaw | Offenhauser | 124.619 | 15 | 138 | Fuel leak | |
18 | 24 | 53 | Bill Sheffler | Bromme | Offenhauser | 124.529 | 17 | 132 | Spark plugs | |
19 | 1 | 5 | Rex Mays | Kurtis Kraft | Winfield | 130.577 | 2 | 129 | Fuel leak | |
20 | 19 | 31 | Chet Miller (Ken Fowler laps 30–50) (Louis Tomei laps 51–108) | Mercedes | Mercedes | 127.249 | 8 | 108 | Oil trouble | |
21 | 13 | 52 | Jack McGrath R | Bromme | Offenhauser | 124.580 | 16 | 70 | Stalled | |
22 | 29 | 16 | Duane Carter R | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | 126.015 | 11 | 59 | Lost wheel | |
23 | 32 | 26 | Fred Agabashian | Kurtis Kraft | Duray | 122.737 | 28 | 58 | Oil line | |
24 | 9 | 34 | Les Anderson | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 122.337 | 30 | 58 | Gears | |
25 | 33 | 17 | Mel Hansen | Adams | Sparks | 122.117 | 32 | 42 | Too slow | |
26 | 15 | 76 | Sam Hanks | Adams | Sparks | 124.266 | 19 | 34 | Clutch | |
27 | 30 | 51 | Spider Webb R | Bromme | Offenhauser | 125.545 | 12 | 27 | Oil line | |
28 | 17 | 9 | George Connor | Stevens | Offenhauser | 123.018 | 25 | 24 | Drive shaft | |
29 | 6 | 74 | Doc Williams | Cooper | Offenhauser | 124.151 | 20 | 19 | Clutch | |
30 | 31 | 86 | Mike Salay R | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | 123.393 | 24 | 13 | Stalled | |
31 | 16 | 8 | Emil Andres | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | 123.550 | 23 | 11 | Steering | |
32 | 25 | 25 | Paul Russo | Maserati | Maserati | 122.595 | 29 | 7 | Oil leak | |
33 | 26 | 65 | Harry McQuinn | Maserati | Maserati | 122.154 | 31 | 1 | Supercharger | |
[6] [7] |
Note: Relief drivers in parentheses [8]
W Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
|
|
|
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.
The 34th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. The event was sanctioned by the AAA and served as the premier event on the calendar of the 1950 AAA National Championship Trail.
The 35th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1951. The event was part of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1951 World Championship of Drivers. For the second year in a row, no European Formula One-based teams entered the race.
The 36th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was a motor race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1952. It was the opening race of the 1952 AAA National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1952 World Championship of Drivers.
The 37th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1953. The event was part of the 1953 AAA National Championship, and was race 2 of 9 in the 1953 World Championship of Drivers. Bill Vukovich, after falling just short a year before, dominated the race, leading 195 of the 200 laps. Vukovich won the first of two consecutive "500" victories, finishing more than three minutes ahead of second place Art Cross.
The 38th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1954. The event was part of the 1954 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers.
The 39th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1955. The event was race 1 of 11 of the 1955 AAA National Championship Trail and was race 3 of 7 in the 1955 World Championship of Drivers.
The 44th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Monday, May 30, 1960. The event was race 2 of 12 of the 1960 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 3 of 10 in the 1960 World Championship of Drivers. It would be the final time World Championship points would be awarded at the Indy 500.
The 50th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Monday, May 30, 1966. The official program cover for the race celebrated both the 50th running of the race, and 150th anniversary of Indiana statehood.
The 29th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1941. The start of the race was delayed due to a fire that swept through the garage area on race morning. No persons were injured, but one car in the field was destroyed. The race rolled off with only 31 cars, and ran to its scheduled distance. This would be the final "500" prior to the United States involvement in WWII. It was not known at the time, but it would be the final race organized by Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker, and due to the war, the race would not be held again until 1946.
The 33rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was an automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1949.
The 28th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1940. The winner was Wilbur Shaw in the same Maserati 8CTF he had driven to victory in 1939. Shaw became the first driver in the history of the race to win in consecutive years. It also marked Shaw's third win in four years, making him the second three-time winner of the race. Shaw's average speed was 114.277 mph, slowed by rain which caused the last 50 laps to be run under caution. Shaw took home $31,875 in prize winnings, plus additional prizes that included a car and a refrigerator.
The 27th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1939. The race was won by the number two car of Wilbur Shaw, who started in the third position, driving a Maserati 8CTF. The race was notable for a three car accident on lap 109, when Floyd Roberts, the reigning champion, was killed when his car went through the wooden outer wall at over 100 miles (160 km) an hour at the backstretch. In Louis Meyer's final Indy 500, he too would crash at the backstretch at over 100 miles (160 km) an hour, but he walked away unharmed.
The 25th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1937. With temperatures topping out at 92 °F (33 °C), it is one of the hottest days on record for the Indy 500.
The 23rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1935. Despite attempts to improve participant safety by requiring crash helmets and installing green and yellow lights around the track, the event that year would prove to be one of the worst in terms of fatalities.
The 22nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1934. The winner was the number seven car driven by Bill Cummings, an Indianapolis native, at an average speed of 104.863 miles per hour. Cummings led for 57 laps total, including the last 26. Of the 33 cars that began the race, only 12 were running at the finish, although there were no crashes resulting in serious injuries. One serious incident involved George Bailey, whose car went over the outside wall, but resulted in only a broken wrist to the driver. The finish was the closest in the history of the race to that point, with second-place finisher Mauri Rose within 100 yards of Cummings at the finish. Rose would also file a protest that Cummings had illegally gained ground during a "slow-down" period following a crash.
The 21st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1933. Louis Meyer defeated Wilbur Shaw by a time of 401.89 seconds. The average speed of the race was 104.162 miles per hour (167.632 km/h) while Bill Cummings achieved the pole position with a speed of 118.521 miles per hour (190.741 km/h). The race was part of the 1933 AAA Championship Car season.
The 11th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1923. After winning previously in 1921, Tommy Milton became the first multiple winner of the Indianapolis 500. Howdy Wilcox drove relief for Milton in laps 103–151. During the break, Milton had to have his hands bandaged due to blisters, and changed his shoes due to crimping of his toes.
The 10th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1922.
The 9th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1921.
The 8th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1920.