1951 Indianapolis 500

Last updated

35th Indianapolis 500
Indy500winningcar1951.JPG
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 30, 1951
Winner Lee Wallard
Winning EntrantMurrell Belanger
Average speed126.244 mph (203.170 km/h)
Pole position Duke Nalon
Pole speed136.498 mph (219.672 km/h)
Most laps led Lee Wallard (159)
Pre-race
Pace car Chrysler New Yorker
Pace car driver David A. Wallace
Starter Seth Klein [1]
Honorary refereeClarence Beesmyer [1]
Estimated attendance150,000 [2]
Chronology
PreviousNext
1950 1952

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.

Contents

Duke Nalon, who had suffered serious burns in a crash in 1949, and who missed the 1950 race, made a comeback at Indy by winning the pole position in a Novi. Heavy attrition saw only eight cars running at the finish. Winner Lee Wallard's car lost its brakes, suffered a damaged exhaust pipe, and broke a shock absorber mounting. [3] [4] In addition to the unbearably uncomfortable ride, Wallard had worn a fire retardant outfit, created by dipping his uniform in a mixture of borax crystals and water. Due to not wearing an undershirt, Wallard suffered serious chafing, and required treatment at the infield hospital after the victory lane celebration. [4] It was estimated he lost 15 pounds during the race. [4]

Wallard's winning car had the smallest displacement in the field. About a week after winning the race, Wallard suffered severe burns in a crash at Reading, which effectively ended his professional racing career. Three-time winner Mauri Rose, in his 15th Indy start, crashed and flipped on lap 126. It was his final 500, as he retired from driving after the crash.

Time trials

Time trials were scheduled for six days. Rain, however, pushed qualifying into a seventh day.

Starting grid

RowInsideMiddleOutside
118 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Nalon 99 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lee Wallard 9 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack McGrath
227 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duane Carter 16 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mauri Rose  W 98 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Troy Ruttman
383 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mike Nazaruk  R 3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnnie Parsons  W 5 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Bettenhausen
44 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cecil Green 59 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Agabashian 25 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Hanks
544 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Walt Brown 2 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Walt Faulkner 73 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Carl Scarborough  R 
610 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Schindler 1 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Henry Banks 23 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Griffith  R 
78 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chuck Stevenson  R 81 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Vukovich  R 22 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Connor
869 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gene Force  R 19 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mack Hellings 68 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Carl Forberg  R 
948 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Rodger Ward  R 12 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny McDowell 76 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Davies
1032 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Miller 52 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Ball  R 26 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe James  R 
1157 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Andy Linden  R 6 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Dinsmore 71 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Mackey  R 
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

Failed to qualify

Box score

PosGridNoDriverConstructorQualRankLapsLedTime/RetiredPoints
1299 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lee Wallard Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.0352001593:57:38.059 1
2783 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mike Nazaruk  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.18262000+ 1:47.246
339 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack McGrath (Laps 1–100)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Manny Ayulo (Laps 101–200)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.30820011+ 2:51.392
2
43157 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Andy Linden  R  Sherman-Offenhauser 132.22252000+ 4:40.123
52952 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Ball  R  Schroeder-Offenhauser 134.0992000+ 4:52.232
6171 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Henry Banks Moore-Offenhauser 133.89122000+ 5:40.02 
72468 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Carl Forberg  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.89221930+ 7 Laps 
8427 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duane Carter Diedt-Offenhauser 133.74151800+ 20 Laps 
995 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Bettenhausen Diedt-Offenhauser 131.95291780Spun Off 
10118 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 136.4921510Retirement 
112269 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gene Force  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.10201420Engine 
121225 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.99211350Engine 
131610 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Schindler Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.03111290Engine 
14516 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mauri Rose  W  Diedt-Offenhauser 133.42181260Accident 
15142 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Walt Faulkner Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.8711230Engine 
162776 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Davies Pawl-Offenhauser 133.511711025Axle 
171159 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.0261090Clutch 
181573 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Carl Scarborough  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.6141000Fire 
193371 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Mackey  R  Stevens-Offenhauser 131.4732970Clutch 
20198 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chuck Stevenson  R  Marchese-Offenhauser 133.7614930Fire 
2183 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.1527870Magneto 
22104 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cecil Green Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.8931805Engine 
23698 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Troy Ruttman Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.3124780Engine 
24326 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Dinsmore Schroeder-Offenhauser 131.9728730Overheating 
252832 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi 135.793560Ignition 
261344 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Walt Brown Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.9030550Magneto 
272548 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Rodger Ward  R  Bromme-Offenhauser 134.867340Oil Pipe 
281823 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Griffith  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.8313300Axle 
292081 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Vukovich  R  Trevis-Offenhauser 133.7216290Oil leak 
302122 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Connor Lesovsky-Offenhauser 133.3519290Transmission 
312319 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mack Hellings Diedt-Offenhauser 132.9233180Engine 
322612 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny McDowell Maserati-Offenhauser 132.4723150Fuel leak 
333026 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe James  R  Watson-Offenhauser 134.091080Transmission 
Source: [8]
Notes

Race statistics

Notes

Championship standings after the race

World Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1rightarrow blue.svg 1 Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio 9
1uparrow green.svg 202 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lee Wallard 9
1downarrow red.svg 13 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi 6
1uparrow green.svg 184 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mike Nazaruk 6
1downarrow red.svg 25 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina 4
Source: [12]

Broadcasting

Radio

The race was carried live on the radio through a network arrangement set up by 1070 WIBC-AM of Indianapolis. Mutual, which had carried the race for several years, had raised its advertising rates for 1951, and lost its primary sponsor for the event, Perfect Circle Piston Rings. As a result, Mutual dropped the coverage altogether. Local station WIBC stepped in to cover the race, and provided its feed to various Mutual affiliates. [13] A total of 26 stations carried the broadcast.

WIBC personality Sid Collins served as the chief announcer in the booth, and the remainder of the crew consisted mostly of WIBC talent. Jim Shelton reported from his familiar turn four location, and Bill Fox was also in the booth. Easy Gwynn was also to be part of the crew. Collins interviewed the winner in victory lane, leaving Fox to call the actual finish of the race. Like the Mutual broadcasts, WIBC featured live coverage of the start (30 minutes), the finish (30 minutes), and 15-minute live updates throughout the race. The on-air crew was smaller than normal. There were not turn and pit reporters stationed around the entire track, instead recorded interviews were played back during later broadcast segments. [14]

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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 (May 31, 1951). "Pilot's Hoosier's Car To Victory; Nazaruk Second". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. ↑ Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
  4. 1 2 3 The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC/Network Indiana, May 17, 2007
  5. ↑ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  6. ↑ "Jean ACHARD". StatsF1.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ "1951 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com.
  8. ↑ "1951 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  9. ↑ O'Brien, J.E. (May 31, 1951). "Swell Little Guy's Heavy Foot Left No Room for Strategy". Indianapolis News . p. 24. Retrieved April 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. ↑ O'Brien, J.E. (May 31, 1951). "Faulkner Out After 123 Laps". Indianapolis News . p. 7. Retrieved April 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 29. ISBN   0-85429-276-4.
  12. ↑ "Indianapolis 1951 - Championship". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  13. ↑ Davidson, Donald (May 24, 2012). "IMS Radio Network celebrates 60th anniversary". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ Hynes, Beatrice (May 30, 1951). "Mike-Row-Scopes". The Indianapolis Star. p. 36. Retrieved August 12, 2022– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
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1952 Indianapolis 500
Troy Ruttman
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124.002 mph
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
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