1955 AAA Championship Car season

1955 AAA Championship Car season
1955 AAA Championship Car season
AAA National Championship Trail
Season
Races	11
Start date	May 30
End date	November 6
Awards
National champion	Bob Sweikert
Indianapolis 500 winner	Bob Sweikert
	← 1954 1956 (USAC) →

Last updated March 24, 2024

The 1955 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 11 races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana on May 30 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona on November 6. There was also one non-championship event in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The AAA National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Bob Sweikert. Manny Ayulo was killed at Indianapolis while practicing for the 1955 Indianapolis 500,^[1]^[2] and Bill Vukovich, the two-time defending winner, was killed in the race itself.^[3] Jack McGrath, the two-time champion (1952, 1953), was killed in the final race at Phoenix on lap 85.^[4] This was the last year of the AAA National Championship;^[5] USAC sanctioned the series starting the next year.^[6]

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	Location	Type	Pole Position	Winning Driver
1	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes ^A	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Jerry Hoyt	Bob Sweikert
2	June 5	Rex Mays Classic	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Bob Sweikert	Johnny Thomson
3	June 19	Langhorne 100	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Don Freeland	Jimmy Bryan
NC	July 31	Indianapolis Sweepstakes	Williams Grove Speedway	Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Ed Elisian	Jimmy Bryan
4	August 20	Springfield 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Andy Linden	Jimmy Bryan
5	August 28	Milwaukee 250	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Ed Elisian	Pat Flaherty
6	September 5	Ted Horn Memorial 100	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Eddie Russo	Jimmy Bryan
7	September 5	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Shelby Hill ^B	Bob Finney
8	September 10	Syracuse 100	New York State Fairgrounds	Syracuse, New York	Dirt	Bob Sweikert	Bob Sweikert
9	September 17	Hoosier Hundred	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	Bob Sweikert	Jimmy Bryan
10	October 16	Golden State 100	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Bob Sweikert	Jimmy Bryan
11	November 6	Bobby Ball Memorial	Arizona State Fairgrounds	Phoenix, Arizona	Dirt	Jimmy Reece	Jimmy Bryan

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

Non-championship race

^A Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned and counted towards the 1955 FIA World Championship of Drivers title.

^B No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

Final points standings

Note: The points became the car, when not only one driver led the car, the relieved driver became small part of the points. Points for driver method: (the points for the finish place) / (number the lap when completed the car) * (number the lap when completed the driver)

Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	LAN	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	Pts
1	Bob Sweikert	1	2	2	2	3	4		1	17	3	18	2290
2	Jimmy Bryan	24	4	1	1	23	1		2	1	1	1	1480
3	Johnny Thomson	4	1	15					5	2	2	2	1380
4	Tony Bettenhausen	2	DNQ		DNQ	2	DNQ		Wth	4		9	1060
5	Andy Linden	6	6	DNQ	3	7	6		DNS	9	4	4	1047.8
6	Jimmy Davies	3	5	DNQ	9	13	14		8	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	890
7	Pat O'Connor	8	18	5	DNQ	26	9		4	5	5	5	800
8	Pat Flaherty	10	3			1				DNQ			790
9	George Amick RY		7	18	4	20	3		3	3	12	3	750
10	Walt Faulkner	5	21		16	DNQ			DNS	DNS			447.5
11	Al Herman R	7	10	8	DNQ	22							380
12	Bob Veith R				DNQ	8	5		6	13		8	355
13	Johnny Boyd	29			DNQ	5	8		16	DNQ	8		350
14	Don Freeland	15	12	3		12	18		13	6	6	16	315.2
15	Art Cross	17				4							300
16	Paul Russo	DNS											300
17	Rodger Ward	28	DNQ	9	DNQ	24	DNQ		9	14		6	252.2
18	Jack McGrath	26	8		10	21	2		17	15	18	13	240
19	Jimmy Daywalt	9	14			18	13		11	DNQ		DNS	226.4
20	Mike Magill R		13	4	7		10		18	16			210
21	Bob Finney							1					200
22	Tony Bonadies R	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		6			DNQ				200
23	Jimmy Reece	33	9	14	8	14	DNQ		10	8	16	12	180
24	Eddie Russo	22	DNQ	7	13	10	12		DNQ	11			165
25	Slim Roberts							2					160
26	Ed Elisian	30	DNQ	6	18	25	DNQ		DNQ	7	11		160
27	Louis J. Unser R							3					140
28	Jerry Unser R							4	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		120
29	Duane Carter	11	DNQ	10	14		DNQ						112.9
30	Johnny Tolan	Wth	DNQ	DNQ	11	19	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	10	7	110
31	Jiggs Peters	DNQ	16	DNQ	5	DNS			DNS	DNQ			100
32	Bobby Unser R							5					100
33	Tommy Hinnershitz			11	6		DNQ		DNS				100
34	Johnny Kay R	DNQ			DNQ	16	DNQ		7	10			90
35	Keith Andrews	20						6			15	DNQ	80
36	Edgar Elder			DNQ	12	DNQ	7		12	DNQ	13	15	80
37	Elmer George R	DNQ									7	DNQ	60
38	Charles Louderman							7					60
39	Johnnie Parsons	21				9	DNQ		DNQ				53.2
40	Bill Homeier	DNS	DNQ	DNQ	17	DNS	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		52.5
41	Pete Woods							8					50
42	Shorty Templeman	18	11	DNQ	DNQ	17	15			DNQ	DNQ	10	50
43	Gene Hartley	DNQ	19	DNQ	DNQ	11	DNQ			DNQ			50
44	Chuck Weyant	12	DNP		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ			50
45	Eddie Sachs					DNS				DNQ		DNQ	46.8
46	Mel McGaughy R										9	DNQ	40
47	Paul Kleinschmidt							9					40
48	Jack Turner R		DNQ	13	DNQ	DNS	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ		11	33.4
49	George Hammond							10					30
50	Buddy Cagle R						11		DNQ	DNQ		14	20
51	Louis Unser							11					20
52	Len Duncan	DNQ	DNQ	DNS									17.1
53	Eddie Johnson	13			15	DNQ	16		14	12			10
54	Charles Musselman R			12					DNQ				10
55	E. T. Cox R							12					10
-	Foster Campbell R							13			DNQ	DNQ	0
-	Earl Motter R		DNQ						15	18	14	DNQ	0
-	Jim Rathmann	14	20										0
-	Art Hillis							14					0
-	Al Keller	27	15	17									0
-	Rex Easton		17		DNQ	15				DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Shelby Hill							15					0
-	Jerry Hoyt	31	22	16									0
-	Cal Niday	16											0
-	Jimmy Good							16					0
-	Len Sutton R										17	17	0
-	Bob Carroll						17			DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Ted Foltz							17					0
-	Wayne Sankey							18					0
-	Sam Hanks	19										DNQ	0
-	Jack Hahn R							19					0
-	Dan Morgan R							20					0
-	Ray Crawford	23	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ				DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	0
-	Bill Vukovich	25											0
-	Fred Agabashian	32											0
-	Potsy Goacher			DNS	DNQ								0
-	Joe Sostilio		DNQ	DNQ			DNQ		DNQ				0
-	Russ Klar	DNQ					DNQ		DNQ				0
-	Ernie McCoy	DNQ		DNQ									0
-	Leroy Warriner	DNQ								DNQ			0
-	George Tichenor	DNQ	DNP										0
-	Manny Ayulo	DNQ											0
-	Bob Christie	DNQ											0
-	Danny Kladis	DNQ											0
-	George Lynch	DNQ											0
-	Troy Ruttman	DNQ											0
-	Spider Webb	DNQ											0
-	Howard Kelley				DNQ								0
-	Colby Scroggin				DNQ								0
-	Malcolm Brazier							DNQ					0
-	Joe Garson							DNQ					0
-	L. J. Green							DNQ					0
-	Berton Groves							DNQ					0
-	Gordon Herring							DNQ					0
-	Johnny Mauro							DNQ					0
-	T. E. Russell							DNQ					0
-	Phil Shafer							DNQ					0
-	Tom Topping							DNQ					0
-	Chuck Fink										DNQ		0
Pos	Driver	INDY	MIL1	LAN	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	PIK	SYR	ISF	SAC	PHX	Pts

Color	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	4th & 5th place
Light Blue	6th-10th place
Dark Blue	Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown	Withdrawn (Wth)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Blank	Did not participate (DNP)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

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The 1948 AAA Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Arlington, Texas on April 25 and concluding in Du Quoin, Illinois on October 10. The AAA National Champion was Ted Horn, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Mauri Rose. Ralph Hepburn was killed at Indianapolis in practice, and Ted Horn was killed at the last race in DuQuoin.

References

↑ "Ayulo critically injured when car runs into wall". The Spartanburg Herald . Associated Press. May 17, 1955.
↑ "Crash injuries fatal to Indianapolis racer". The Pittsburgh Press . United Press. May 17, 1955.
↑ Burgess, Dale (May 31, 1955). "Bob Sweikert winner; Bill Vukovich is dead". The Florence Times . Associated Press.
↑ "Veteran race driver dies". The Victoria Advocate . United Press. November 7, 1955.
↑ "AAA cuts ties with U.S. auto racing". The Michigan Daily . Ann Arbor, Michigan. Associated Press. August 4, 1955.
↑ "USAC takes over AAA's place". Daytona Beach Morning Journal . Associated Press. March 8, 1956.

General references

Åberg, Andreas. "AAA National Championship 1955". Driver Database. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
"1955 AAA National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
Harms, Phil. "1955 Championship Driver Summary" (PDF). Motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 284-286)

v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
INDYCAR	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e AAA Championship Cars (1905–1955)
Seasons	1905 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
Indianapolis 500s	1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 ~~1942~~ 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
National Champions	Billy Arnold Henry Banks Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan Bob Carey Gaston Chevrolet Bill Cummings Pete DePaolo (twice) Sam Hanks Harry Hartz Eddie Hearne Ted Horn (three times) Rex Mays (twice) Louis Meyer (three times) Tommy Milton Jimmy Murphy (twice) Barney Oldfield Johnnie Parsons Kelly Petillo Dario Resta Floyd Roberts Mauri Rose Louis Schneider Wilbur Shaw (twice) Chuck Stevenson Bob Sweikert
AAA Contest Board Years marked in italics are not official championship years.