Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Sanctioning body | USAC | ||||
Date | May 30, 1957 | ||||
Winner | Sam Hanks | ||||
Winning team | George Salih | ||||
Average speed | 135.601 mph (218.229 km/h) | ||||
Pole position | Pat O'Connor | ||||
Pole speed | 143.948 mph (231.662 km/h) | ||||
Most laps led | Sam Hanks (136) | ||||
Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
Pace car | Mercury Turnpike Cruiser | ||||
Pace car driver | F. C. Reith | ||||
Starter | Bill Vanderwater [1] | ||||
Estimated attendance | 170,000 [2] | ||||
Chronology | |||||
|
The 41st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1957. The event was part of the 1957 USAC National Championship Trail and it was the third race of the eight-race 1957 World Championship of Drivers.
Sam Hanks won the Indianapolis 500 in his thirteenth attempt, the most such by any 500 winner. [lower-alpha 1] He retired from competition at Indy in victory lane. [3] Contrary to popular belief, Hanks did not completely retire from racing until the end of the year. He skipped the Race of Two Worlds when his entrant withdrew, [4] but competed in USAC Stock Car events later in the year, winning the event at Trenton, [5] and finished third in points championships for 1957.
Hanks received a record $103,844 purse, the first driver to win a $100,000 single-race payday. The total race purse was also a record, over $300,000 for the first time.
Hanks won the race in George Salih's "Lay-down Offy". The Offenhauser engine was mounted on its side and shifted off-center. This was done in order to lower the center of gravity, reduce frontal area, and counterbalance the body roll in the turns. The car that Hanks drove for the win in 1957 would win back-to-back Indy 500s, with Jimmy Bryan piloting the very same chassis to victory again in 1958.
For 1957, the Speedway introduced a new state-of-the-art pit lane and brand new Master Control Tower to house broadcasting as well as timing and scoring. For the first time, the pit area was separated from the mainstretch by an inside wall. The pit lane was paved in concrete (the mainstretch remained brick), while a grass strip went the length of the pit road to accommodate pit crew sign board men. Flagging duties would be done from a station on the grass strip at the start/finish line, and eventually a small wooden platform would be constructed for the flagman to stand atop. USAC officials also stationed themselves on the new grass parapet (which would be removed after the 1993 race when the parapet was narrowed and paved with concrete, and pit road become asphalt except for the pit boxes).
For the 1957 race, the field lined up in the pit area single-file, rather than the traditional eleven rows of three on the racing surface. On the pace lap, the field assembled into position, and was aligned for the green flag. By 1957, the field was now being taken around for two warm-up laps (one "parade" lap, and one "pace" lap), an increase over the single lap used previously. This single-file grid practice would eventually lead to confusion, and was utilized for only two years.
Time trials was scheduled for four days, but the second day was rained out. Rain affected practice days as well. [6]
Giuseppe Farina was the only European driver on the entry list for the race, however, he did not attempt to qualify. Farina had difficulty getting his car up to speed, and had experienced handling problems. On May 15, his teammate Keith Andrews stepped into his car for a test run, but crashed. Down the frontstretch, Andrews began to slide, and when he attempted to correct, the car backed into the inside wall separating the pit area. Andrews was crushed to death between the cowl and the fuel tank, but no fire broke out. [7] Farina withdrew after Andrews was killed, with no backup car to use. [8]
Pat O'Connor qualified for the pole position. Showers delayed qualifying for nearly four hours, and at other points during the afternoon. A total of only nine cars completed runs. [9]
O'Connor's speed of 143.948 mph was not a track record. [10] Troy Ruttman was on the track, and after a lap of over 144 mph, rain forced him to abort the attempt. He was able to get back out to the track, but had to settle for a speed of only 142.772 mph.
The first rookie to make the field was Elmer George, the husband of Mari Hulman George, and son-in-law of Speedway president Tony Hulman.
The second day scheduled for qualifying was rained out.
Paul Russo (144.817 mph) was the fastest driver of the day, in one of the Novi Specials. Russo was the fastest qualifier in the field, as his speed was faster than the pole position time from the previous weekend.
Rain and winds plagued the final day of time trials. Twenty three cars entered the day looking to fill the final 11 positions. A total of 43 attempts were made, with 9 cars bumped.
Tony Bettenhausen (142.439 mph) was the fastest driver of the day, driving one of the 500 hp Novi Specials. Bill Cheesbourg needed two cars to make the field. His first attempt was too slow. But late in the day, he got in Cliff Griffith's car, and at a speed of 141.565 mph, bumped Johnnie Parsons from the lineup. [11]
Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 | Pat O'Connor Sumar Special Chapman Root Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 143.948 mph (231.662 km/h) | 88 | Eddie Sachs R Peter Schmidt Special Peter Schmidt Kuzma, Offenhauser 143.872 mph (231.540 km/h) | 52 | Troy Ruttman W John Zink Special John Zink Watson, Offenhauser 142.772 mph (229.769 km/h) | |||
2 | 14 | Fred Agabashian Bowes Seal Fast Special George Bignotti Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 142.557 mph (229.423 km/h) | 6 | Johnny Boyd Bowes Seal Fast Special George Bignotti Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 142.102 mph (228.691 km/h) | 5 | Jimmy Reece Hoyt Machine Special Fred Sommer Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 142.006 mph (228.537 km/h) | |||
3 | 83 | Ed Elisian McNamara Special Lee Elkins Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 141.777 mph (228.168 km/h) | 16 | Al Keller Bardahl/Clancy Special Pat Clancy Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 141.398 mph (227.558 km/h) | 23 | Elmer George R Travelon Trailer Special Ernest Ruiz Kurtis 500B, Offenhauser 140.729 mph (226.481 km/h) | |||
4 | 54 | Paul Russo Novi Auto Air Conditioner Special Novi Racing Corp Kurtis 500F, Novi SC 144.817 mph (233.060 km/h) | 10 | Johnny Thomson D-A Lubricant Special Racing Associates Kuzma, Offenhauser 143.529 mph (230.988 km/h) | 73 | Andy Linden McNamara/Veedol Special Lee Elkins Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 143.244 mph (230.529 km/h) | |||
5 | 9 | Sam Hanks Belond Exhaust Special George Salih Salih, Offenhauser 142.812 mph (229.834 km/h) | 22 | Gene Hartley Massaglia Hotels Special Hart Fullerton Lesovsky, Offenhauser 141.271 mph (227.354 km/h) | 1 | Jimmy Bryan Dean Van Lines Special Al Dean Kuzma R, Offenhauser 141.188 mph (227.220 km/h) | |||
6 | 7 | Bob Veith Bob Estes Special Bob Estes Phillips, Offenhauser 141.016 mph (226.943 km/h) | 18 | Johnnie Parsons W Sumar Special Chapman Root Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 140.784 mph (226.570 km/h) | 77 | Mike Magill R Dayton Steel Foundry Special George Walther Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 140.411 mph (225.970 km/h) | |||
7 | 19 | Jack Turner Bardahl Special Pat Clancy Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 140.367 mph (225.899 km/h) | 43 | Eddie Johnson Chapman Special Harry Allen Chapman Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 140.171 mph (225.583 km/h) | 3 | Don Freeland Ansted Rotary Ansted-Thompson Racing Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser 139.649 mph (224.743 km/h) | |||
8 | 27 | Tony Bettenhausen Novi Auto Air Conditioner Special Novi Racing Corp. Kurtis 500F, Novi SC 142.439 mph (229.233 km/h) | 31 | Bill Cheesbourg R Schildmeier Seal Line Special J.S. Donaldson Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 141.565 mph (227.827 km/h) | 8 | Rodger Ward Wolcott Fuel Injection Special Roger Wolcott Lesovsky, Offenhauser SC 141.321 mph (227.434 km/h) | |||
9 | 82 | Chuck Weyant Central Excavating Special Pete Salemi Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 141.105 mph (227.086 km/h) | 55 | Eddie Russo Sclavi & Amos Special Fred Sclavi Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 140.862 mph (226.695 km/h) | 92 | Don Edmunds R McKay Special Roy McKay Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser 140.449 mph (226.031 km/h) | |||
10 | 48 | Marshall Teague Sumar Special Chapman Root Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 140.329 mph (225.838 km/h) | 57 | Jimmy Daywalt Helse Special H.H. Johnson Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 140.203 mph (225.635 km/h) | 89 | Al Herman Dunn Engineering Special Harry Dunn Dunn, Offenhauser 140.007 mph (225.319 km/h) | |||
11 | 28 | Johnnie Tolan Greenman-Casale Special Lysle Greenman Kuzma, Offenhauser 139.884 mph (225.121 km/h) | 26 | Jim Rathmann Chiropractic Special Lindsey Hopkins Epperly, Offenhauser 139.806 mph (224.996 km/h) | 95 | Bob Christie Jones & Maley Special Jones & Maley Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser 139.779 mph (224.952 km/h) | |||
Sources: [12] [13] [14] |
#33 - Billy Garrett Federal Engineering Special Kurtis 500E, Offenhauser [15] |
#4 - George Amick R Federal Engineering Special Snowberger, Offenhauser Too slow | #62 - Keith Andrews Farina Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Fatal accident | #82 - Johnny Baldwin R Central Excavating Special Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#45 - Bill Cheesbourg Las Vegas Club Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Too slow, Qualified #31 | #15 - Tony Bonadies R Ray Brady Special Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Practice accident | #81 - Tony Bonadies R Central Excavating Special Kuzma D, Offenhauser Too slow |
#59 - Bud Clemons R Chiropractic Special Shilala Offenhauser Too slow | #49 - Ray Crawford Meguiar Mirror Glaze Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Too slow | #32 - Jimmy Davies Anderson Special Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Too slow |
#62 - Giuseppe Farina R Farina Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Crashed by K. Andrews | #71 - Johnny Fedricks R Gdula Special Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Did not qualify | #64 - Gene Force Shannon Brothers Special Watts, Offenhauser Too slow |
#58 - Andy Furci R Ray Brady Special Schroder D, Offenhauser Did not qualify | #31 - Cliff Griffith Seal Line Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Did not qualify | #43 - Van Johnson R Chapman Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#72 - Danny Kladis Morgan Engineering Special Maserati, Maserati SC Too slow | #84 - Danny Kladis Safety Auto Glass Special Mercedes, Jaguar Too slow | #25 - Jud Larson R John Zink Special Watson, Offenhauser Too slow |
#34 - Jim McWithey R Federal Engineering Special Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Qualifying accident | #32 - Cal Niday Trio Brass Foundry Special Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Did not qualify | #98 - Johnnie Parsons W Agajanian Special Kuzma, Offenhauser Too slow |
#92 - Leroy Warriner R McKay Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Did not qualify | #42 - Dempsey Wilson R Martin Special Curtis, Offenhauser Too slow [16] [17] |
R = Indianapolis 500 rookie
W = Former Indianapolis 500 winner
On the backstretch during the pace lap, Elmer George hit the back of Eddie Russo's car, putting both cars out of the race before the start. Only 31 cars took the green flag.
Polesitter Pat O'Connor took the lead at the start and led the first four laps. Troy Ruttman led laps 5–6. O'Connor re-took the lead for laps 7–9, but Ruttman led laps 10–11, until blowing the engine. Paul Russo took the lead on lap 12, and in the first twelve laps there had already been four lead changes between three drivers.
Sam Hanks took the lead for the final time on lap 135.
W Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap.
|
|
|
The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. The broadcast was carried by 302 affiliates, including Latin America. It reached 46 states and DC. The broadcast came on-air at 10:45 a.m. local time, fifteen minutes prior to the start of the race. [22] For the fifth years, the network featured announcers from the five major radio stations in Indianapolis (WISH, WIRE, WIBC, WFBM, and WISH). For 1957, the crew was expanded to eleven, with three new remote reporting locations. For the first time, there would be a reporter in each of the four turns, and a third pit reporter was added to help cover the recently lengthened pit lane. In addition, the booth announcers moved into the newly-constructed Master Control Tower along the frontstretch. [23]
Charlie Brockman conducted the winner's interview in victory lane.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network | ||
---|---|---|
Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit reporters |
Chief Announcer: Sid Collins | Turn 1: Bill Frosch | Luke Walton Greg Smith Gordon Graham Charlie Brockman (victory lane) |
1957 Indianapolis 500 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 3 of 8 in the 1957 Formula One season
| |||||
Race details | |||||
Date | May 30, 1953 | ||||
Location | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana | ||||
Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
Course length | 4.023 km (2.500 miles) | ||||
Distance | 200 laps, 804.672 km (500.000 miles) |
The Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Championship of Drivers from 1950 through 1960. The race was sanctioned by AAA through 1955, and then by USAC beginning in 1956. At the time the new world championship was announced and first organized by the CSI, the United States did not yet have a Grand Prix. Indianapolis Motor Speedway vice president and general manager Theodore E. "Pop" Meyers lobbied that the Indianapolis 500 be selected as the race to represent the country and to pay points towards the world championship. [24] [25]
Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers. [26] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations. [27] The drivers also earned separate points (on a different scale) towards the respective AAA or USAC national championships. No points, however, were awarded by the FIA towards the World Constructors' Championship.
The 1957 Indianapolis 500 was round 3 of 8 on the 1957 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit. For the second year in a row, former World Champion Giuseppe Farina entered, but again struggled to get his car up to speed. He eventually withdrew after his teammate Keith Andrews was killed in a crash testing the car. Race winner Sam Hanks earned 8 points towards the World Championship. Despite not competing in any of the other World Championship events, Hanks finished eighth in the final season standings.
Pos | Driver | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 17 | |
28 | 2 | Sam Hanks | 8 |
27 | 3 | Jim Rathmann | 7 |
2 | 4 | Jean Behra | 6 |
2 | 5 | Tony Brooks | 6 |
Source: [28] |
Rank | Driver | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Sam Hanks | 1000 | |
2 | Jim Rathmann | 800 | |
3 | Jimmy Bryan | 700 | |
4 | Paul Russo | 600 | |
5 | Andy Linden | 500 | |
Source: [29] |
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 40th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1956. The event was part of the 1956 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 3 of 8 in the 1956 World Championship of Drivers. The 1956 race was the first to be governed by the United States Automobile Club. The AAA withdrew from auto racing the previous August after a succession of incidents, including the Le Mans disaster and the fatal crash of Bill Vukovich during the 1955 race. Another change was made to the track that would have an immediate effect on the racing. The vast majority of the circuit was paved over in asphalt. A short stretch approximately 600 yards in length was left brick along the mainstretch. Speeds were expected to climb, and qualifying records were expected to be shattered during time trials.
The 42nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1958. The event was part of the 1958 USAC National Championship Trail, and was also race 4 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers.
The 43rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1959 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 49th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Monday, May 31, 1965.
The 54th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Saturday, May 30, 1970.
The 55th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was a motor race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Saturday, May 29, 1971. Al Unser Sr. won for the second consecutive year, dominating most of the race. Unser became the fourth driver to win the Indy 500 in back-to-back years, and it was his second of a record-tying four Indy victories.
The 59th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 25, 1975. A. J. Foyt started on the pole position and Bobby Unser won his second Indianapolis 500. Dan Gurney, one of the founders of All American Racers, who finished second as a driver himself in 1968–1969, won his first and only Indy 500 as a car owner. Gurney's Eagle chassis itself scored its third "500" win. The race was part of the 1975 USAC National Championship Trail.
The 61st 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 29, 1977. Considered one of the most historically significant editions of the Indianapolis 500, several sidebar stories complemented the unprecedented accomplishment of race winner A. J. Foyt. Foyt became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times. As of 2023, Foyt's record has been tied by Al Unser Sr., Rick Mears and Hélio Castroneves, but still stands as an Indy 500 record. Foyt's victory is also the last time the winning car was built entirely within the United States.
The 63rd 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday May 27, 1979. Second-year driver Rick Mears took the lead for the final time with 18 laps to go, and won his first of four Indianapolis 500 races. It was also Mears' first of a record six Indy 500 pole positions. Brothers Al and Bobby Unser combined to lead 174 of the 200 laps, but Al dropped out around the midpoint, and Bobby slipped to 5th place at the finish nursing mechanical issues. It was also Roger Penske's second Indy 500 victory as a car owner.
The 53rd International 500 Mile Sweepstakes was an auto race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Friday, May 30, 1969. It was the third round of the 1969 USAC Championship Car season. Polesitter A. J. Foyt led the race in the early stages, looking to become the first four-time winner of the 500. Near the halfway point, however, a lengthy pit stop to repair a broken manifold put him many laps down. Despite a hard-charging run towards the end, he wound up managing only an eighth-place finish, 19 laps down. Lloyd Ruby, a driver with a hard-luck reputation at the Speedway, was leading the race just after the midpoint. During a pit stop, he pulled away with the fueling hose still attached, ripped a hole in the fuel tank, and was out of the race. The incident put Mario Andretti in the lead for rest of the way.
The 51st International 500 Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, over two days, Tuesday May 30 and Wednesday May 31, 1967. The race was dominated by Parnelli Jones in the radically new, four-wheel drive STP-Paxton Turbocar gas turbine entered by prolific car owner Andy Granatelli. With three laps to go, however, Jones coasted to a stop when a $6 transmission bearing failed. A. J. Foyt assumed the lead, and weaved his way through a pileup on the final lap, to win his third Indy 500 victory.
The 14th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1926. Louis Chevrolet drove the Chrysler pace car for the start.
The 64th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 25, 1980. Johnny Rutherford won the pole position, led 118 laps, and won the race by a commanding 29.92 second margin. After failing to finish the race the year before, Jim Hall's radical new Chaparral 2K ground effects chassis was a heavy favorite entering the month, and drove a flawless race. Rutherford, the winner in 1974 and 1976, became the sixth driver to win the Indy 500 three times.