1961 Indianapolis 500

Last updated

45th Indianapolis 500
Indy500winningcar1961.JPG
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body USAC
Season 1961 USAC season
DateMay 30, 1961
Winner A. J. Foyt
Winning team Bignotti-Bowes Racing Associates
Average speed139.130 mph (223.908 km/h)
Pole position Eddie Sachs
Pole speed147.481 mph (237.348 km/h)
Fastest lap Eddie Sachs
Rookie of the Year Bobby Marshman & Parnelli Jones (co-winners)
Most laps led A. J. Foyt (71)
Pre-race ceremonies
National anthem Purdue Band
"Back Home Again in Indiana" Mel Torme
Starting command Tony Hulman
Pace car Ford Thunderbird
Pace car driver Sam Hanks
StarterBill Vanderwater [1]
Honorary referee Raymond Firestone [1]
Estimated attendance300,000 [2]
TV in the United States
Network N/A
Announcers N/A
Nielsen ratings N/A / N/A
Chronology
PreviousNext
1960 1962

The 45th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Tuesday, May 30, 1961. For the first time since 1949, the Indianapolis 500 was not recognized on the World Championship calendar. The race celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Indy 500 in 1911.

Contents

Eddie Sachs and A. J. Foyt were battling for 1st-2nd in the latter stages of the race. On Foyt's final scheduled pit stop, his crew was unable to properly engage the fuel mechanism, and his car did not take on a full load of fuel. Foyt returned to the track, and was pulling away from Sachs. Foyt's car was running faster due to the light fuel load, but his crew signaled him that he would be unable to make it to the finish without another pit stop. The crew borrowed a fuel feed mechanism from Len Sutton's team, and signaled Foyt to the pits.

Foyt gave up the lead on lap 184 for a splash-and-go. That handed the lead to Sachs, who was now leading by 25 seconds. With three laps to go, the warning tread showed on Sachs' rear tire and Sachs decided to play it safe. Rather than nurse the car around, he pitted to replace the worn tire on lap 197. Foyt took the lead with three laps to go and won his first (of four) Indy 500 by a margin of 8.28 seconds.

A notable story included the appearance of two-time defending Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham from Australia, who drove the race in a low-slung, British built Cooper powered by a Coventry Climax engine. Dubbed the "British Invasion," it would be the first notable post-war appearance of a rear-engined car, and within five years the rear-engined revolution would take over the Speedway. The venerable front-engined roadsters with their larger and more powerful engines were much faster down the long straights, but the superior handling of Brabham's Cooper in the corners kept his car competitive. Brabham qualified 17th at 145.144 mp/h and drove the car to a respectable 9th-place finish, completing all 200 laps. He had planned to run conservatively and make only two pit stops, but tire wear and fuel consumption forced him to make a 3rd stop, negating his strategy. Had he driven more aggressively with three pit stops, he might have been much closer to the lead serial.

Five months after the race in October 1961, the front straight of the track was paved over with asphalt, and thus the entire track was now paved in asphalt and only a single yard of bricks at the start/finish line was left exposed from the original 1909 brick surface. The remainder of the original 3,200,000 bricks now lie underneath the asphalt surface. This meant that the 1961 race was the last 500 in which cars raced on the original bricks other than those at the start/finish line.

Practice and time trials

Nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express," Tony Bettenhausen, Sr. was killed in a crash during a practice run on May 12. He was testing a car for Paul Russo. It was determined that an anchor bolt fell off the front radius rod support, permitting the front axle to twist and mis-align the front wheels when the brakes were applied. The car plunged into the outside wall, then rode along the top, snapping fence poles and tearing segments of the catch fence. The car came to rest upside-down on top of the outside wall, and Bettenhausen was killed instantly. Before the time trials Bettenhausen had been the favorite to become the first driver to break the 150 mph barrier at the Speedway. [3]

The rear-engined Cooper T54 with which dual and reigning World F1 Drivers' Champion Jack Brabham placed ninth. Jack and the Cooper are credited with starting the rear-engine revolution at Indianapolis Cooper-Climax T54 "The Kimberly Special" - Flickr - andrewbasterfield.jpg
The rear-engined Cooper T54 with which dual and reigning World F1 Drivers' Champion Jack Brabham placed ninth. Jack and the Cooper are credited with starting the rear-engine revolution at Indianapolis

Time trials was scheduled for four days:

Eddie Sachs sat on the pole with an average speed of 147.481 mph (237.348 km/h).

Starting grid

RowInsideMiddleOutside
112 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Sachs 3 Flag of the United States.svg Don Branson 99 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise
22 Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward  W 98 Flag of the United States.svg Parnelli Jones  R 97 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Rathmann
31 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 8 Flag of the United States.svg Len Sutton 14 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Cheesbourg
433 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Johnson 4 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Rathmann  W 15 Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Weiler
517 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham  R 73 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Shepherd  R 28 Flag of the United States.svg Gene Hartley
632 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Christie 10 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Goldsmith 7 Flag of the United States.svg Shorty Templeman
786 Flag of the United States.svg Ebb Rose  R 41 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Boyd 45 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Turner
852 Flag of the United States.svg Troy Ruttman  W 55 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Daywalt 16 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Grim
95 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby 19 Flag of the United States.svg Al Keller 83 Flag of the United States.svg Don Davis  R 
1018 Flag of the United States.svg Chuck Stevenson 22 Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey  R 26 Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Griffith
1135 Flag of the United States.svg Dempsey Wilson 34 Flag of the United States.svg Norm Hall  R 31 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Marshman  R 
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

Failed to qualify

Box score

FinishStartNoNameChassisEngineTireQualLapsStatus
171 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Trevis Offenhauser F 145.903200139.130 mph
2112 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Sachs Ewing Offenhauser F 147.481200+8.28
342 Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward  W  Watson Offenhauser F 146.187200+55.19
4187 Flag of the United States.svg Shorty Templeman Meskowski Offenhauser F 144.341200+3:33.35
52619 Flag of the United States.svg Al Keller Phillips Offenhauser F 146.157200+4:54.45
62818 Flag of the United States.svg Chuck Stevenson Salih Offenhauser F 145.191200+5:22.96
73331 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Marshman  R  Epperly Offenhauser F 144.293200+5:43.28
8255 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby Epperly Offenhauser F 146.909200+6:49.65
91317 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham  R  Cooper Coventry Climax D 145.144200+8:03.37
103234 Flag of the United States.svg Norm Hall  R  Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 144.555200+8:04.90
111528 Flag of the United States.svg Gene Hartley Trevis Offenhauser F 144.817198Flagged
12598 Flag of the United States.svg Parnelli Jones  R  Watson Offenhauser F 146.080192Flagged
13697 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Rathmann Watson Offenhauser F 146.033164Fuel Pump
141710 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Goldsmith Lesovsky Offenhauser F 144.741160Connecting Rod
151215 Flag of the United States.svg Wayne Weiler Watson Offenhauser F 145.349147Wheel Bearing
163135 Flag of the United States.svg Dempsey Wilson Kuzma Offenhauser F 144.202145Fuel Pump
171632 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Christie Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 144.782132Piston
181033 Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Johnson Kuzma Offenhauser F 145.843127Crash T4
1988 Flag of the United States.svg Len Sutton Watson Offenhauser F 145.897110Clutch
202252 Flag of the United States.svg Troy Ruttman  W  Watson Offenhauser F 144.799105Clutch
212041 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Boyd Watson Offenhauser F 144.092105Clutch
22399 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise Epperly Offenhauser F 146.306102Piston
231986 Flag of the United States.svg Ebb Rose  R Porter Offenhauser F 144.33893Rod
243026 Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Griffith Elder Offenhauser F 145.03855Piston
252145 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Turner Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 144.90452Crash FS
261473 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Shepherd  R  Christensen Offenhauser F 144.95451Crash FS
272922 Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey  R Moore Offenhauser F 145.06851Crash FS
28914 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Cheesbourg Kuzma Offenhauser F 145.87350Crash FS
292783 Flag of the United States.svg Don Davis  R  Trevis Offenhauser F 145.34949Crash FS
30114 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Rathmann  W  Watson Offenhauser F 145.41348Magneto
312355 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 144.21927Brake Line
322416 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Grim Watson Offenhauser F 144.02926Piston
3323 Flag of the United States.svg Don Branson Epperly Offenhauser F 146.8432Bent Valves
Sources: [6] [7] [8]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

Tire participation chart [10]
SupplierNo. of starters
Firestone 32*
Dunlop 1 
*Denotes race winner

Track worker fatality

John Masariu, 38, father of 6, of Danville, Indiana was serving as a member of the fire/safety crew. On the 127th lap of the race, driver Eddie Johnson spun out in turn 4, but did not suffer significant damage and he was not injured. A small fire broke out on the car. A safety fire truck went to his aid. John Masariu, who was the principal of Ben Davis Junior High and was serving as a safety worker, fell or jumped off the back of the fire truck. A moment later, the truck driven by James (Johnny) Williams accidentally backed over him, and he was injured fatally. [11]

Broadcasting

Radio

The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer with Fred Agabashian serving as "driver expert" The broadcast represented the 10th anniversary of the network, which was formed in 1952. This was Mike Ahern's first year on the network. This was Ahern's only year in Turn 2.

The broadcast was heard on over 450 affiliates, including Armed Forces Radio. The broadcast reached all 50 U.S. states. The race reached approximately 100 million listeners worldwide.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Booth AnnouncersTurn Reporters Pit/garage reporters

Chief Announcer: Sid Collins
Driver expert: Fred Agabashian
Statistician: Charlie Brockman

Turn 1: Bill Frosh
Turn 2: Mike Ahern  R 
Backstretch: Bernie Herman
Turn 3: Lou Palmer
Turn 4: Jim Shelton

Jack Shapiro (north pits)
Luke Walton (center pits)
Johny Peterson (south pits)

Television

The race itself was not televised. However, ABC Sports showed highlights of time trials on Wide World of Sports . [12]

Notes

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. Cadou Jr., Jep (May 31, 1961). "Averafe Speed Of 139.131 Sets New Track Mark". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "Indy 500 deadly accidents, Tony Bettenhausen Sr". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  4. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  5. "1961 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  6. Davidson, Donald; Shaffer, Rick (2013). Autocourse Official History of the Indianapolis 500 (Second ed.). Malvern, Worcestershire, England: Icon Publishing. p. 373. ISBN   978-1-905334-82-7 via Internet Archive.
  7. Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). Indianapolis 500 Chronicle . Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International. p. 161. ISBN   0-7853-2798-3 via Internet Archive.
  8. "1961 Indianapolis 500". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  9. "7th Extra". Indianapolis News . May 30, 1961. Retrieved April 15, 2024 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. Eggert, Bill (May 27, 1961). "Firms Struggle To Get Products Used By Cars". The Indianapolis Star . p. 28. Retrieved August 10, 2024 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. "Truck Kills '500' Guard". Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  12. "Indianapolis Time Trials Telecast Saturday on ABC". Telegraph Herald. May 26, 1961. Retrieved August 14, 2013.

Works cited

Previous race:
1961 Trenton 100
USAC Championship Car
1961 season
Next race:
1961 Rex Mays Classic
Previous race:
1960 Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500 Next race:
1962 Indianapolis 500
Preceded by
138.767 mph
(1960 Indianapolis 500)
Record for the Indianapolis 500 fastest average speed
139.130
mph
Succeeded by