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1959 Indianapolis 500

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43rd Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyUSAC
DateMay 30, 1959
WinnerRodger Ward
Winning teamLeader Cards
Average speed135.857 mph (218.641 km/h)
Pole positionJohnny Thomson
Pole speed145.908 mph (234.816 km/h)
Most laps ledRodger Ward (130)
Pre-race ceremonies
Pace carBuick Electra 225
Pace car driverSam Hanks
StarterBill Vanderwater[1]
Estimated attendance180,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1958 1960

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.

Rodger Ward earned the first of two career Indy 500 victories. A record sixteen cars completed the full 500 miles.

All cars were required to have roll bars for the first time.[3]

Practice and time trials

[edit]

Two drivers, Jerry Unser and Bob Cortner, were killed in separate crashes during the month. On May 2, Unser lost control in Turn Four, spun, and flipped down the main stretch. The car caught fire and Unser suffered significant burns; he died from complications of his burns on May 17. On May 19, rookie Cortner crashed in turn three after being pushed by a wind gust. He was killed instantly of head injuries.[4]

On the morning of pole day, Tony Bettenhausen suffered a bad crash during a practice run. His car hit the outside wall and flipped over the inside guardrail. Bettenhausen escaped the crash with only minor injuries, and would qualify on the second weekend of time trials.

After three years of retirement, Duane Carter returned to the cockpit, and qualified for his ninth Indianapolis 500 start.

Time trials were scheduled for four days:

  • Saturday May 16 – Pole Day time trials
  • Sunday May 17 – Second day time trials
  • Saturday May 23 – Third day time trials
  • Sunday May 24 – Fourth day time trials

Starting grid

[edit]
Row Inside Middle Outside
1 3 United States Johnny Thomson 44 United States Eddie Sachs 16 United States Jim Rathmann
2 73 United States Dick Rathmann 48 United States Bobby Grim  R  5 United States Rodger Ward
3 74 United States Bob Veith 19 United States Eddie Johnson 88 United States Gene Hartley
4 9 United States Don Branson  R  33 United States Johnny Boyd 37 United States Duane Carter
5 66 United States Jimmy Daywalt 24 United States Jack Turner 1 United States Tony Bettenhausen
6 99 United States Paul Goldsmith 10 United States A. J. Foyt 64 United States Pat Flaherty  W 
7 7 United States Jud Larson 6 United States Jimmy Bryan  W  71 United States Chuck Arnold  R 
8 8 United States Len Sutton 89 United States Al Herman 65 United States Bob Christie
9 15 United States Don Freeland 87 United States Red Amick  R  45 United States Paul Russo
10 57 United States Al Keller 47 United States Chuck Weyant 53 United States Bill Cheesbourg
11 77 United States Mike Magill 49 United States Ray Crawford 58 United States Jim McWithey  R 
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

[edit]
  • First alternate: Rex Easton  R  (#39, #45)[5]

Failed to qualify

[edit]

Box score

[edit]
Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Time/Retired Points WDC Points
1 6 5 United States Rodger Ward Watson-Offenhauser 144.03 7 200 3:40:49.20 1,000 8
2 3 16 United States Jim Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser 144.43 4 200 + 0:23.28 800 6
3 1 3 United States Johnny Thomson Lesovsky-Offenhauser 145.90 1 200 + 0:50.64 700 51
4 15 1 United States Tony Bettenhausen Epperly-Offenhauser 142.72 18 200 + 1:47.09 600 3
5 16 99 United States Paul Goldsmith Epperly-Offenhauser 142.67 19 200 + 2:06.44 500 2
6 11 33 United States Johnny Boyd Epperly-Offenhauser 142.81 16 200 + 3:16.98 400  
7 12 37 United States Duane Carter Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.79 17 200 + 4:09.92 300  
8 8 19 United States Eddie Johnson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.00 9 200 + 4:10.53 250  
9 27 45 United States Paul Russo Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.38 22 200 + 4:11.04 200  
10 17 10 United States A. J. Foyt Kuzma-Offenhauser 142.64 20 200 + 4:14.48 150  
11 9 88 United States Gene Hartley Kuzma-Offenhauser 143.57 10 200 + 5:42.48 100  
12 7 74 United States Bob Veith Moore-Offenhauser 144.02 8 200 + 6:09.73 50  
13 23 89 United States Al Herman Dunn-Offenhauser 141.93 29 200 + 6:40.40    
14 13 66 United States Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.68 3 200 + 6:41.54    
15 21 71 United States Chuck Arnold  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.11 24 200 + 8:19.86    
16 33 58 United States Jim McWithey  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 141.21 33 200 + 11:41.69    
17 2 44 United States Eddie Sachs Kuzma-Offenhauser 145.42 2 182 Spun off    
18 28 57 United States Al Keller Kuzma-Offenhauser 142.05 27 163 Engine    
19 18 64 United States Pat Flaherty  W  Watson-Offenhauser 142.39 21 162 Accident    
20 4 73 United States Dick Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser 144.24 5 150 Fire    
21 30 53 United States Bill Cheesbourg Kuzma-Offenhauser 141.78 30 147 Magneto    
22 25 15 United States Don Freeland Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 143.05 14 136 Magneto    
23 32 49 United States Ray Crawford Elder-Offenhauser 141.34 32 115 Accident    
24 10 9 United States Don Branson  R  Phillips-Offenhauser 143.31 12 112 Suspension    
25 24 65 United States Bob Christie Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 143.24 13 109 Engine    
26 5 48 United States Bobby Grim  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.22 6 85 Magneto    
27 14 24 United States Jack Turner Christensen-Offenhauser 143.47 11 47 Fuel leak    
28 29 47 United States Chuck Weyant Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 141.95 28 45 Accident    
29 19 7 United States Jud Larson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.29 23 45 Accident    
30 31 77 United States Mike Magill Sutton-Offenhauser 141.48 31 45 Accident    
31 26 87 United States Red Amick  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.92 15 45 Accident    
32 22 8 United States Len Sutton Lesovsky-Offenhauser 142.10 26 34 Accident    
33 20 6 United States Jimmy Bryan  W  Epperly-Offenhauser 142.11 25 1 Engine    

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics

[edit]

Race notes

[edit]
  • Fastest lead lap: Johnny Thomson – 1:01.89
  • Two drivers, Jerry Unser and Bob Cortner, were killed as a result of accidents during practice for this race.
  • Bobby Grim qualified 5th and won the Rookie of the Year award despite dropping out of the race before the halfway point. On lap 85, he suffered magneto failure, and began coasting to the pits. As was customary for drivers of the time, he raised his arm to signify to the other drivers he had lost power. However, due to the high speed he was still traveling, he dislocated his arm in the process. Visibly in pain, the crew thought he was coming in for relief, and quickly Jack Turner jumped behind the wheel, but the car would not run.[11]
  • The first scoring pylon, a famous landmark of the Speedway, was constructed at the south end of the pit area.
  • Last year's winner Jimmy Bryan using the same exact car that won the race in 1957 and 1958 fell out of the race being left on the grid with a clutch failure to finish last (33rd).

World Drivers' Championship

[edit]
1959 Indianapolis 500
Race 2 of 9 in the 1959 Formula One season
← Previous raceNext race →
Race details
Date May 30, 1959 (1959-05-30)
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)

Background

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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.[12][13]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[14] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.[15] 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.

Summary

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The 1959 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 9 on the 1959 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit, particularly since it was held only one day prior to the Dutch Grand Prix. Race winner Rodger Ward earned 8 points towards the World Championship. Ward also competed in the U.S. Grand Prix at Sebring. He finished tenth in the final season standings.

World Drivers' Championship standings after the race

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Pos Driver Points
1 Australia Jack Brabham 9
23 2 United States Rodger Ward 8
1 3 United Kingdom Tony Brooks 6
21 4 United States Jim Rathmann 6
20 5 United States Johnny Thomson 5
Source: [16]
  • Notes: Only the top five positions are included.

Broadcasting

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Radio

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The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. Fred Agabashian joined the crew for the first time as "driver expert." The broadcast reached 385 affiliates, including Fairbanks, Alaska.[17]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Booth Announcers Turn Reporters Pit/garage reporters

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

Turn 1: Bill Frosh
Turn 2: John Peterson
Backstretch: Bernie Herman
Turn 3: Lou Palmer
Turn 4: Jim Shelton

 Greg Smith (north)
Jack Shapiro (center)
Luke Walton (south)

References

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  1. ^ 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, 1959). "Good Race Day Time Had By All". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 3, 2010. WFNI.
  4. ^ "Fatalities - May 1959". The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  5. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  6. ^ "1959 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Barnet, Bob (May 31, 1959). "He Dodged Flying Iron to Win Fastest "500" (Part 1)". The Star Press. p. 21. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Barnet, Bob (May 31, 1959). "He Dodged Flying Iron to Win Fastest "500" (Part 2)". The Star Press. p. 22. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Claus, Jimmy (May 31, 1959). "Sporting Around (Part 1)". The Star Press. p. 43. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Claus, Jimmy (May 31, 1959). "Sporting Around (Part 2)". The Star Press. p. 44. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  11. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 9, 2007
  12. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 23, 2007. 1070 WIBC-AM.
  13. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 19, 2016. WFNI.
  14. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 5, 2012. WFNI.
  15. ^ Capps, Don; Cameron Argetsinger (October 25, 2000). "Where Upon Our Scribe, Sherman, & Mr. Peabody Once Again Crank Up The Way-Back Machine for 1961." AtlasF1. Rear View Mirror. 6 (43). Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  16. ^ "Indianapolis 1959 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Alaska Joins '500' Hookup". The Indianapolis News. May 29, 1959. p. 44. Retrieved March 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
[edit]


Previous race:
1959 Monaco Grand Prix 		FIA Formula One World Championship
1959 season 		Next race:
1959 Dutch Grand Prix
Previous race:
1958 Indianapolis 500
Jimmy Bryan 		1959 Indianapolis 500
Rodger Ward 		Next race:
1960 Indianapolis 500
Jim Rathmann
Preceded by
135.601 mph
(1957 Indianapolis 500)
 Record for the Indianapolis 500 fastest average speed
135.875 mph 		Succeeded by
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