Wikipedia

1951 Indianapolis 500

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.

35th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1951
WinnerLee Wallard
Winning EntrantMurrell Belanger
Average speed126.244 mph (203.170 km/h)
Pole positionDuke Nalon
Pole speed136.498 mph (219.672 km/h)
Most laps ledLee Wallard (159)
Pre-race
Pace carChrysler New Yorker
Pace car driverDavid A. Wallace
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeClarence Beesmyer[1]
Estimated attendance150,000[2]
Chronology
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1950 1952

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.

Wallard's improbable victory helped earn him the nickname "Cinderella Man".[5][6]

Time trials

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

  • Saturday May 12 – Pole Day time trials
  • Sunday May 13 – Second day time trials
  • Saturday May 19 – Third day time trials
  • Sunday May 20 – Fourth day time trials
  • Saturday May 26 – Fifth day time trials
  • Sunday May 27 – Sixth day time trials (rained out)
  • Monday May 28 – Seventh day time trials (rain makeup day)

Starting grid

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Row Inside Middle Outside
1 18   Duke Nalon 99   Lee Wallard 9   Jack McGrath
2 27   Duane Carter 16   Mauri Rose  W  98   Troy Ruttman
3 83   Mike Nazaruk  R  3   Johnnie Parsons  W  5   Tony Bettenhausen
4 4   Cecil Green 59   Fred Agabashian 25   Sam Hanks
5 44   Walt Brown 2   Walt Faulkner 73   Carl Scarborough  R 
6 10   Bill Schindler 1   Henry Banks 23   Cliff Griffith  R 
7 8   Chuck Stevenson  R  81   Bill Vukovich  R  22   George Connor
8 69   Gene Force  R  19   Mack Hellings 68   Carl Forberg  R 
9 48   Rodger Ward  R  12   Johnny McDowell 76   Jimmy Davies
10 32   Chet Miller 52   Bobby Ball  R  26   Joe James  R 
11 57   Andy Linden  R  6   Duke Dinsmore 71   Bill Mackey  R 
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

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Failed to qualify

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Box score

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Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Time/Retired Points WDC Points
1 2 99   Lee Wallard Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.03 5 200 3:57:38.05 1,000 91
2 7 83   Mike Nazaruk  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.18 26 200 1:47.24 800 6
3 3 9   Jack McGrath (Laps 1–100)
  Manny Ayulo (Laps 101–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.30 8 200 2:51.39 350
350 		2
2
4 31 57   Andy Linden  R  Sherman-Offenhauser 132.22 25 200 4:40.12 600 3
5 29 52   Bobby Ball  R  Schroeder-Offenhauser 134.09 9 200 4:52.23 500 2
6 17 1   Henry Banks Moore-Offenhauser 133.89 12 200 5:40.02 400  
7 24 68   Carl Forberg  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.89 22 193 -7 Laps 300  
8 4 27   Duane Carter Diedt-Offenhauser 133.74 15 180 -20 Laps 250  
9 9 5   Tony Bettenhausen Diedt-Offenhauser 131.95 29 178 Spun Off 200  
10 1 18   Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 136.49 2 151 Retirement 150  
11 22 69   Gene Force  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.10 20 142 Engine 100  
12 12 25   Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.99 21 135 Engine 50  
13 16 10   Bill Schindler Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.03 11 129 Engine    
14 5 16   Mauri Rose  W  Diedt-Offenhauser 133.42 18 126 Accident    
15 14 2   Walt Faulkner Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.87 1 123 Engine    
16 27 76   Jimmy Davies Pawl-Offenhauser 133.51 17 110 Axle    
17 11 59   Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.02 6 109 Clutch    
18 15 73   Carl Scarborough  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.61 4 100 Fire    
19 33 71   Bill Mackey  R  Stevens-Offenhauser 131.47 32 97 Clutch    
20 19 8   Chuck Stevenson  R  Marchese-Offenhauser 133.76 14 93 Fire    
21 8 3   Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.15 27 87 Magneto    
22 10 4   Cecil Green Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.89 31 80 Engine    
23 6 98   Troy Ruttman Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.31 24 78 Engine    
24 32 6   Duke Dinsmore Schroeder-Offenhauser 131.97 28 73 Overheating    
25 28 32   Chet Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi 135.79 3 56 Ignition    
26 13 44   Walt Brown Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.90 30 55 Magneto    
27 25 48   Rodger Ward  R  Bromme-Offenhauser 134.86 7 34 Oil Pipe    
28 18 23   Cliff Griffith  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.83 13 30 Axle    
29 20 81   Bill Vukovich  R  Trevis-Offenhauser 133.72 16 29 Oil leak    
30 21 22   George Connor Lesovsky-Offenhauser 133.35 19 29 Transmission    
31 23 19   Mack Hellings Diedt-Offenhauser 132.92 33 18 Engine    
32 26 12   Johnny McDowell Maserati-Offenhauser 132.47 23 15 Fuel leak    
33 30 26   Joe James  R  Watson-Offenhauser 134.09 10 8 Transmission    
Source:[10]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics

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Notes

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  • Pole position: Duke Nalon – 4:23.74 (136.498 mph)
  • Fastest Lead Lap: Lee Wallard – 1:07.26 (133.809 mph)[13]
  • Ayulo (100 laps) and McGrath (100) shared the same car. Points for 3rd position were shared between the drivers.
  • First Indianapolis 500 to be completed in under four hours.
  • Roger Penske stated in a live interview on WRTV on November 4, 2019, when the Penske Corporation was announcing the purchased of all the IMS assets, that 1951 was the first race he attended at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

World Drivers' Championship

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1951 Indianapolis 500
Race 2 of 8 in the 1951 Formula One season
← Previous raceNext race →
 
Race details
Date May 30, 1951 (1951-05-30)
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.[14][15]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[16] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.[17] 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 1951 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 8 on the 1951 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 three day after the Swiss Grand Prix. Race winner Lee Wallard earned 9 points towards the World Championship (8 points for first place, and 1 point for the fastest lap). Despite not competing in any of the other World Championship events, he finished seventh in the final season standings.

World Drivers' Championship standings after the race

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Pos Driver Points
  1   Juan Manuel Fangio 9
  20 2   Lee Wallard 9
  1 3   Piero Taruffi 6
  18 4   Mike Nazaruk 6
  2 5   Nino Farina 4
Source: [18]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.

Broadcasting

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Radio

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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.[19] 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.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. 
  3. ^ Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
  4. ^ a b c The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC/Network Indiana, May 17, 2007
  5. ^ Davidson, Donald (May 13, 2000). "'Cinderella Man' found his groove at the track". The Indianapolis Star. p. 31. Retrieved October 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ Davidson, Donald (May 13, 2005). "Winning in a broken car". The Indianapolis Star. p. 71. Retrieved October 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  8. ^ "Jean ACHARD". StatsF1.com. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "1951 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com.
  10. ^ "1951 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  11. ^ 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. 
  12. ^ O'Brien, J.E. (May 31, 1951). "Faulkner Out After 123 Laps". Indianapolis News. p. 7. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 29. ISBN 0-85429-276-4.
  14. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 23, 2007. 1070 WIBC-AM.
  15. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 19, 2016. WFNI.
  16. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 5, 2012. WFNI.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Indianapolis 1951 - Championship". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  19. ^ Davidson, Donald (May 24, 2012). "IMS Radio Network celebrates 60th anniversary". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  20. ^ Hynes, Beatrice (May 30, 1951). "Mike-Row-Scopes". The Indianapolis Star. p. 36. Retrieved August 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 
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Previous race:
1951 Swiss Grand Prix 		FIA Formula One World Championship
1951 season 		Next race:
1951 Belgian Grand Prix
Previous race:
1950 Indianapolis 500
Johnnie Parsons 		1951 Indianapolis 500
Lee Wallard 		Next race:
1952 Indianapolis 500
Troy Ruttman
Preceded by
124.002 mph
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
 Record for the Indianapolis 500 fastest average speed
126.244 mph 		Succeeded by
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