1958 Indianapolis 500

42nd running of the Indianapolis 500 February 2025 42nd Indianapolis 500 200px USAC May 30, 1958 Jimmy Bryan George Salih George Salih & Howard Gilbert2011 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Official Media Guide Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation/IMS Public Relations 2011 Statistics 176 English https://doctorindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2011-Indy-500-Media-Guide.pdf 133.791 mi/h km/h on 3:44:13.80 Dick Rathmann 145.974 mi/h km/h on Jimmy Bryan (139) Pontiac Bonneville Sam Hanks Bill VanderwaterFox Jack C. The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 Carl Hungness Publishing 4th 1994 22 English 0-915088-05-3 Robert A. Stranahan, Jr. 175,000National Champ Noses Out Amick; Boyd Finishes 3d https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5562540/ Jep Cadou Jr. The Indianapolis Star 1 Newspapers.com May 31, 1958 June 2, 2017 1957 1959 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 race is best known for a massive first-lap, 15-car pileup that resulted in the death of fan-favorite driver Pat O'Connor. Jimmy Bryan was the race winner. This marked the first time that one car would carry two drivers to separate wins at the race, in back-to-back years, with Sam Hanks winning the previous year's race in the same car. The race featured young rookie A. J. Foyt's debut at Indy. On lap 148, he spun in an oil slick, blew out the tires, and dropped out of the race. Juan Manuel Fangio, the 46-year-old five-time Formula One Drivers' World Champion, had set pole and fastest lap in the first F1 race of the season, then was kidnapped in Cuba, and skipped the Monaco and Dutch Grands Prix he had already won in earlier years. He arrived at Indy under much fanfare as he attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 and score points towards the '58 World Championship. He practiced early in the month, but withdrew when he realised that neither the Kurtis Kraft #54 (with Novi engine) nor the #77 Offy-powered car gave him a chance to win.Popular Mechanics Aug. 1958 https://books.google.de/books?id=jd8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110&hl=de&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false These cars were qualified by others for the last row only, proving Fangio's point. He soon retired from Formula One as his Maserati team was off pace compared to Ferrari and new British challengers. Time trials Time trials were scheduled for four days. Saturday May 17 – Pole Day time trials Ed Elisian set a new one-lap track record of 146.508 mph to sit tentatively on the pole position. His four-lap average stood at 145.926 mph. Later in the day, Dick Rathmann qualified at 145.974 mph to win the pole position. Rathmann was not able to beat Elisian's single-lap record, but his four-lap record eclipsed Elisian overall by a mere 0.08 seconds. Sunday May 18 – Second day time trials Saturday May 24 – Third day time trials Sunday May 25 – Fourth day time trials Starting grid RowInsideMiddleOutside 197 USA 1912 Dick Rathmann5 USA 1912 Ed Elisian16 USA 1912 Jimmy Reece 214 USA 1912 Bob Veith4 USA 1912 Pat O'Connor45 USA 1912 Johnnie Parsons gold W silver 31 USA 1912 Jimmy Bryan9 USA 1912 Johnny Boyd33 USA 1912 Tony Bettenhausen 425 USA 1912 Jack Turner8 USA 1912 Rodger Ward29 USA 1912 A. J. Foyt orange R silver 526 USA 1912 Don Freeland15 USA 1912 Paul Russo43 USA 1912 Billy Garrett 631 USA 1912 Paul Goldsmith orange R silver65 USA 1912 Bob Christie88 USA 1912 Eddie Sachs 744 USA 1912 Jud Larson orange R silver2 USA 1912 Jim Rathmann52 USA 1912 Al Keller 87 USA 1912 Johnny Thomson83 USA 1912 Shorty Templeman92 USA 1912 Jerry Unser orange R silver 999 USA 1912 George Amick orange R silver61 USA 1912 Eddie Johnson68 USA 1912 Len Sutton orange R silver 1057 USA 1912 Art Bisch orange R silver89 USA 1912 Chuck Weyant19 USA 1912 Johnnie Tolan 1177 USA 1912 Mike Magill59 USA 1912 Dempsey Wilson orange R silver54 USA 1912 Bill Cheesbourg orange R Indianapolis 500 rookie solid 1px darkgray gold W Indianapolis 500 winner solid 1px darkgray Alternates First alternate: Gene Hartley (#24)The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004 Failed to qualify 28em Fred Agabashian (#14, #56, #57, #75) Tony Bonadies orange R silver (#58) Bud Clemons orange R silver (#59) Bob Cortner orange R silver (#93) – Did not finish rookie test Ray Crawford (#49) Jimmy Daywalt (#57, #69, #82) Rex Easton orange R silver (#10, #72) Don Edmunds (#92) Jack Ensley orange R silver (#17) Juan Manuel Fangio orange R silver (#54, #77) Pat Flaherty gold W silver (#5) – Entry declined, failed physical Elmer George (#10, #28) Joe Giba orange R silver (#62) Gene Hartley (#24) Al Herman (#68, #75) Bill Homeier (#74, #95) Van Johnson orange R silver (#58) Jim McWithey orange R silver (#66) Earl Motter orange R silver (#61) – Passed rookie test Tom Pistone orange R silver (#66) – Entry declined, lack of experience Eddie Russo (#55) Troy Ruttman gold W silver (#98) Dutch Schaefer orange R silver (#61) – Entry declined, lack of experience Carroll Shelby orange R silver (#17) – Did not begin rookie test Marshall Teague (#18) Leroy Warriner orange R silver (#95)1958 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes http://www.champcarstats.com/races/195802.htm ChampCarStats.com 26 June 2015 Race summary Opening lap crash – Death of Pat O'Connor For the second year in a row, the starting grid was assembled single-file in the pit lane. The cars were instructed to pull away and assemble into the official eleven rows of three after they entered the racing surface. Confusion occurred on the pace lap, however, as the three drivers of the front row (Dick Rathmann, Ed Elisian, and Jimmy Reece) pulled away, and inadvertently escaped the pace car. The three cars were alone, and rather than wait for the grid to catch up, they rushed around to catch up to the back of the field. Sam Hanks pulled the pace car off the track and into the pits, but chief starter Bill Vanderwater displayed the yellow flag to wave off the start. An extra pace lap was allowed, and the front row re-took their position at the front of the pack. By the time Hanks was ready to pull the pace car back out on the track, the field had re-formed, and Vanderwater gave them the green flag. At the start, Dick Rathmann took the lead in turn 1, Ed Elisian was second, and Jimmy Reece third. As the cars battled into turn three, Elisian spun and took Rathmann to the outside wall, triggering a huge 15-car pileup. Reece braked and was hit from behind by Pat O'Connor. O'Connor's car sailed fifty feet in the air, landed upside down and burst into flames. Several other cars spun to the wall and into the infield. Jerry Unser touched wheels with Paul Goldsmith, and flipped over the outside wall. Unser suffered a dislocated shoulder. Although O'Connor was incinerated in the accident, medical officials said that he was probably killed instantly from a fractured skull.http://indymotorspeedway.com/500d-58.htm Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fatalities – 1958 INDY 500 – Pat O'Connor – driver dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131110002233/http://indymotorspeedway.com/500d-58.htm November 10, 2013 January 16, 2016 First half Jimmy Bryan escaped the opening lap crash, and came around to lead the first lap. Eddie Sachs and Tony Bettenhausen also got by unscathed, to run second and third. Due to the crash, the yellow light stayed on for 25 minutes (approximately 18 laps). Four of the top five starting positions were out of the race from the crash, including polesitter Dick Rathmann, who placed 27th. After a lengthy cleanup, the green flag came back out around lap 19. Bryan, Sachs, Bettenhausen, and rookie George Amick all traded time in the lead. There were 14 lead changes in the first half. The second yellow came out on lap 38 when Chuck Weyant crashed in turn 4. Eddie Sachs, a contender in the first quarter of the race, dropped out on lap 68 with transmission trouble. Second half The second half of the race settled down to a battle between Jimmy Bryan and Johnny Boyd, with rookie George Amick also in contention. Boyd lost the lead during a pit stop on lap 126. Bryan's team had faster pit stops (three stops for 1 minute and 31 seconds), which allowed him to hold the lead. Rookie A. J. Foyt spun out on lap 149. He hit an oil slick in turn one and went sideways, blowing out all four tires. The car did not make contact with the wall, but the engine stalled and Foyt was out of the race. He placed 16th. With 25 laps to go, Boyd was running about one second behind Bryan, with Amick (a lap down in third place) running between them. Boyd suddenly slowed on lap 177 with a worn out right rear tire, sending him to the pits, and elevating Amick to second. Bryan led the final 75 laps (139 total) en route to victory. Bryan was victorious in the same car in which Sam Hanks won the 500 a year earlier. Amick stayed within striking distance of Bryan for the last part of the race, but Amick's crew chief decided to accept a safe second-place rather than risk pushing their rookie driver into a mistake. During the race as the news of Pat O'Connor's death spread around the track, the mood among the spectators became somber and glum. Reportedly, some in attendance left the grounds upon hearing the news of the fatality, some never to return. Aftermath Widely blamed for the accident, Ed Elisian was suspended by USAC for the accident (reinstated a few days later), and was shunned by many in the racing community. Following the accident, race officials announced that they would change the starting procedure, abandoning the single-file trip down pit lane that was used in 1957 and 1958. Also, for the 1959 Indy 500, metal roll bars welded to the frame behind the driver's head were mandated, and helmets were required to pass safety certification by Speedway medical officials. Box score FinishGridNo.DriverConstructorQualLapsStatusPointsUSAC USAC Championship TrailWDC World Drivers' Championship171 United States 1912 Jimmy BryanSalih-Offenhauser144.18200 133.791 mph1000822599 United States 1912 George Amick orange R silverEpperly-Offenhauser142.71200 +27.638006389 United States 1912 Johnny BoydKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser144.02200 +1:09.6770044933 United States 1912 Tony BettenhausenEpperly-Offenhauser143.91200 +1:34.8160041 15202 United States 1912 Jim RathmannEpperly-Offenhauser143.14200 +1:35.6250026316 United States 1912 Jimmy ReeceWatson-Offenhauser145.51200 +2:16.95400 71326 United States 1912 Don FreelandPhillips-Offenhauser143.03200 +2:21.06300 81944 United States 1912 Jud Larson orange R silverWatson-Offenhauser143.51200 +5:34.02250 92661 United States 1912 Eddie JohnsonKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.67200 +6:15.76200 103354 United States 1912 Bill CheesbourgKurtis Kraft-Novi142.54200 +8:03.59150 112152 United States 1912 Al KellerKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.93200 +9:14.20100 12645 United States 1912 Johnnie Parsons gold W silverKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser144.68200 +9:40.8550 133019 United States 1912 Johnnie TolanKuzma-Offenhauser142.30200 +9:52.24  141765 United States 1912 Bob ChristieKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.25189 Spun off  153259 United States 1912 Dempsey Wilson orange R silverKuzma-Offenhauser143.27151 Fire  161229 United States 1912 A. J. Foyt orange R silverKuzma-Offenhauser143.13148 Spun off  173177 United States 1912 Mike MagillKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.27136 Disqualified  181415 United States 1912 Paul RussoKurtis Kraft-Novi142.95122 Radiator  192383 United States 1912 Shorty TemplemanKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.81116 Brakes  20118 United States 1912 Rodger WardLesovsky-Offenhauser143.2693 Magneto  211543 United States 1912 Billy GarrettKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.7780 Magneto  221888 United States 1912 Eddie SachsKuzma-Offenhauser144.6668 Transmission  23227 United States 1912 Johnny ThomsonKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.9052 Steering  242989 United States 1912 Chuck WeyantDunn-Offenhauser142.6038 Accident  251025 United States 1912 Jack TurnerLesovsky-Offenhauser143.4321 Fuel pump  26414 United States 1912 Bob VeithKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser144.881 Accident  27197 United States 1912 Dick RathmannWatson-Offenhauser145.970 Accident  2825 United States 1912 Ed ElisianWatson-Offenhauser145.920Accident  2954 United States 1912 Pat O'Connor ✝Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.820Died in crash  301631 United States 1912 Paul Goldsmith orange R silverKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.740Accident  312492 United States 1912 Jerry Unser orange R silverKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.750Accident  322768 United States 1912 Len Sutton orange R silverKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser142.650Accident  332857 United States 1912 Art Bisch orange R silverKuzma-Offenhauser142.630Accident   gold W silver Former Indianapolis 500 winner orange R silver Indianapolis 500 Rookie All entrants utilized Firestone tires. 1 1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap Race statistics Lap LeadersLapsLeader1–18 Jimmy Bryan19–20 Tony Bettenhausen21 Eddie Sachs22–25 Tony Bettenhausen26 Jimmy Bryan27–30 George Amick31 Jimmy Bryan32–34 George Amick35 Tony Bettenhausen36–46 George Amick47–48 Jimmy Bryan49 Tony Bettenhausen50–52 Jimmy Bryan53–65 Tony Bettenhausen66–104 Jimmy Bryan105–107 Tony Bettenhausen108–125 Johnny Boyd126–200 Jimmy Bryan Total laps ledDriverLapsJimmy Bryan 139Tony Bettenhausen 24George Amick 18Johnny Boyd 18Eddie Sachs 1 Yellow Lights: 36 minutes, 38 secondsLaps*ReasonPace lap Field not properly aligned1–18 Multi-car crash in turn 3 (25:00)39-44 Chuck Weyant spin in turn 3 (5:19)169 A. J. Foyt spin in southchute (3:18)193-197 Bob Christie spin (3:01)* – Approximate lap countsLap-By-Lap Story of Race (Part 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/15061620/ Indianapolis News Wayne Fuson 2 Newspapers.com May 30, 1958 April 20, 2024Lap-By-Lap Story of Race (Part 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/15061628/ Indianapolis News Wayne Fuson 2 Newspapers.com May 30, 1958 April 20, 2024 Race notes Fastest Lead Lap: Tony Bettenhausen – 1:02.370 (144.300 mph) Pat O'Connor had appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the week leading up to the race. His subsequent death is considered an early example of the perceived "Sports Illustrated cover jinx." Only Appearance: George Amick (killed in 1959 USAC 100-mile race at Daytona) First Appearance: A. J. Foyt (First 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner.) Broadcasting Radio The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. The broadcast reached 302 affiliates across all 48 states, as well as Armed Forces Network and Voice of America. For the final time, a 15-minute pre-race was used.Speedway Network Taps 302 Stations Across Nation https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30726449/ The Indianapolis Star 9 Newspapers.com May 30, 1958 April 18, 2019 The following year, the pre-race would be expanded to 30 minutes. The broadcast featured the debut of longtime fixture Lou Palmer, who reported from the normally quiet and remote third turn. As a rookie on the network, he was assigned turn three because 'nothing ever happens there'. However, on the opening lap, Palmer was quickly thrust into duty, as his first words on the network were to describe the massive 15-car pileup and fatal accident of Pat O'Connor. And we've got an accident here! Car #5! Car #5, the Zink Special, is the first to wreck! Another over the wall! And we've got...one, two, three, four, five...six cars, piled up here, on the northeast turn! The 54 Novi into the infield...car #19 in the infield, 68 now down into the infield...and it's almost impossible to identify the others. Out of car #5, now, is Ed Elisian...and, er, car #91 against the wall...that is all that we can see at the moment. Further down the track, there are still others. ...One car has left this track, Sid, and did go over the retaining wall. That's all of the information we can give you at the moment...we will check each car for you, and report on all of them as soon as we can. Right now, better send it to you Sid, in the tower... Among the guests that visited the booth was Pete DePaolo. In 2019, this entire race's radio broadcast became available as a paid digital download from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website.https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/history/purchase-historical-race-broadcasts Indianapolis Motor Speedway www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com March 14, 2020https://indyracingmuseum.org/ims-museum-to-offer-series-of-lost-indy-500-radio-broadcasts-for-sale-1958-race-available-now-in-crisp-digital-quality/ IMS Museum to Offer Series of 'Lost' Indy 500 Radio Broadcasts for Sale; 1958 Race Available Now in Crisp Digital Quality December 10, 2018 March 14, 2020 September 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200927061520/https://indyracingmuseum.org/ims-museum-to-offer-series-of-lost-indy-500-radio-broadcasts-for-sale-1958-race-available-now-in-crisp-digital-quality/ dead Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network Booth AnnouncersTurn ReportersPit/garage reportersChief Announcer: Sid Collins Statistician: Charlie BrockmanTurn 1: Bill Frosh Turn 2: Bob Rhodes Backstretch: Bernie Herman Turn 3: Lou Palmer orange R silver Turn 4: Jim SheltonJack Shapiro (north)Luke Walton (center)Greg Smith (south)Bob Hoover (garages) World Drivers' Championship F1 USA Indianapolis 500 1958 5 30 1958 4 11 1958 Dutch Grand Prix 1958 Belgian Grand Prix File:Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1909-1956.svg Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, Indiana 2.500 4.023 200 500.000 804.672 Background 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.The Talk of Gasoline Alley 1070 WIBC-AM May 23, 2007The Talk of Gasoline Alley WFNI May 19, 2016 Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.The Talk of Gasoline Alley WFNI May 5, 2012 However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.Capps Don Cameron Argetsinger Where Upon Our Scribe, Sherman, & Mr. Peabody Once Again Crank Up The Way-Back Machine for 1961.. AtlasF1 October 25, 2000 6 Rear View Mirror 43 http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/mal/mirror.html May 1, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120427115856/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/mal/mirror.html April 27, 2012 dead 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 The 1958 Indianapolis 500 was round 4 of 11 on the 1958 World Championship. The event, however, attracted little interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit, particularly since it was held only four days after the Dutch Grand Prix. Juan Manuel Fangio entered with much fanfare, but withdrew when he was unable to get his car up to speed. Race winner Jimmy Bryan earned 8 points towards the World Championship. He finished 13th in the final season standings. World Drivers' Championship standings after the race PosDriverPoints 10px 1 UK Stirling Moss 17 10px 2 Italy Luigi Musso 12 10px 3 France Maurice Trintignant 8 10px 31 4 USA 1912 Jimmy Bryan 8 10px 1 5 USA 1912 Harry Schell 8Source:https://www.statsf1.com/en/1958/indianapolis/championnat.aspx Indianapolis 1958 - Championship • STATS F1 www.statsf1.com 18 March 2019 Notes: Only the top five positions are included. USAC National Championship Trail standings after the race RankDriverPoints1Jimmy Bryan10002George Amick8803Tony Bettenhausen7604Johnny Boyd7005Jim Rathmann5005Jimmy Reece500 Notes: Only the top five positions are included. References 30em Bibliography Sutton Stan The Curse of the Indy 500: 1958's Tragic Legacy 19 March 2018 Red Lightning Books 978-1684350186 External links Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site 1958 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cfRRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RHYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5581,4666782&dq=indianapolis+500&hl=en O'Connor Killed In 12-Car Crackup During First Lap St. Petersburg Times May 31, 1958 January 16, 2016 1958 Indianapolis 500Jimmy Bryan 1958 1958 Dutch Grand Prix 1958 Belgian Grand Prix 1957 Indianapolis 500Sam Hanks 1959 Indianapolis 500Rodger Ward Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Category:Indianapolis 500 races Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500