1952 Indianapolis 500

36th running of the Indianapolis 500 February 2025 36th Indianapolis 500 200px AAA May 30, 1952 Troy Ruttman J. C. Agajanian Clay Smith2011 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 128.922 mi/h km/h on 3:52:41.93 Fred Agabashian 138.010 mi/h km/h on Bill Vukovich (150) Studebaker Commander P.O. Peterson Seth KleinFox Jack C. The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 Carl Hungness Publishing 4th 1994 22 English 0-915088-05-3 Raymond Firestone 200,000Sets Race Record Of 128 MPH After Vukovich Bid Failes https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5714817/ Bob Stranahan The Indianapolis Star 1 Newspapers.com May 31, 1952 June 2, 2017 1951 1953 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. Troy Ruttman won the race for car owner J. C. Agajanian. Ruttman, aged 22 years and 80 days, set the record for the youngest 500 winner in history. It was also the last dirt track car to win at Indy. Ruttman's win also saw him become the youngest winner of a World Drivers' Championship race, a record he would hold for 51 years until the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix when Spanish driver Fernando Alonso won at the age of 22 years and 26 days. Bill Vukovich led 150 laps, but with 9 laps to go, he broke a steering linkage while leading.More Indy Hearbreaks Autoweek May 28, 2012 62 11 82 0192-9674 He nursed his car to a stop against the outside wall, preventing other cars from getting involved in the incident. In the third year that the 500 was included in the World Championship, Ferrari entered the race with Alberto Ascari driving a Ferrari 375 Indianapolis. The effort gained considerable attention, but Ascari was forced to retire after a few laps when the hub of a wheel on his car collapsed. He was classified 31st. It was the only World Championship race in 1952 that Ascari entered and did not win. Fifth place finisher Art Cross was voted the Rookie of the Year. Though at least one rookie starter was in the field every year dating back to 1911, this was the first time the now-popular award was officially designated. Time trials Time trials was scheduled for four days, but rain pushed qualifying into a fifth day. Saturday May 17 – Pole Day time trials Sunday May 18 – Second day time trials (rained out) Saturday May 24 – Third day time trials Sunday May 25 – Fourth day time trials (rained out) Monday May 26 – Fifth day time trials (rain make up day) Starting grid RowInsideMiddleOutside 128 USA 1912 Fred Agabashian9 USA 1912 Andy Linden4 USA 1912 Jack McGrath 236 USA 1912 Duke Nalon18 USA 1912 Sam Hanks1 USA 1912 Duane Carter 398 USA 1912 Troy Ruttman26 USA 1912 Bill Vukovich22 USA 1912 Cliff Griffith 459 USA 1912 Jim Rathmann16 USA 1912 Chuck Stevenson2 USA 1912 Henry Banks 565 USA 1912 George Fonder54 USA 1912 George Connor7 USA 1912 Bill Schindler 614 USA 1912 Joe James55 USA 1912 Bobby Ball67 USA 1912 Gene Hartley 712 ITA Alberto Ascari orange R silver33 USA 1912 Art Cross orange R silver77 USA 1912 Jimmy Bryan orange R silver 834 USA 1912 Rodger Ward37 USA 1912 Jimmy Reece orange R silver81 USA 1912 Eddie Johnson orange R silver 993 USA 1912 Bob Scott orange R silver29 USA 1912 Jim Rigsby orange R silver21 USA 1912 Chet Miller 108 USA 1912 Manny Ayulo48 USA 1912 Spider Webb27 USA 1912 Tony Bettenhausen 115 USA 1912 Johnnie Parsons gold W silver73 USA 1912 Bob Sweikert orange R silver31 USA 1912 Johnny McDowell orange R Indianapolis 500 rookie solid 1px darkgray gold W Indianapolis 500 winner solid 1px darkgray Failed to qualify All drivers from the United States unless stated. 22em Frank Armi orange R silver (#39) George Armstrong orange R silver – Did not arrive Buzz Barton orange R silver (#58) Joe Barzda orange R silver (#53) Bill Boyd orange R silver (#92) – Did not arrive Bill Cantrell (#52) Neal Carter orange R silver (#25) Jimmy Daywalt orange R silver (#64) Duke Dinsmore (#68) Giuseppe Farina ITAorange R silver – Withdrew Walt Faulkner (#3) Johnny Fedricks orange R silver (#82) Carl Forberg (#53) Gene Force (#96) Dick Fraizer orange R silver (#63) Potsy Goacher orange R silver (#93) Perry Grimm orange R silver (#55) Peter Hahn orange R silver (#74) Allen Heath orange R silver (#32, #97) Tommy Hinnershitz (#27) Jackie Holmes (#41) Jimmy Jackson (#61) Danny Kladis (#19) Jud Larson orange R silver (#39, #66) Bayliss Levrett (#69) – Wrecked practice, retired Frank Luptow orange R silver (#56) George Lynch orange R silver (#74) Johnny Mauro (#35) Mike Nazaruk (#5, #66) Danny Oakes orange R silver (#39) Puffy Puffer orange R silver Paul Russo (#10) Carl Scarborough (#33, #44) Albert Scully orange R silver (#62) – Did not arrive Doc Shanebrook orange R silver (#76) Ottis Stine orange R silver (#84) Bill Taylor orange R silver (#47) George Tichenor orange R silver (#88) Johnnie Tolan (#51) orange R silver Leroy Warriner (#27) orange R silver Chuck Weyant (#92) orange R silver – Did not arrive1952 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes http://www.champcarstats.com/races/195201.htm ChampCarStats.com 28 June 2015 Box score FinishGridNo.DriverConstructorQualifyingLapsTime/RetiredPointsSpeedRankUSAC USAC Championship TrailWDC World Drivers' Championship 1 7 98 United States 1912 Troy Ruttman Kuzma-Offenhauser 135.36 18 200 128.922 mph 1000 8 2 10 59 United States 1912 Jim Rathmann Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.34 7 200 +4:02.33 800 6 3 5 18 United States 1912 Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.73 14 200 +6:11.61 700 4 4 6 1 United States 1912 Duane Carter Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.52 16 200 +6:48.34 600 3 5 20 33 United States 1912 Art Cross orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.28 26 200 +8:40.15 500 2 6 21 77 United States 1912 Jimmy Bryan orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.14 27 200 +9:24.32 400 7 23 37 United States 1912 Jimmy Reece orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.99 29 200 +10:35.24 300 8 14 54 United States 1912 George Connor Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.60 15 200 +12:00.61 250 9 9 22 United States 1912 Cliff Griffith Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.61 6 200 +12:23.76 200 10 31 5 United States 1912 Johnnie Parsons gold W silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.32 19 200 +13:37.78 150 11 3 4 United States 1912 Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.66 5 200 +14:21.72 100 12 26 29 United States 1912 Jim Rigsby orange R silver Watson-Offenhauser 133.90 33 200 +16:05.10 50 13 16 14 United States 1912 Joe James Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.95 22 200 +16:55.65 14 15 7 United States 1912 Bill Schindler Stevens-Offenhauser 134.98 20 200 +18:48.66 15 13 65 United States 1912 George Fonder Sherman-Offenhauser 135.94 13 197 +3 Laps 16 24 81 United States 1912 Eddie Johnson orange R silver Trevis-Offenhauser 133.97 30 193 +7 Laps 17 8 26 United States 1912 Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.21 2 191 Steering 11 1 18 11 16 United States 1912 Chuck Stevenson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.14 9 187 +13 Laps 19 12 2 United States 1912 Henry Banks Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.96 11 184 +16 Laps 20 28 8 United States 1912 Manny Ayulo Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.98 10 184 +16 Laps 21 33 31 United States 1912 Johnny McDowell Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.93 32 182 +18 Laps 22 29 48 United States 1912 Spider Webb Bromme-Offenhauser 135.96 12 162 Oil leak 23 22 34 United States 1912 Rodger Ward Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.13 28 130 Oil Pressure 24 30 27 United States 1912 Tony Bettenhausen Diedt-Offenhauser 135.38 17 93 Oil Pressure 25 4 36 United States 1912 Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 136.18 8 84 Supercharger 26 32 73 United States 1912 Bob Sweikert orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.98 21 77 Differential 27 1 28 United States 1912 Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Cummins diesel 138.01 3 71 Turbocharger 28 18 67 United States 1912 Gene Hartley Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.34 24 65 Exhaust 29 25 93 United States 1912 Bob Scott orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.95 31 49 Transmission 30 27 21 United States 1912 Chet Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi 139.03 1 41 Supercharger 31 19 12 Italy Alberto Ascari orange R silver Ferrari 134.30 25 40 Wheel 32 17 55 United States 1912 Bobby Ball Stevens-Offenhauser 134.72 23 34 Gearbox 33 2 9 United States 1912 Andy Linden Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.00 4 20 Oil Pump Source: 1952 Indianapolis 500 formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1952/609/ August 4, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20091201112405/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1952/609/ December 1, 2009 gold W silver Former Indianapolis 500 winner orange R silver Indianapolis 500 Rookie All entrants utilized Firestone tires. 1 1 – 1 point for fastest lead lap Race statistics Lap Leaders Laps Leader1–6 Jack McGrath7–11 Bill Vukovich12 Troy Ruttman13–61 Bill Vukovich62–82 Troy Ruttman83–134 Bill Vukovich135–147 Troy Ruttman148–191 Bill Vukovich192–200 Troy Ruttman Total laps led Driver LapsBill Vukovich 150Troy Ruttman 44Jack McGrath 6 Yellow Lights: 2 minutes Laps* Reason40 Alberto Ascari spin in turn 3 (50 seconds)191 Bill Vukovich against the wall in turn 2 (1:10)* – Approximate lap countsFate Taps Ruttman in Last 10 Minutes https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/14865041/ Indianapolis News J.E. O'Brien 13 Newspapers.com May 31, 1952 April 21, 2024Vukovich Hits Wall, Ruttman Hits Jackpot https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press/86586168/ The Star Press Bob Barnet 11 Newspapers.com May 31, 1952 April 21, 2024 Notes Pole position: Fred Agabashian – 4:20.85 (4 laps) Agabashian's Cummins Diesel Special was the first entry in the Indianapolis 500 to be powered by a turbocharged engine (then described as "turbosupercharged"). Gear-driven centrifugal blowers known as "superchargers" had been used since the 1920s to increase the volumetric efficiency and power output of racing engines, but the Cummins Diesel was the first to make use of the "free" energy contained in the engine exhaust stream to drive a turbine wheel connected to a centrifugal blower (thus, "turbo-supercharging"). Fastest Lead Lap: Bill Vukovich – 1:06.60 (135.135 mph) As of 2022, Troy Ruttman remains the youngest driver to win the Indianapolis 500, at 22 years and 80 days.Davidson, Donald. (2007). "The Talk of Gasoline Alley" [Radio program]. WIBC (FM), April 30, 2007. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20070928124654/http://media.wibc.com/av/audio/talk_gas/2007/april30.mp3, retrieved on January 6, 2016. Ruttman also became the youngest driver to win a race counting for the World Championship of Drivers. His record was broken by Fernando Alonso at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. 1952 was the only occasion when the fastest (Chet Miller) and slowest (Jim Rigsby) qualifiers for the race started next to each other.Greuter Henri 1952: Ferrari at Indianapolis https://forix.autosport.com/8w/ferrari-indianapolis-1952.html www.forixautosport.com 26 January 2013 1952 was the first Indy 500 in which not a single relief driver was utilized during the race."WIBC All Night Race Party - 2007 Broadcasting Radio The race was carried live on the radio on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. During the offseason, the Speedway management created the network to handle broadcasting duties in-house. The arrangement was under the flagship of 1070 WIBC-AM of Indianapolis, and featured a crew that consisted mostly of WIBC talent. WIBC landed exclusive rights of the broadcast in the Indianapolis market, which eventually would draw the ire of the other major stations in the area. In later years, the broadcast would be carried on all five stations inside the city, and they would utilize talent and crew representing each station. Sid Collins served as booth announcer. Jim Shelton was among the turn reporters, reporting from turn 4. Gordon Graham reported from the pits and from victory lane. Like previous years, the broadcast featured live coverage of the start, the finish, and 15-minute live updates throughout the race. At least twenty stations around the county picked up the broadcast.Everyone In Reach of Radio Will Have 'Ticket' To Race https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18077895/ Polly Cochran The Indianapolis Star 42 Newspapers.com May 30, 1952 March 7, 2018 World Drivers' Championship F1 USA Indianapolis 500 1952 5 30 1952 2 8 1952 Swiss Grand Prix 1952 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 1952 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 8 of the 1952 World Championship. Alberto Ascari, driving for Ferrari, competed in the race. He became the first European-based driver who was seriously competing for the World Championship to come to Indianapolis to race in the 500. In doing so, Ascari skipped the Swiss Grand Prix. He dropped out early and finished 31st. He failed to score any points, but he would go on to win the remaining seven races and won the world title. Race winner Troy Ruttman earned 8 points towards the World Championship and finished seventh in the final season standings. World Drivers' Championship standings after the race Pos Driver Points 10px 1 Italy Piero Taruffi 9 10px 20 2 USA 1912 Troy Ruttman 8 10px 1 3 Switzerland Rudi Fischer 6 10px 18 4 USA 1912 Jim Rathmann 6 10px 2 5 France Jean Behra 4Source:https://www.statsf1.com/en/1952/indianapolis/championnat.aspx Indianapolis 1952 - Championship • STATS F1 www.statsf1.com 1 March 2019 Note: Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. References 30em External links Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975 1952 Indianapolis 500Troy Ruttman 1952 1952 Swiss Grand Prix 1952 Belgian Grand Prix 1951 Indianapolis 500Lee Wallard 1953 Indianapolis 500Bill Vukovich 128.922 126.244 mph(1951 Indianapolis 500) 130.840 mph(1954 Indianapolis 500) Category:Indianapolis 500 races Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Category:1952 in American motorsport Indy