1959 Indianapolis 500

43rd running of the Indianapolis 500 February 2025 43rd Indianapolis 500 200px USAC May 30, 1959 Rodger Ward A. J. Watson2011 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 Leader Card Racers 135.857 mi/h km/h on 3:40:49.20 Johnny Thomson 145.908 mi/h km/h on Rodger Ward (130) Buick Electra 225 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 Vernon Bellman 180,000Good Race Day Time Had By All https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5581326/ Bob Stranahan The Indianapolis Star 1 Newspapers.com May 31, 1959 June 2, 2017 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.The Talk of Gasoline Alley Donald Davidson (historian) WFNI May 3, 2010 Practice and time trials 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.http://indymotorspeedway.com/500d-59.htm Fatalities - May 1959 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway https://web.archive.org/web/20120204190945/http://indymotorspeedway.com/500d-59.htm February 4, 2012 January 9, 2016 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 RowInsideMiddleOutside 13 USA 1912 Johnny Thomson44 USA 1912 Eddie Sachs16 USA 1912 Jim Rathmann 273 USA 1912 Dick Rathmann48 USA 1912 Bobby Grim orange R silver5 USA 1912 Rodger Ward 374 USA 1912 Bob Veith19 USA 1912 Eddie Johnson88 USA 1912 Gene Hartley 49 USA 1912 Don Branson orange R silver33 USA 1912 Johnny Boyd37 USA 1912 Duane Carter 566 USA 1912 Jimmy Daywalt24 USA 1912 Jack Turner1 USA 1912 Tony Bettenhausen 699 USA 1912 Paul Goldsmith10 USA 1912 A. J. Foyt64 USA 1912 Pat Flaherty gold W silver 77 USA 1912 Jud Larson6 USA 1912 Jimmy Bryan gold W silver71 USA 1912 Chuck Arnold orange R silver 88 USA 1912 Len Sutton89 USA 1912 Al Herman65 USA 1912 Bob Christie 915 USA 1912 Don Freeland87 USA 1912 Red Amick orange R silver45 USA 1912 Paul Russo 1057 USA 1912 Al Keller47 USA 1912 Chuck Weyant53 USA 1912 Bill Cheesbourg 1177 USA 1912 Mike Magill49 USA 1912 Ray Crawford58 USA 1912 Jim McWithey orange R silver orange R Indianapolis 500 rookie solid 1px darkgray gold W Indianapolis 500 winner solid 1px darkgray Alternates First alternate: Rex Easton orange R silver (#39, #45)The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004 Failed to qualify 28em Russ Congdon orange R silver (#72) - Did not finish rookie test Bob Cortner orange R silver (#51) - Fatal accident Chuck Daigh orange R silver (#98) Jimmy Davies (#53) Don Edmunds (#54, #57, #76) Jack Ensley orange R silver (#92) Gene Force (#55, #78) Andy Furci orange R silver (#91) Elmer George (#21) Bill Homeier (#42, #62) Van Johnson orange R silver (#76, #91) Johnny Kay orange R silver (#17) - Did not finish rookie test Ralph Ligouri orange R silver (#12, #41) Johnny Moorhouse orange R silver (#91) Earl Motter orange R silver (#21) Jim Packard orange R silver (#55) Johnnie Parsons gold W silver (#45) Chuck Rodee orange R silver (#82) Eddie Russo (#1, #78, #93, #98) Bob Schroeder orange R silver (#78) Shorty Templeman (#69, #76) Johnnie Tolan (#43) Jerry Unser (#57) - Fatal accident Wayne Weiler orange R silver (#39) - Entry declined, failed physical Dempsey Wilson (#34, #82)1959 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes http://www.champcarstats.com/races/195903.htm ChampCarStats.com June 26, 2015 Box score FinishGridNo.DriverConstructorQualifyingLapsStatusPointsSpeedRankUSAC USAC Championship TrailWDC World Drivers' Championship 1 6 5 USA 1912 Rodger Ward Watson-Offenhauser 144.03 7 200 135.857 mph 1,000 8 2 3 16 USA 1912 Jim Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser 144.43 4 200 +23.28 800 6 3 1 3 USA 1912 Johnny Thomson Lesovsky-Offenhauser 145.90 1 200 +50.64 700 51 1 4 15 1 USA 1912 Tony Bettenhausen Epperly-Offenhauser 142.72 18 200 +1:47.09 600 3 5 16 99 USA 1912 Paul Goldsmith Epperly-Offenhauser 142.67 19 200 +2:06.44 500 2 6 11 33 USA 1912 Johnny Boyd Epperly-Offenhauser 142.81 16 200 +3:16.98 400   7 12 37 USA 1912 Duane Carter Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.79 17 200 +4:09.92 300   8 8 19 USA 1912 Eddie Johnson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.00 9 200 +4:10.53 250   9 27 45 USA 1912 Paul Russo Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.38 22 200 +4:11.04 200   10 17 10 USA 1912 A. J. Foyt Kuzma-Offenhauser 142.64 20 200 +4:14.48 150   11 9 88 USA 1912 Gene Hartley Kuzma-Offenhauser 143.57 10 200 +5:42.48 100   12 7 74 USA 1912 Bob Veith Moore-Offenhauser 144.02 8 200 +6:09.73 50   13 23 89 USA 1912 Al Herman Dunn-Offenhauser 141.93 29 200 +6:40.40     14 13 66 USA 1912 Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.68 3 200 +6:41.54     15 21 71 USA 1912 Chuck Arnold orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.11 24 200 +8:19.86     16 33 58 USA 1912 Jim McWithey orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 141.21 33 200 +11:41.69     17 2 44 USA 1912 Eddie Sachs Kuzma-Offenhauser 145.42 2 182 Spun off     18 28 57 USA 1912 Al Keller Kuzma-Offenhauser 142.05 27 163 Engine     19 18 64 USA 1912 Pat Flaherty gold W silver Watson-Offenhauser 142.39 21 162 Accident     20 4 73 USA 1912 Dick Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser 144.24 5 150 Fire     21 30 53 USA 1912 Bill Cheesbourg Kuzma-Offenhauser 141.78 30 147 Magneto     22 25 15 USA 1912 Don Freeland Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 143.05 14 136 Magneto     23 32 49 USA 1912 Ray Crawford Elder-Offenhauser 141.34 32 115 Accident     24 10 9 USA 1912 Don Branson orange R silver Phillips-Offenhauser 143.31 12 112 Suspension     25 24 65 USA 1912 Bob Christie Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 143.24 13 109 Engine     26 5 48 USA 1912 Bobby Grim orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.22 6 85 Magneto     27 14 24 USA 1912 Jack Turner Christensen-Offenhauser 143.47 11 47 Fuel leak     28 29 47 USA 1912 Chuck Weyant Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 141.95 28 45 Accident     29 19 7 USA 1912 Jud Larson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.29 23 45 Accident     30 31 77 USA 1912 Mike Magill Sutton-Offenhauser 141.48 31 45 Accident     31 26 87 USA 1912 Red Amick orange R silver Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.92 15 45 Accident     32 22 8 USA 1912 Len Sutton Lesovsky-Offenhauser 142.10 26 34 Accident     33 20 6 USA 1912 Jimmy Bryan gold W silver Salih-Offenhauser 142.11 25 1 Engine     gold W silver Former Indianapolis 500 winner orange R silver Indianapolis 500 Rookie All entrants utilized Firestone tires. Notes 1 1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap Race statistics Lap Leaders Laps Leader1–4 Johnny Thomson5–12 Rodger Ward13 Jim Rathmann14–16 Rodger Ward17–30 Jim Rathmann31 Pat Flaherty32–33 Jim Rathmann34–40 Pat Flaherty41–42 Jim Rathmann43–45 Pat Flaherty46–48 Rodger Ward49–84 Johnny Thomson85–200 Rodger Ward Total laps led Driver LapsRodger Ward 130Johnny Thomson 40Jim Rathmann 19Pat Flaherty 11 Yellow Lights: 43 minutes, 17 seconds Laps* Reason8–10 Eddie Sachs spin in turn 1 (2:25)36–40 Len Sutton crash in turn 1 (5:42)47–56 Weyant, Magil, Amick, Larson crash in turn 4 (11:15)121–133 Ray Crawford crash in turn 3 (17:30)167–173 Pat Flaherty crash on mainstretch (6:25)* – Approximate lap countshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press/86587474/ He Dodged Flying Iron to Win Fastest "500" (Part 1) Bob Barnet 21 The Star Press May 31, 1959 April 20, 2024https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press/86587479/ He Dodged Flying Iron to Win Fastest "500" (Part 2) Bob Barnet 22 The Star Press May 31, 1959 April 20, 2024https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-tribune/145724408/ Sporting Around (Part 1) Jimmy Claus 43 The Star Press May 31, 1959 April 20, 2024https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-terre-haute-tribune/145724476/ Sporting Around (Part 2) Jimmy Claus 44 The Star Press May 31, 1959 April 20, 2024 Race notes 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.The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 9, 2007 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). Final Indianapolis 500 start for 1956 winner Pat Flaherty. He crashed out after completing 162 laps, finishing 19th. World Drivers' Championship F1 USA Indianapolis 500 1959 5 30 1959 2 9 1959 Monaco Grand Prix 1959 Dutch 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 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 PosDriverPoints 10px 1 AUS Jack Brabham 9 10px 23 2 USA 1912 Rodger Ward 8 10px 1 3 GBR Tony Brooks 6 10px 21 4 USA 1912 Jim Rathmann 6 10px 20 5 USA 1912 Johnny Thomson 5Source:https://www.statsf1.com/en/1959/indianapolis/championnat.aspx Indianapolis 1959 - Championship • STATS F1 www.statsf1.com 18 March 2019 Notes: Only the top five positions are included. Broadcasting Radio 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.Alaska Joins '500' Hookup https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18048329/ The Indianapolis News 44 Newspapers.com May 29, 1959 March 6, 2018 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network Booth AnnouncersTurn ReportersPit/garage reportersChief Announcer: Sid Collins Driver expert: Fred Agabashian Statistician: Charlie BrockmanTurn 1: Bill Frosh Turn 2: John Peterson Backstretch: Bernie Herman Turn 3: Lou Palmer Turn 4: Jim SheltonGreg Smith (north)Jack Shapiro (center)Luke Walton (south) References 30em External links Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site 1959 Indianapolis 500Rodger Ward 1959 1959 Monaco Grand Prix 1959 Dutch Grand Prix 1958 Indianapolis 500Jimmy Bryan 1960 Indianapolis 500Jim Rathmann 135.875 135.601 mph(1957 Indianapolis 500) 138.767 mph(1960 Indianapolis 500) Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Category:Indianapolis 500 races Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500