1950 Indianapolis 500

In today's world, 1950 Indianapolis 500 is a topic that has gained great relevance and interest. Its impact has been felt in different aspects of society, from politics to popular culture. In this article, we will explore in detail the different nuances and perspectives surrounding 1950 Indianapolis 500, analyzing its influence on the modern world and its role in shaping contemporary mindsets and dynamics. Through an exhaustive and multidimensional analysis, we aim to shed light on this topic and understand its importance in the current context. Additionally, we will examine possible future implications and possible avenues to address the challenges that 1950 Indianapolis 500 presents in our ever-changing world.

34th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1950
WinnerJohnnie Parsons
Winning EntrantFrank Kurtis
Average speed124.002 mph (199.562 km/h)
Pole positionWalt Faulkner
Pole speed134.343 mph (216.204 km/h)
Most laps ledJohnnie Parsons (115)
Pre-race
Pace carMercury
Pace car driverBenson Ford
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeClarence Beesmyer[1]
Estimated attendance175,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1949 1951

The 34th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. The event was sanctioned by the AAA and served as the premier event on the calendar of the 1950 AAA National Championship Trail.

For the first time, the race was included as a points-paying event towards the FIA-sanctioned World Drivers' Championship.

The race was originally scheduled for 200 laps (500 miles), but was stopped after 138 laps (345 miles) due to rain.

A rumor circulated in racing circles during and after this race that Johnnie Parsons's team discovered an irreparable crack in the engine block on race morning. The discovery supposedly precipitated Parsons to charge for the lap leader prizes.[3] Presumably, he set his sights on leading as many laps as possible before the engine inevitably was to fail. Furthermore, the race ending early due to rain supposedly saved Parsons's day allowing him to secure the victory before the engine let go. However, the engine block crack was proved to be an urban myth,[4] and it was said to be a very minor but acceptable level of porosity, which did not significantly affect the performance.

Parsons's win saw him score 9 points and move to a temporary first-place tie (after 3 races on the Formula One season calendar) in the first ever World Drivers' Championship, alongside Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, and also saw him become the first American to win a World Championship race. Parsons is one of only three drivers to have won his first World Championship race, the other two being Farina, who won the first World Championship race (the 1950 British Grand Prix, 17 days earlier) and Giancarlo Baghetti, who won the 1961 French Grand Prix. Despite the 500 being his only race in the 1950 World Championship, it would be enough to see him finish the championship 6th in points.

During the month, Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck were at the track to film scenes for the film To Please a Lady. Stanwyck was on hand in victory lane after the race for the traditional celebratory kiss to the winner. During 1951 a young Mario Andretti saw the film in his native Italy - where it was titled Indianapolis - an event which exposed the future Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time National Champion to the race for the first time.[5]

Time trials

1950 Cummins Diesel

Time trials was scheduled for six days.

  • Saturday May 13: Walt Faulkner won the pole position with a record run of 134.343 mph.
  • Sunday May 14
  • Saturday May 20: The third day of time trials saw six cars complete runs. Bayliss Levrett (131.181 mph) was the fastest of the afternoon. Charles Van Acker was ruled physically disqualified, after a crash he suffered at the Speedway from 1949.[6]
  • Sunday May 21
  • Saturday May 27: The day began with 11 spots open in the grid.[7]
  • Sunday May 28: Only one driver managed to bump his way into the field. Johnny McDowell bumped Cliff Griffith, while 15 other cars failed to make the field. The two Novi entries failed to qualify – Chet Miller had engine trouble in one of the cars, while the other snapped a supercharger shaft. Rain and two crashes cut the track time to less than three hours. Cy Marshall was among the few left in line when time trials closed at 6 p.m.[8]

Starting grid

Row Inside Middle Outside
1 98 United States Walt Faulkner  R  28 United States Fred Agabashian 31 United States Mauri Rose  W 
2 5 United States George Connor 1 United States Johnnie Parsons 49 United States Jack McGrath
3 69 United States Duke Dinsmore 14 United States Tony Bettenhausen 17 United States Joie Chitwood
4 3 United States Bill Holland  W  59 United States Pat Flaherty  R  54 United States Cecil Green  R 
5 18 United States Duane Carter 21 United States Spider Webb 81 United States Jerry Hoyt  R 
6 2 United States Myron Fohr 24 United States Bayliss Levrett 45 United States Dick Rathmann  R 
7 7 United States Paul Russo 4 United States Walt Brown 12 United States Henry Banks
8 67 United States Bill Schindler  R  8 United States Lee Wallard 55 United States Troy Ruttman
9 23 United States Sam Hanks 15 United States Mack Hellings 22 United States Jimmy Davies  R 
10 76 United States Jim Rathmann 27 United States Walt Ader  R  77 United States Jackie Holmes
11 75 United States Gene Hartley  R  61 United States Jimmy Jackson 62 United States Johnny McDowell
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Box score

Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Time/Retired Points WDC Points
1 5 1 United States Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.04 8 138 2:46:55.97 690 91
2 10 3 United States Bill Holland  W  Diedt-Offenhauser 130.48 21 137 - 1 Lap 552 6
3 3 31 United States Mauri Rose  W  Diedt-Offenhauser 132.31 6 137 - 1 Lap 483 4
4 12 54 United States Cecil Green  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.91 2 137 - 1 Lap 414 3
5 9 17 United States Joie Chitwood
(Tony Bettenhausen Laps 86–136)
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 130.75 19 136 - 2 Laps 217.5
127.5
1
1
6 23 8 United States Lee Wallard Moore-Offenhauser 132.43 5 136 - 2 Laps 276  
7 1 98 United States Walt Faulkner  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.34 1 135 - 3 Laps 207  
8 4 5 United States George Connor Lesovsky-Offenhauser 132.16 7 135 - 3 Laps 172.5  
9 19 7 United States Paul Russo Nichels-Offenhauser 130.79 18 135 - 3 Laps 138  
10 11 59 United States Pat Flaherty  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 129.60 30 135 - 3 Laps 103.5  
11 16 2 United States Myron Fohr Marchese-Offenhauser 131.71 11 133 - 5 Laps 69  
12 13 18 United States Duane Carter Stevens-Offenhauser 131.66 12 133 - 5 Laps 34.5  
13 26 15 United States Mack Hellings Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 130.68 20 132 - 6 Laps    
14 6 49 United States Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.86 10 131 Spun Off    
15 24 55 United States Troy Ruttman Lesovsky-Offenhauser 131.91 9 130 - 8 Laps    
16 31 75 United States Gene Hartley  R  Langley-Offenhauser 129.21 32 128 - 10 Laps    
17 27 22 United States Jimmy Davies  R  Ewing-Offenhauser 130.40 23 128 - 10 Laps    
18 33 62 United States Johnny McDowell Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 129.69 27 128 - 10 Laps    
19 20 4 United States Walt Brown Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 130.45 22 127 - 11 Laps    
20 14 21 United States Spider Webb Maserati-Offenhauser 129.74 26 126 - 12 Laps    
21 15 81 United States Jerry Hoyt  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 129.52 31 125 - 13 Laps    
22 29 27 United States Walt Ader  R  Rae-Offenhauser 129.94 25 123 - 15 Laps    
23 30 77 United States Jackie Holmes Olson-Offenhauser 129.69 28 123 Spun Off    
24 28 76 United States Jim Rathmann Wetteroth-Offenhauser 129.95 24 122 - 16 Laps    
25 21 12 United States Henry Banks
(Fred Agabashian Laps 72–112)
Maserati-Offenhauser 129.64 29 112 Oil Line    
26 22 67 United States Bill Schindler  R  Snowberger-Offenhauser 132.69 4 111 Transmission    
27 17 24 United States Bayliss Levrett
(Bill Cantrell Laps 106–108)
Adams-Offenhauser 131.18 14 108 Oil Pressure    
28 2 28 United States Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.79 3 64 Oil Leak    
29 32 61 United States Jimmy Jackson Kurtis Kraft-Cummins 129.20 33 52 Compressor    
30 25 23 United States Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.59 13 42 Oil Pressure    
31 8 14 United States Tony Bettenhausen Diedt-Offenhauser 130.94 16 30 Wheel Bearing    
32 18 45 United States Dick Rathmann  R  Watson-Offenhauser 130.92 17 25 Stalled    
33 7 69 United States Duke Dinsmore Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.06 15 10 Oil Leak    
Source:[9]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses[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

Notes

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Constructor Lap Gap
1 98 United States Walt Faulkner Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:27.97
2 28 United States Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:31.10 + 3.13
3 31 United States Mauri Rose Diedt-Offenhauser 4:32.07 + 4.10
4 5 United States George Connor Lesovsky-Offenhauser 4:32.39 + 4.42
5 1 United States Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:32.43 + 4.46
6 49 United States Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:33.00 + 5.03
7 69 United States Duke Dinsmore Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:34.67 + 6.70
8 14 United States Tony Bettenhausen Diedt-Offenhauser 4:34.92 + 6.95
9 17 United States Joie Chitwood Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:35.32 + 7.35
10 3 United States Bill Holland Diedt-Offenhauser 4:35.90 + 7.93
11 59 United States Pat Flaherty Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:37.76 + 9.79
12 54 United States Cecil Green Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:30.86 + 2.89
13 18 United States Duane Carter Stevens-Offenhauser 4:33.42 + 5.45
14 21 United States Spider Webb Maserati-Offenhauser 4:37.46 + 9.49
15 81 United States Jerry Hoyt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:37.95 + 9.98
16 2 United States Myron Fohr Marchese-Offenhauser 4:33.32 + 5.35
17 24 United States Bayliss Levrett Adams-Offenhauser 4:34.43 + 6.46
18 45 United States Dick Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser 4:34.96 + 6.99
19 7 United States Paul Russo Nichels-Offenhauser 4:35.25 + 7.28
20 4 United States Walt Brown Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:35.96 + 7.99
21 12 United States Henry Banks Maserati-Offenhauser 4:37.68 + 9.71
22 67 United States Bill Schindler Snowberger-Offenhauser 4:31.31 + 3.34
23 8 United States Lee Wallard Moore-Offenhauser 4:31.83 + 3.86
24 55 United States Troy Ruttman Lesovsky-Offenhauser 4:32.91 + 4.94
25 23 United States Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:33.57 + 5.60
26 15 United States Mack Hellings Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:35.32 + 7.35
27 22 United States Jimmy Davies Ewing-Offenhauser 4:36.07 + 8.10
28 76 United States Jim Rathmann Wetteroth-Offenhauser 4:37.01 + 9.04
29 27 United States Walt Ader Rae-Offenhauser 4:37.05 + 9.08
30 77 United States Jackie Holmes Olson-Offenhauser 4:37.57 + 9.60
31 75 United States Gene Hartley Langley-Offenhauser 4:38.61 + 10.64
32 61 United States Jimmy Jackson Kurtis Kraft-Cummins 4:38.62 + 10.65
33 62 United States Johnny McDowell Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4:37.58 + 9.61

First alternate

No Driver Constructor
66 United States Cliff Griffith  R [14] Miller-Offenhauser

Non-qualifiers

No Driver Constructor
9 United States Andy Linden  R  Bromme-Offenhauser
9 United States Bud Rose  R  Bromme-Offenhauser
10 United States Bill Vukovich  R  Maserati-Maserati
10 United States Hal Cole Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
16 United States Ted Duncan  R  Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
19 United States Ralph Pratt  R  Bardazon-Offenhauser
19 United States Kenny Eaton  R  Bardazon-Offenhauser
25 United States Johnny Mauro Alfa Romeo-Alfa Romeo
26 United States George Fonder Diedt-Sparks
29 United States Charles Van Acker Stevens-Offenhauser
33 United States Joel Thorne Kurtis-Kraft-Sparks
34 United States Johnny Fedricks  R  Kupiec-Offenhauser
36 United States George Lynch Snowberger-Offenhauser
38 United States Duke Nalon Kurtis-Kraft-Novi
39 United States Danny Kladis Maserati-Maserati
41 United States Milt Fankhouser Stevens-Offenhauser
43 United States Chet Miller Kurtis-Kraft-Novi
44 United States Bill Cantrell Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
47 United States Ralph Pratt  R  Gdula-Offenhauser
51 United States Mark Light  R  Stevens-Offenhauser
52 United States Mark Light  R  Meyer-Offenhauser
52 United States Dick Frazier  R  Meyer-Offenhauser
58 United States Billy Devore Scopa-Offenhauser
63 United States Joe James  R  Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
63 United States Bob Gregg  R  Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
64 United States Bob Sweikert  R  Wetteroth-Offenhauser
65 United States Marvin Burke  R  Kurtis-Kraft-Duray
65 United States Norm Houser Kurtis-Kraft-Duray
74 United States Carl Forberg  R  Miller-Offenhauser
78 United States Cy Marshall Miller-Miller
79 United States Chuck Leighton  R  Cantarano-Wayne
82 United States Joe James  R  Weidel-Mercury
83 United States Al Miller Miller-Miller
84 United States Mike Burch  R  Miller-Offenhauser
85 United States Manuel Ayulo Maserati-Offenhauser
85 United States Jim Rigsby  R  Maserati-Offenhauser
87 United States Bill Vukovich  R  Rounds Rocket-Offenhauser
99 United States Kenny Eaton  R  Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
99 United States Emil Andres Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser

World Drivers' Championship

1950 Indianapolis 500
Race 3 of 7 in the 1950 Formula One season
← Previous raceNext race →
Race details
Date May 30, 1950 (1950-05-30)
Location Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Speedway, Indiana
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4.023 km (2.500 miles)
Distance 138 laps, 555.224 km (345.000 miles)
Scheduled distance 200 laps, 804.672 km (500.000 miles)

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.[15][16]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[17] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.[18] 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 1950 Indianapolis 500 was round 3 of 7 on the 1950 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract significant interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit. Giuseppe Farina and Franco Rol submitted Maserati entries, but their cars never arrived, and the race took place without any European competitors.[19] Race winner Johnnie Parsons 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 sixth in the final season standings.

Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on their WDC début. The other two are Farina, who won the inaugural World Championship race – the 1950 British Grand Prix, 17 days earlier – and Giancarlo Baghetti, who won the 1961 French Grand Prix.

World Drivers' Championship standings after the race

Change Pos Driver Points
1 Italy Giuseppe Farina 9
2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 9
31 3 United States Johnnie Parsons 9
1 4 Italy Luigi Fagioli 6
1 5 Italy Alberto Ascari 6
  • Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best four results counted towards the Championship.

Broadcasting

Radio

The race was carried live on the Mutual Broadcasting System, the precursor to the IMS Radio Network. The broadcast was sponsored by Perfect Circle Piston Rings and Bill Slater served as the anchor. Sid Collins moved into the booth for the first time to serve as analyst, and conducted the victory lane interview at the conclusion of the race. The broadcast feature live coverage of the start, the finish, and live updates throughout the race.

Prior to the race, it was reported that Slater might miss the race, due to illness. WIBC personality Sid Collins was named as a replacement, however, Slater was able to arrive in time for race day. Collins, who had previously served as a turn reporter, was invited to be the co-anchor in the booth.[20] For the first time, Collins interviewed the winner in victory lane at the conclusion of the race. Collins claims he burned his trousers on Parsons's hot exhaust pipe during the interview, which took place in the rain.

Because the race was shortened, Mutual had to interrupt Queen for a Day to cover the finish of the abbreviated event. This was cited by some as a reason why the Speedway would begin flag-to-flag coverage in 1953.

Mutual Broadcasting System
Booth Announcers Turn Reporters Pit reporters

Booth Announcer: Bill Slater
Analyst: Sid Collins

South turns: Easy Gwynn
North turns: Jim Shelton

Gordon Graham
Sid Collins (victory lane)

Television

The race was carried live for the second year in a row on local television on WFBM-TV channel 6 of Indianapolis. Earl Townsend, Jr. was the announcer, along with Dick Pittenger and Paul Roberts. After the race, Speedway management disallowed WFBM from broadcasting the race live again, feeling that gate attendance had been negatively affected.

WFBM-TV
Play-by-play Pit reporters

Announcer: Earl Townsend, Jr
Color: Dick Pittenger

Paul Roberts

References

  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. ^ "Parsons Sets Record As Rain Halts 500-Mile Speedway Race". The Cincinnati Enquirer. May 31, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ "Great Moments From the Indy 500" (VanCamp's Pork and Beans Presents/Freetwood Sounds), 1975
  4. ^ "The Talk of Gasoline Alley" – WFNI, May 20, 2012
  5. ^ Oreovicz, John (2021). Indy Split: The Big Money Battle that Nearly Destroyed Indy Racing. Austin, TX: Octane Press. p. 365. ISBN 978-1-64234-056-3.
  6. ^ Vet Van Acker Is Ruled Out (May 22, 1950)
  7. ^ Speedway Qualifications End Tomorrow; 11 Vacancies
  8. ^ One Change In Lineup For Big Race (May 29, 1950)
  9. ^ "1950 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  10. ^ "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1950". ChampCarStats.com.
  11. ^ Sansbury, Ed (May 30, 1959). "Rain Calls For End Of Classic After 138 Laps". Tucson Citizen. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ O'Brien, J.E. (May 31, 1950). "Parsons waits booty after bobtailed 500". Indianapolis News. p. 13. Retrieved April 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  13. ^ Dunkley, Charles (May 31, 1950). "Johnny Parsons Wins Shortened 500-Mile Race". The Terra Haute Star. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  14. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  15. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 23, 2007. 1070 WIBC-AM.
  16. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 19, 2016. WFNI.
  17. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 5, 2012. WFNI.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "1950 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  20. ^ Davidson, Donald (2012-05-24). "IMS Radio Network celebrates 60th anniversary". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved 2012-08-13.


Previous race:
1950 Monaco Grand Prix
FIA Formula One World Championship
1950 season
Next race:
1950 Swiss Grand Prix
Previous race:
1949 Indianapolis 500
Bill Holland
1950 Indianapolis 500
Johnnie Parsons
Next race:
1951 Indianapolis 500
Lee Wallard
Preceded by
121.327 mph
(1949 Indianapolis 500)
Record for the Indianapolis 500 fastest average speed
124.002
mph
Succeeded by