| Race Name: | 35th Indianapolis 500 |
| Sanction: | AAA |
| Date: | May 30, 1951 |
| Winner: | Lee Wallard |
| Team: | Murrell Belanger |
| Mph: | 126.244mi/h |
| Pole: | Duke Nalon |
| Pole Speed: | 136.498mi/h |
| Leader: | Lee Wallard (159) |
| Pace Car: | Chrysler New Yorker |
| Pace Driver: | David A. Wallace |
| Starter: | Seth Klein[1] |
| Honorary: | Clarence Beesmyer |
| Attendance: | 150,000[2] |
| Previous: | 1950 |
| Next: | 1952 |
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.
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. It was estimated he lost 15 pounds during the race.
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.
Time trials were scheduled for six days. Rain, however, pushed qualifying into a seventh day.
| Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 |  Duke Nalon | 99 | Lee Wallard | 9 | Jack McGrath |
| 2 | 27 | Duane Carter | 16 | 98 | Troy Ruttman | |
| 3 | 83 | 3 | 5 | Tony Bettenhausen | ||
| 4 | 4 | Cecil Green | 59 | Fred Agabashian | 25 | Sam Hanks |
| 5 | 44 | Walt Brown | 2 | Walt Faulkner | 73 | |
| 6 | 10 | Bill Schindler | 1 | Henry Banks | 23 | |
| 7 | 8 | 81 | 22 | George Connor | ||
| 8 | 69 | 19 | Mack Hellings | 68 | ||
| 9 | 48 | 12 | Johnny McDowell | 76 | Jimmy Davies | |
| 10 | 32 | Chet Miller | 52 | 26 | ||
| 11 | 57 | 6 | Duke Dinsmore | 71 | ||
Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
| Lap Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Laps | Leader | |
| 1–2 | Lee Wallard | |
| 3–4 | Jack McGrath | |
| 5–6 | Lee Wallard | |
| 7–15 | Jack McGrath | |
| 16–26 | Lee Wallard | |
| 27 | Cecil Green | |
| 28–51 | Lee Wallard | |
| 52–76 | Jimmy Davies | |
| 77–80 | Cecil Green | |
| 81–200 | Lee Wallard | |
| Total laps led | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Laps | |
| Lee Wallard | 159 | |
| Jimmy Davies | 25 | |
| Jack McGrath | 11 | |
| Cecil Green | 5 | |