1952 Indianapolis 500 Explained

Race Name:36th Indianapolis 500
Sanction:AAA
Date:May 30, 1952
Winner:Troy Ruttman
Team:J. C. Agajanian
Mph:128.922mi/h
Pole:Fred Agabashian
Pole Speed:138.01mi/h
Leader:Bill Vukovich (150)
Pace Car:Studebaker Commander
Pace Driver:P.O. Peterson
Starter:Seth Klein[1]
Honorary:Raymond Firestone
Attendance:200,000[2]
Previous:1951
Next: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.[3] 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.

Starting grid

RowInsideMiddleOutside
128 Fred Agabashian9 Andy Linden4 Jack McGrath
236 Duke Nalon18 Sam Hanks1 Duane Carter
398 Troy Ruttman26 Bill Vukovich22 Cliff Griffith
459 Jim Rathmann16 Chuck Stevenson2 Henry Banks
565 George Fonder54 George Connor7 Bill Schindler
614 Joe James55 Bobby Ball67 Gene Hartley
7123377
834 Rodger Ward3781
9932921 Chet Miller
108 Manny Ayulo48 Spider Webb27 Tony Bettenhausen
1157331 Johnny McDowell

Failed to qualify

Box score

PosGridNoDriverConstructorQualRankLapsTime/RetiredPoints Points
1798 Troy RuttmanKuzma-Offenhauser135.36182003:52:41.8810008
21059 Jim RathmannKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser136.347200+4:02.338006
3518 Sam HanksKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser135.7314200+6:11.617004
461 Duane CarterLesovsky-Offenhauser135.5216200+6:48.346003
52033 Art Cross Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser134.2826200+8:40.155002
62177 Jimmy Bryan Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser134.1427200+9:24.32400
72337 Jimmy Reece Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser133.9929200+10:35.24300
81454 George ConnorKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser135.6015200+12:00.61250
9922 Cliff GriffithKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser136.616200+12:23.76200
10315 Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser135.3219200+13:37.78150
1134 Jack McGrathKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser136.665200+14:21.72100
122629 Jim Rigsby Watson-Offenhauser133.9033200+16:05.1050
131614 Joe JamesKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser134.9522200+16:55.65
14157 Bill SchindlerStevens-Offenhauser134.9820200+18:48.66
151365 George FonderSherman-Offenhauser135.9413197+3 Laps
162481 Eddie Johnson Trevis-Offenhauser133.9730193+7 Laps
17826 Bill VukovichKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser138.212191Steering1
181116 Chuck StevensonKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser136.149187+13 Laps
19122 Henry BanksLesovsky-Offenhauser135.9611184+16 Laps
20288 Manny AyuloLesovsky-Offenhauser135.9810184+16 Laps
213331 Johnny McDowellKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser133.9332182+18 Laps
222948 Spider WebbBromme-Offenhauser135.9612162Oil leak
232234 Rodger WardKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser134.1328130Oil Pressure
243027 Tony BettenhausenDiedt-Offenhauser135.381793Oil Pressure
25436 Duke NalonKurtis Kraft-Novi136.18884Supercharger
263273 Bob Sweikert Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser134.982177Differential
27128 Fred AgabashianKurtis Kraft-Cummins diesel138.01371Turbocharger
281867 Gene HartleyKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser134.342465Exhaust
292593 Bob Scott Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser133.953149Transmission
302721 Chet MillerKurtis Kraft-Novi139.03141Supercharger
311912 Alberto Ascari Ferrari134.302540Wheel
321755 Bobby BallStevens-Offenhauser134.722334Gearbox
3329 Andy LindenKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser137.00420Oil Pump
Source:[5]

Former Indianapolis 500 winner

Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

– 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics

Lap Leaders
LapsLeader
1–6 Jack McGrath
7–11 Bill Vukovich
12 Troy Ruttman
13–61 Bill Vukovich
62–82 Troy Ruttman
83–134 Bill Vukovich
135–147 Troy Ruttman
148–191 Bill Vukovich
192–200 Troy Ruttman
Total laps led
DriverLaps
Bill Vukovich 150
Troy Ruttman 44
Jack McGrath 6

Notes

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.[11]

World Drivers' Championship

Type:F1
Country:USA
Grand Prix:Indianapolis 500
Year:1952
Race No:2
Season No:8
Previous Round:1952 Swiss Grand Prix
Next Round:1952 Belgian Grand Prix
Course Mi:2.500
Course Km:4.023
Distance Laps:200
Distance Mi:500.000
Distance Km: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.[12] [13]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[14] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.[15] 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

PosDriverPoints
1 Piero Taruffi9
202 Troy Ruttman8
13 Rudi Fischer6
184 Jim Rathmann6
25 Jean Behra4
Source: [16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Fox, Jack C.. The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994. Carl Hungness Publishing. 4th. 1994. 22. English. 0-915088-05-3.
  2. News: Sets Race Record Of 128 MPH After Vukovich Bid Failes. Bob. Stranahan. The Indianapolis Star. 1. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1952. June 2, 2017.
  3. More Indy Hearbreaks. Autoweek. May 28, 2012. 62. 11. 82. 0192-9674.
  4. Web site: 1952 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes. ChampCarStats.com. 28 June 2015.
  5. Web site: 1952 Indianapolis 500 . formula1.com . August 4, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091201112405/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1952/609/. December 1, 2009 .
  6. News: Fate Taps Ruttman in Last 10 Minutes. Indianapolis News. J.E.. O'Brien. 13. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1952. April 21, 2024.
  7. News: Vukovich Hits Wall, Ruttman Hits Jackpot. The Star Press. Bob. Barnet. 11. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1952. April 21, 2024.
  8. [Donald Davidson (historian)|Davidson, Donald]
  9. Web site: Greuter. Henri. 1952: Ferrari at Indianapolis. www.forixautosport.com. 26 January 2013.
  10. "WIBC All Night Race Party - 2007
  11. News: Everyone In Reach of Radio Will Have 'Ticket' To Race. Polly. Cochran. The Indianapolis Star. 42. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1952. March 7, 2018.
  12. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. 1070 WIBC-AM. May 23, 2007.
  13. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. WFNI. May 19, 2016.
  14. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. WFNI. May 5, 2012.
  15. 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. May 1, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120427115856/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/mal/mirror.html. April 27, 2012. dead.
  16. Web site: Indianapolis 1952 - Championship • STATS F1. www.statsf1.com. 1 March 2019.