For this Flashback Friday, we are focusing on a race that saw both Formula One and IndyCar Series (which was called the AAA Championship Car Series at that time) drive together in the Indianapolis 500/Indianapolis Sweepstakes. This joint racing continued into the 1960s.
At the time of the race, the AAA Championship Series was sanctioned and counted towards the Formula One Championship.
The Starting Grid
Despite the race counting towards the Formula One Championship, no Formula One drivers lined up on the grid. In later years, drivers from the Formula One Championship took part in the Indy 500: Alberto Ascari drove in the 500 in 1952 and 1953. The top three drivers to start were from the AAA Championship, Walt Faulkner with Kurtis Kraft – Offenhauser (inside row), Fred Agabashian also with Kurtis Kraft – Offenhauser (middle row) and Mauri Rose with Diedt – Offenhauser (outside row).
Qualifying
Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 was held over four days and in four laps [ten miles]. Drivers had achieved grid position based on the day on which the time was posted, after that by order of fastest times. Positions 1-11 were on the first run, 12-15 were on the second run, 16-21 were on the third and 22-32 were on the fourth run. The 33rd position was decided by the term “bumping”, which is once a 33rd has supposedly ‘qualified’, non-qualifiers could aim to “bump” the slowest driver in the field by beating their time. By the end of the day, the 33rd driver qualifies for the Indianapolis 500 race to start at the back of the field, even though they may have a better time than the drivers in front of them.
Cliff Richard, who drove for Miller-Offenhauser, was the first alternate driver for the 500 by being the next driver after the 33rd driver to be the quickest driver, ready to take another driver’s place in case they couldn’t drive in the 500.
The Podium
Johnnie Parson, Bill Holland and Mauri Rose stood as the top three on the podium. With the points distributed out to the top five, the two drivers who finished fifth were awarded some. These drivers were Joie Chitwood and Tony Bettenhausen. The race finished with 10 drivers DNF and two drivers SHC (which isn’t as common in the 1950s)
Written by Ellie.
Featured Image Credit: autosportworld.info
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