1952 Indianapolis 500
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates
Template:Infobox Indy500 1911to1941
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.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 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.
- Saturday May 17 – Pole Day time trials
- Sunday May 18 – Second day time trials (rained out)
- Saturday May 24 – Third day time trials
- Sunday May 25 – Fourth day time trials (rained out)
- Monday May 26 – Fifth day time trials (rain make up day)
Starting grid
Template:Legend Template:Legend
Failed to qualify
All drivers from the United States unless stated. Template:Div col
- Frank Armi Template:Color box (#39)
- George Armstrong Template:Color box – Did not arrive
- Buzz Barton Template:Color box (#58)
- Joe Barzda Template:Color box (#53)
- Bill Boyd Template:Color box (#92) – Did not arrive
- Bill Cantrell (#52)
- Neal Carter Template:Color box (#25)
- Jimmy Daywalt Template:Color box (#64)
- Duke Dinsmore (#68)
- Giuseppe Farina Template:FlagiconTemplate:Color box – Withdrew
- Walt Faulkner (#3)
- Johnny Fedricks Template:Color box (#82)
- Carl Forberg (#53)
- Gene Force (#96)
- Dick Fraizer Template:Color box (#63)
- Potsy Goacher Template:Color box (#93)
- Perry Grimm Template:Color box (#55)
- Peter Hahn Template:Color box (#74)
- Allen Heath Template:Color box (#32, #97)
- Tommy Hinnershitz (#27)
- Jackie Holmes (#41)
- Jimmy Jackson (#61)
- Danny Kladis (#19)
- Jud Larson Template:Color box (#39, #66)
- Bayliss Levrett (#69) – Wrecked practice, retired
- Frank Luptow Template:Color box (#56)
- George Lynch Template:Color box (#74)
- Johnny Mauro (#35)
- Mike Nazaruk (#5, #66)
- Danny Oakes Template:Color box (#39)
- Puffy Puffer Template:Color box
- Paul Russo (#10)
- Carl Scarborough (#33, #44)
- Albert Scully Template:Color box (#62) – Did not arrive
- Doc Shanebrook Template:Color box (#76)
- Ottis Stine Template:Color box (#84)
- Bill Taylor Template:Color box (#47)
- George Tichenor Template:Color box (#88)
- Johnnie Tolan (#51) Template:Color box
- Leroy Warriner (#27) Template:Color box
- Chuck Weyant (#92) Template:Color box – Did not arrive<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Box score
Template:Color box Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Template:Color box Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
Template:Note – 1 point for fastest lead lap
Race statistics
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break
| Lap Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Laps | Leader |
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| Driver | Laps |
| Bill Vukovich | 150 |
| Troy Ruttman | 44 |
| Jack McGrath | 6 |
| Yellow Lights: 2 minutes | |
|---|---|
| Laps* | Reason |
| 40 | Alberto Ascari spin in turn 3 (50 seconds) |
| 191 | Bill Vukovich against the wall in turn 2 (1:10) |
| * – Approximate lap counts<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref> | |
Notes
- Pole position: Fred Agabashian – 4:20.85 (4 laps)
- Agabashian's Cummins Diesel Special was the first entry in the Indianapolis 500 to be powered by a turbocharged engine (then described as "turbosupercharged"). Gear-driven centrifugal blowers known as "superchargers" had been used since the 1920s to increase the volumetric efficiency and power output of racing engines, but the Cummins Diesel was the first to make use of the "free" energy contained in the engine exhaust stream to drive a turbine wheel connected to a centrifugal blower (thus, "turbo-supercharging").
- Fastest Lead Lap: Bill Vukovich – 1:06.60 (135.135 mph)
- As of 2022, Troy Ruttman remains the youngest driver to win the Indianapolis 500, at 22 years and 80 days.<ref name="TTOGA 20070430">Davidson, Donald. (2007). "The Talk of Gasoline Alley" [Radio program]. WIBC (FM), April 30, 2007. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20070928124654/http://media.wibc.com/av/audio/talk_gas/2007/april30.mp3, retrieved on January 6, 2016.</ref>
- Ruttman also became the youngest driver to win a race counting for the World Championship of Drivers. His record was broken by Fernando Alonso at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix.
- 1952 was the only occasion when the fastest (Chet Miller) and slowest (Jim Rigsby) qualifiers for the race started next to each other.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1952 was the first Indy 500 in which not a single relief driver was utilized during the race.<ref>"WIBC All Night Race Party - 2007</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>
World Drivers' Championship
Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report
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.<ref name="TOGA 5-23-07">Template:Cite episode</ref><ref name="TOGA 5-19-16">Template:Cite episode</ref>
Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.<ref name="TOGA 5-05-12">Template:Cite episode</ref> However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.<ref name="Capps 2000">Template:Cite journal</ref> 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
| Pos | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 | Template:Flagicon Piero Taruffi | 9 |
 20
|
2 | Template:Flagicon Troy Ruttman | 8 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 3 | Template:Flagicon Rudi Fischer | 6 |
| 18
|
4 | Template:Flagicon Jim Rathmann | 6 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 2 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Jean Behra | 4 |
| Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
References
External links
- Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site
- Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
Template:S-start
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
1952 Swiss Grand Prix
|width="30%"|Template:Nowrap
Template:Ifnumber
|width="35%"|Next race:
1952 Belgian Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
1951 Indianapolis 500
Lee Wallard
|width="30%"|1952 Indianapolis 500
Troy Ruttman
|width="35%"|Next race:
1953 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: 128.922 | Template:Succession box }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Designated European Grand Prix }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:S-ach }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:F1 Promotional Trophy }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | | {{ #if: | Template:S-ach }} }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Succession box }}
Template:S-end