1957 Indianapolis 500
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Indy500
The 41st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1957. The event was part of the 1957 USAC National Championship Trail and it was the third race of the eight-race 1957 World Championship of Drivers.
Sam Hanks won the Indianapolis 500 in his thirteenth attempt, the most such by any 500 winner.Template:Efn He retired from competition at Indy in victory lane.<ref name="No more">Template:Cite news</ref> Contrary to popular belief, Hanks did not completely retire from racing until the end of the year. He skipped the Race of Two Worlds when his entrant withdrew,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but competed in USAC Stock Car events later in the year, winning the event at Trenton,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and finished third in points championships for 1957.
Hanks received a record $103,844 purse, the first driver to win a $100,000 single-race payday. The total race purse was also a record, over $300,000 for the first time.
Hanks won the race in George Salih's "Lay-down Offy". The Offenhauser engine was mounted on its side and shifted off-center. This was done in order to lower the center of gravity, reduce frontal area, and counterbalance the body roll in the turns. The car that Hanks drove for the win in 1957 would win back-to-back Indy 500s, with Jimmy Bryan piloting the very same chassis to victory again in 1958.
Track improvements
For 1957, the Speedway introduced a new state-of-the-art pit lane and brand new Master Control Tower to house broadcasting as well as timing and scoring. For the first time, the pit area was separated from the mainstretch by an inside wall. The pit lane was paved in concrete (the mainstretch remained brick), while a grass strip went the length of the pit road to accommodate pit crew sign board men. Flagging duties would be done from a station on the grass strip at the start/finish line, and eventually a small wooden platform would be constructed for the flagman to stand atop. USAC officials also stationed themselves on the new grass parapet (which would be removed after the 1993 race when the parapet was narrowed and paved with concrete, and pit road become asphalt except for the pit boxes).
For the 1957 race, the field lined up in the pit area single-file, rather than the traditional eleven rows of three on the racing surface. On the pace lap, the field assembled into position, and was aligned for the green flag. By 1957, the field was now being taken around for two warm-up laps (one "parade" lap, and one "pace" lap), an increase over the single lap used previously. This single-file grid practice would eventually lead to confusion, and was utilized for only two years.
Practice and time trials
Time trials was scheduled for four days, but the second day was rained out. Rain affected practice days as well.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Giuseppe Farina was the only European driver on the entry list for the race, however, he did not attempt to qualify. Farina had difficulty getting his car up to speed, and had experienced handling problems. On May 15, his teammate Keith Andrews stepped into his car for a test run, but crashed. Down the frontstretch, Andrews began to slide, and when he attempted to correct, the car backed into the inside wall separating the pit area. Andrews was crushed to death between the cowl and the fuel tank, but no fire broke out.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Farina withdrew after Andrews was killed, with no backup car to use.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Saturday May 18 – Pole Day time trials
Pat O'Connor qualified for the pole position. Showers delayed qualifying for nearly four hours, and at other points during the afternoon. A total of only nine cars completed runs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
O'Connor's speed of 143.948 mph was not a track record.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Troy Ruttman was on the track, and after a lap of over 144 mph, rain forced him to abort the attempt. He was able to get back out to the track, but had to settle for a speed of only 142.772 mph.
The first rookie to make the field was Elmer George, the husband of Mari Hulman George, and son-in-law of Speedway president Tony Hulman.
Sunday May 19 – Second day time trials
The second day scheduled for qualifying was rained out.
Saturday May 25 – Third day time trials
Paul Russo (144.817 mph) was the fastest driver of the day, in one of the Novi Specials. Russo was the fastest qualifier in the field, as his speed was faster than the pole position time from the previous weekend.
Sunday May 26 – Fourth day time trials
Rain and winds plagued the final day of time trials. Twenty three cars entered the day looking to fill the final 11 positions. A total of 43 attempts were made, with 9 cars bumped.
Tony Bettenhausen (142.439 mph) was the fastest driver of the day, driving one of the 500 hp Novi Specials. Bill Cheesbourg needed two cars to make the field. His first attempt was too slow. But late in the day, he got in Cliff Griffith's car, and at a speed of 141.565 mph, bumped Johnnie Parsons from the lineup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Qualifying results
Grid
| Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Template:Flagicon | Pat O'Connor Sumar Special Chapman Root Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
88 | Template:Flagicon | Eddie Sachs Template:Color box Peter Schmidt Special Peter Schmidt Kuzma, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
52 | Template:Flagicon | Troy Ruttman Template:Color box John Zink Special John Zink Watson, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 2 | 14 | Template:Flagicon | Fred Agabashian Bowes Seal Fast Special George Bignotti Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
6 | Template:Flagicon | Johnny Boyd Bowes Seal Fast Special George Bignotti Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
5 | Template:Flagicon | Jimmy Reece Hoyt Machine Special Fred Sommer Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 3 | 83 | Template:Flagicon | Ed Elisian McNamara Special Lee Elkins Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
16 | Template:Flagicon | Al Keller Bardahl/Clancy Special Pat Clancy Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
23 | Template:Flagicon | Elmer George Template:Color box Travelon Trailer Special Ernest Ruiz Kurtis 500B, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 4 | 54 | Template:Flagicon | Paul Russo Novi Auto Air Conditioner Special Novi Racing Corp Kurtis 500F, Novi SC Template:Convert |
10 | Template:Flagicon | Johnny Thomson D-A Lubricant Special Racing Associates Kuzma, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
73 | Template:Flagicon | Andy Linden McNamara/Veedol Special Lee Elkins Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 5 | 9 | Template:Flagicon | Sam Hanks Belond Exhaust Special George Salih Salih, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
22 | Template:Flagicon | Gene Hartley Massaglia Hotels Special Hart Fullerton Lesovsky, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
1 | Template:Flagicon | Jimmy Bryan Dean Van Lines Special Al Dean Kuzma R, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 6 | 7 | Template:Flagicon | Bob Veith Bob Estes Special Bob Estes Phillips, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
18 | Template:Flagicon | Johnnie Parsons Template:Color box Sumar Special Chapman Root Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
77 | Template:Flagicon | Mike Magill Template:Color box Dayton Steel Foundry Special George Walther Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 7 | 19 | Template:Flagicon | Jack Turner Bardahl Special Pat Clancy Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
43 | Template:Flagicon | Eddie Johnson Chapman Special Harry Allen Chapman Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
3 | Template:Flagicon | Don Freeland Ansted Rotary Ansted-Thompson Racing Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 8 | 27 | Template:Flagicon | Tony Bettenhausen Novi Auto Air Conditioner Special Novi Racing Corp. Kurtis 500F, Novi SC Template:Convert |
31 | Template:Flagicon | Bill Cheesbourg Template:Color box Schildmeier Seal Line Special J.S. Donaldson Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
8 | Template:Flagicon | Rodger Ward Wolcott Fuel Injection Special Roger Wolcott Lesovsky, Offenhauser SC Template:Convert |
| 9 | 82 | Template:Flagicon | Chuck Weyant Central Excavating Special Pete Salemi Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
55 | Template:Flagicon | Eddie Russo Sclavi & Amos Special Fred Sclavi Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
92 | Template:Flagicon | Don Edmunds Template:Color box McKay Special Roy McKay Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 10 | 48 | Template:Flagicon | Marshall Teague Sumar Special Chapman Root Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
57 | Template:Flagicon | Jimmy Daywalt Helse Special H.H. Johnson Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
89 | Template:Flagicon | Al Herman Dunn Engineering Special Harry Dunn Dunn, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| 11 | 28 | Template:Flagicon | Johnnie Tolan Greenman-Casale Special Lysle Greenman Kuzma, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
26 | Template:Flagicon | Jim Rathmann Chiropractic Special Lindsey Hopkins Epperly, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
95 | Template:Flagicon | Bob Christie Jones & Maley Special Jones & Maley Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Template:Convert |
| Sources:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Race Results">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||||||
First alternate
| #33 - Billy Garrett Federal Engineering Special Kurtis 500E, Offenhauser<ref>The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004</ref> |
Failed to qualify
| #4 - George Amick Template:Color box Federal Engineering Special Snowberger, Offenhauser Too slow |
#62 - Keith Andrews Farina Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Fatal accident |
#82 - Johnny Baldwin Template:Color box Central Excavating Special Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
| #45 - Bill Cheesbourg Las Vegas Club Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Too slow, Qualified #31 |
#15 - Tony Bonadies Template:Color box Ray Brady Special Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Practice accident |
#81 - Tony Bonadies Template:Color box Central Excavating Special Kuzma D, Offenhauser Too slow |
| #59 - Bud Clemons Template:Color box Chiropractic Special Shilala Offenhauser Too slow |
#49 - Ray Crawford Meguiar Mirror Glaze Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Too slow |
#32 - Jimmy Davies Anderson Special Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Too slow |
| #62 - Giuseppe Farina Template:Color box Farina Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Crashed by K. Andrews |
#71 - Johnny Fedricks Template:Color box Gdula Special Kurtis 500C, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#64 - Gene Force Shannon Brothers Special Watts, Offenhauser Too slow |
| #58 - Andy Furci Template:Color box Ray Brady Special Schroder D, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#31 - Cliff Griffith Seal Line Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#43 - Van Johnson Template:Color box Chapman Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
| #72 - Danny Kladis Morgan Engineering Special Maserati, Maserati SC Too slow |
#84 - Danny Kladis Safety Auto Glass Special Mercedes, Jaguar Too slow |
#25 - Jud Larson Template:Color box John Zink Special Watson, Offenhauser Too slow |
| #34 - Jim McWithey Template:Color box Federal Engineering Special Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Qualifying accident |
#32 - Cal Niday Trio Brass Foundry Special Kurtis 500D, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#98 - Johnnie Parsons Template:Color box Agajanian Special Kuzma, Offenhauser Too slow |
| #92 - Leroy Warriner Template:Color box McKay Special Kurtis 500G, Offenhauser Did not qualify |
#42 - Dempsey Wilson Template:Color box Martin Special Curtis, Offenhauser Too slow<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Template:Color box = Indianapolis 500 rookie
Template:Color box = Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Race summary
First half
On the backstretch during the pace lap, Elmer George hit the back of Eddie Russo's car, putting both cars out of the race before the start. Only 31 cars took the green flag.
Polesitter Pat O'Connor took the lead at the start and led the first four laps. Troy Ruttman led laps 5–6. O'Connor re-took the lead for laps 7–9, but Ruttman led laps 10–11, until blowing the engine. Paul Russo took the lead on lap 12, and in the first twelve laps there had already been four lead changes between three drivers.
Second half
Sam Hanks took the lead for the final time on lap 135.
Box score
Template:Color box Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Template:Color box Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
Template:Note – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap.
Race statistics
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break
| Lap Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Laps | Leader |
| 1–4 | Pat O'Connor |
| 5–6 | Troy Ruttman |
| 7–9 | Pat O'Connor |
| 10–11 | Troy Ruttman |
| 12–35 | Paul Russo |
| 36–48 | Sam Hanks |
| 49–53 | Johnny Thomson |
| 54–110 | Sam Hanks |
| 111–134 | Jim Rathmann |
| 135–200 | Sam Hanks |
| Total laps led | |
|---|---|
| Driver | Laps |
| Sam Hanks | 136 |
| Jim Rathmann | 24 |
| Paul Russo | 24 |
| Pat O'Connor | 7 |
| Johnny Thomson | 5 |
| Troy Ruttman | 4 |
| Yellow Lights: 31 minutes, 41 seconds | |
|---|---|
| Laps* | Reason |
| 54–66 | Jimmy Daywalt crash in turn 3 (12:45) |
| 76–80 | Al Keller crash in turn 1 (5:35) |
| 110–119 | Al Herman, Mike Magill crash in turn 4 (10:45) |
| 170–171 | Don Edmunds spin in turn 3 (2:35) |
| * – Approximate lap counts | |
Race notes
- Fastest Lead Lap: Jim Rathmann – 1:02.75
- Sam Hanks was the only driver in the field using the British made Lodge Spark Plugs. The other 32 drivers all had the American Champion brand installed.<ref>Champion's Champions at 100 Miles an Hour Template:Webarchive</ref>
- Dick Rathmann qualified, but was mugged the night before the race. He was replaced in the car by Johnnie Parsons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- First Indianapolis 500 starts for Eddie Sachs, Mike Magill, Bill Cheesbourg, and Elmer George.
- Only Indianapolis 500 start for Don Edmunds.
- Last Indianapolis 500 starts for Sam Hanks, Andy Linden, Marshall Teague, and Fred Agabashian.
Broadcasting
Radio
The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. The broadcast was carried by 302 affiliates, including Latin America. It reached 46 states and DC. The broadcast came on-air at 10:45 a.m. local time, fifteen minutes prior to the start of the race.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref> For the fifth years, the network featured announcers from the five major radio stations in Indianapolis (WISH, WIRE, WIBC, WFBM, and WISH). For 1957, the crew was expanded to eleven, with three new remote reporting locations. For the first time, there would be a reporter in each of the four turns, and a third pit reporter was added to help cover the recently lengthened pit lane. In addition, the booth announcers moved into the newly constructed Master Control Tower along the frontstretch.<ref name="Star05-30-1957pg32">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>
Charlie Brockman conducted the winner's interview in victory lane.
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit reporters |
|
Chief Announcer: Sid Collins |
Turn 1: Bill Frosch |
Luke Walton Greg Smith Gordon Graham Charlie Brockman (victory lane) |
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 1957 Indianapolis 500 was round 3 of 8 on the 1957 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit. For the second year in a row, former World Champion Giuseppe Farina entered, but again struggled to get his car up to speed. He eventually withdrew after his teammate Keith Andrews was killed in a crash testing the car. Race winner Sam Hanks earned 8 points towards the World Championship. Despite not competing in any of the other World Championship events, Hanks finished eighth in the final season standings.
World Drivers' Championship standings after the race
| Pos | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Juan Manuel Fangio | 17 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 28 | 2 | Template:Flagicon Sam Hanks | 8 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 27 | 3 | Template:Flagicon Jim Rathmann | 7 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 2 | 4 | Template:Flagicon Jean Behra | 6 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 2 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Tony Brooks | 6 |
| Source:<ref name="Championship standings">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
USAC National Championship Trail standings after the race
| Rank | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Hanks | 1000 | |
| 2 | Jim Rathmann | 800 | |
| 3 | Jimmy Bryan | 700 | |
| 4 | Paul Russo | 600 | |
| 5 | Andy Linden | 500 | |
| Source:<ref name="Race Results"/> | |||
Gallery
-
1957 pace car
References
Notes
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
- 500 Miles to Glory: Mercury LP record, 1957
Template:S-start
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
1957 Monaco Grand Prix
|width="30%"|Template:Nowrap
Template:Ifnumber
|width="35%"|Next race:
1957 French Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
1956 Indianapolis 500
Pat Flaherty
|width="30%"|1957 Indianapolis 500
Sam Hanks
|width="35%"|Next race:
1958 Indianapolis 500
Jimmy Bryan
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: 135.601 | 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
Template:Indy 500
Template:F1GP 50-59