1958 Indianapolis 500
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates
The 42nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1958. The event was part of the 1958 USAC National Championship Trail, and was also race 4 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers.
The race is best known for a massive first-lap, 15-car pileup that resulted in the death of fan-favorite driver Pat O'Connor.
Jimmy Bryan was the race winner. This marked the first time that one car would carry two drivers to separate wins at the race, in back-to-back years, with Sam Hanks winning the previous year's race in the same car.
The race featured young rookie A. J. Foyt's debut at Indy. On lap 148, he spun in an oil slick, blew out the tires, and dropped out of the race.
Juan Manuel Fangio arrived at Indy under much fanfare as he attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 and score points towards the World Championship. He practiced early in the month, but withdrew when he could not get up to speed.
Time trials
Time trials were scheduled for four days.
- Saturday May 17 – Pole Day time trials
- Ed Elisian set a new one-lap track record of 146.508 mph to sit tentatively on the pole position. His four-lap average stood at 145.926 mph. Later in the day, Dick Rathmann qualified at 145.974 mph to win the pole position. Rathmann was not able to beat Elisian's single-lap record, but his four-lap record eclipsed Elisian overall by a mere 0.08 seconds.
- Sunday May 18 – Second day time trials
- Saturday May 24 – Third day time trials
- Sunday May 25 – Fourth day time trials
Starting grid
Template:Legend Template:Legend
Alternates
- First alternate: Gene Hartley (#24)<ref>The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004</ref>
Failed to qualify
- Fred Agabashian (#14, #56, #57, #75)
- Tony Bonadies Template:Color box (#58)
- Bud Clemons Template:Color box (#59)
- Bob Cortner Template:Color box (#93) – Did not finish rookie test
- Ray Crawford (#49)
- Jimmy Daywalt (#57, #69, #82)
- Rex Easton Template:Color box (#10, #72)
- Don Edmunds (#92)
- Jack Ensley Template:Color box (#17)
- Juan Manuel Fangio Template:Color box (#54, #77)
- Pat Flaherty Template:Color box (#5) – Entry declined, failed physical
- Elmer George (#10, #28)
- Joe Giba Template:Color box (#62)
- Gene Hartley (#24)
- Al Herman (#68, #75)
- Bill Homeier (#74, #95)
- Van Johnson Template:Color box (#58)
- Jim McWithey Template:Color box (#66)
- Earl Motter Template:Color box (#61) – Passed rookie test
- Tom Pistone Template:Color box (#66) – Entry declined, lack of experience
- Eddie Russo (#55)
- Troy Ruttman Template:Color box (#98)
- Dutch Schaefer Template:Color box (#61) – Entry declined, lack of experience
- Carroll Shelby Template:Color box (#17) – Did not begin rookie test
- Marshall Teague (#18)
- Leroy Warriner Template:Color box (#95)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race summary
Opening lap crash – Death of Pat O'Connor
For the second year in a row, the starting grid was assembled single-file in the pit lane. The cars were instructed to pull away and assemble into the official eleven rows of three after they entered the racing surface. Confusion occurred on the pace lap, however, as the three drivers of the front row (Dick Rathmann, Ed Elisian, and Jimmy Reece) pulled away, and inadvertently escaped the pace car. The three cars were alone, and rather than wait for the grid to catch up, they rushed around to catch up to the back of the field. Sam Hanks pulled the pace car off the track and into the pits, but chief starter Bill Vanderwater displayed the yellow flag to wave off the start. An extra pace lap was allowed, and the front row re-took their position at the front of the pack. By the time Hanks was ready to pull the pace car back out on the track, the field had re-formed, and Vanderwater gave them the green flag.
At the start, Dick Rathmann took the lead in turn 1, Ed Elisian was second, and Jimmy Reece third. As the cars battled into turn three, Elisian spun and took Rathmann to the outside wall, triggering a huge 15-car pileup. Reece braked and was hit from behind by Pat O'Connor. O'Connor's car sailed fifty feet in the air, landed upside down and burst into flames. Several other cars spun to the wall and into the infield. Jerry Unser touched wheels with Paul Goldsmith, and flipped over the outside wall. Unser suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Although O'Connor was incinerated in the accident, medical officials said that he was probably killed instantly from a fractured skull.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
First half
Jimmy Bryan escaped the opening lap crash, and came around to lead the first lap. Eddie Sachs and Tony Bettenhausen also got by unscathed, to run second and third. Due to the crash, the yellow light stayed on for 25 minutes (approximately 18 laps). Four of the top five starting positions were out of the race from the crash, including polesitter Dick Rathmann, who placed 27th.
After a lengthy cleanup, the green flag came back out around lap 19. Bryan, Sachs, Bettenhausen, and rookie George Amick all traded time in the lead. There were 14 lead changes in the first half.
The second yellow came out on lap 38 when Chuck Weyant crashed in turn 4.
Eddie Sachs, a contender in the first quarter of the race, dropped out on lap 68 with transmission trouble.
Second half
The second half of the race settled down to a battle between Jimmy Bryan and Johnny Boyd, with rookie George Amick also in contention. Boyd lost the lead during a pit stop on lap 126. Bryan's team had faster pit stops (three stops for 1 minute and 31 seconds), which allowed him to hold the lead.
Rookie A. J. Foyt spun out on lap 149. He hit an oil slick in turn one and went sideways, blowing out all four tires. The car did not make contact with the wall, but the engine stalled and Foyt was out of the race. He placed 16th.
With 25 laps to go, Boyd was running about one second behind Bryan, with Amick (a lap down in third place) running between them. Boyd suddenly slowed on lap 177 with a worn out right rear tire, sending him to the pits, and elevating Amick to second. Bryan led the final 75 laps (139 total) en route to victory. Bryan was victorious in the same car in which Sam Hanks won the 500 a year earlier. Amick stayed within striking distance of Bryan for the last part of the race, but Amick's crew chief decided to accept a safe second-place rather than risk pushing their rookie driver into a mistake.
During the race as the news of Pat O'Connor's death spread around the track, the mood among the spectators became somber and glum. Reportedly, some in attendance left the grounds upon hearing the news of the fatality, some never to return.
Aftermath
Widely blamed for the accident, Ed Elisian was suspended by USAC for the accident (reinstated a few days later), and was shunned by many in the racing community.
Following the accident, race officials announced that they would change the starting procedure, abandoning the single-file trip down pit lane that was used in 1957 and 1958. Also, for the 1959 Indy 500, metal roll bars welded to the frame behind the driver's head were mandated, and helmets were required to pass safety certification by Speedway medical officials.
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 |
| 1–18 | Jimmy Bryan |
| 19–20 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 21 | Eddie Sachs |
| 22–25 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 26 | Jimmy Bryan |
| 27–30 | George Amick |
| 31 | Jimmy Bryan |
| 32–34 | George Amick |
| 35 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 36–46 | George Amick |
| 47–48 | Jimmy Bryan |
| 49 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 50–52 | Jimmy Bryan |
| 53–65 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 66–104 | Jimmy Bryan |
| 105–107 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 108–125 | Johnny Boyd |
| 126–200 | Jimmy Bryan |
| Total laps led | |
|---|---|
| Driver | Laps |
| Jimmy Bryan | 139 |
| Tony Bettenhausen | 24 |
| George Amick | 18 |
| Johnny Boyd | 18 |
| Eddie Sachs | 1 |
| Yellow Lights: 36 minutes, 38 seconds | |
|---|---|
| Laps* | Reason |
| Pace lap | Field not properly aligned |
| 1–18 | Multi-car crash in turn 3 (25:00) |
| 39-44 | Chuck Weyant spin in turn 3 (5:19) |
| 169 | A. J. Foyt spin in southchute (3:18) |
| 193-197 | Bob Christie spin (3:01) |
| * – Approximate lap counts<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref> | |
Race notes
- Fastest Lead Lap: Tony Bettenhausen – 1:02.370 (144.300 mph)
- Pat O'Connor had appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the week leading up to the race. His subsequent death is considered an early example of the perceived "Sports Illustrated cover jinx."
- Only Appearance: George Amick (killed in 1959 USAC 100-mile race at Daytona)
- First Appearance: A. J. Foyt (First 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner.)
Broadcasting
Radio
The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. The broadcast reached 302 affiliates across all 48 states, as well as Armed Forces Network and Voice of America. For the final time, a 15-minute pre-race was used.<ref name="Star05-30-1958pg9">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref> The following year, the pre-race would be expanded to 30 minutes. The broadcast featured the debut of longtime fixture Lou Palmer, who reported from the normally quiet and remote third turn. As a rookie on the network, he was assigned turn three because 'nothing ever happens there'. However, on the opening lap, Palmer was quickly thrust into duty, as his first words on the network were to describe the massive 15-car pileup and fatal accident of Pat O'Connor.
Among the guests that visited the booth was Pete DePaolo.
In 2019, this entire race's radio broadcast became available as a paid digital download from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit/garage reporters |
|
Turn 1: Bill Frosh |
Jack Shapiro (north) Luke Walton (center) Greg Smith (south) Bob Hoover (garages) | |
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 1958 Indianapolis 500 was round 4 of 11 on the 1958 World Championship. The event, however, attracted little interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit, particularly since it was held only four days after the Dutch Grand Prix. Juan Manuel Fangio entered with much fanfare, but withdrew when he was unable to get his car up to speed. Race winner Jimmy Bryan earned 8 points towards the World Championship. He finished 13th in the final season standings.
World Drivers' Championship standings after the race
| Pos | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 | Template:Flagicon Stirling Moss | 17 |
|
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2 | Template:Flagicon Luigi Musso | 12 |
|
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3 | Template:Flagicon Maurice Trintignant | 8 |
 31
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4 | Template:Flagicon Jimmy Bryan | 8 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Harry Schell | 8 |
| Source:<ref name="Championship standings">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
USAC National Championship Trail standings after the race
| Rank | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Bryan | 1000 |
| 2 | George Amick | 880 |
| 3 | Tony Bettenhausen | 760 |
| 4 | Johnny Boyd | 700 |
| 5 | Jim Rathmann | 500 |
| 5 | Jimmy Reece | 500 |
References
Template:Commons category Template:Reflist
External links
- Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site
- 1958 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
- Template:Cite news
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