1950 Indianapolis 500
1950 Indianapolis 500 | |||||
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Winning car of the 1950 Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Race details | |||||
Date | 30 May 1950 | ||||
Official name | 34th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes | ||||
Location | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | ||||
Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
Course length | 4.023 km (2.5 mi) | ||||
Distance | 138 laps, 555.224 km (345 mi) | ||||
Weather | Rainy | ||||
Attendance | 175,000[1] | ||||
Pole position | |||||
Driver | Wynn's Friction / Kurtis Kraft | ||||
Time | 4:27.97 (4 laps) | ||||
Podium | |||||
First |
| Wynn's Friction / Kurtis Kraft | |||
Second |
| Lou Moore | |||
Third |
| Howard Keck |
The 34th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. The event was part of the 1950 AAA National Championship Trail. It was also race 3 of 7 in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers and paid points towards the World Championship. The event, however, did not attract any European Formula One drivers for 1950. Giuseppe Farina originally planned to enter, but his car never arrived. The Indianapolis 500 would be included on the World Championship calendar through 1960.
The race was originally scheduled for 200 laps (500 miles), but was stopped after 138 laps (345 miles) due to rain.
A rumor circulated in racing circles during and after this race that Johnnie Parsons's team discovered an irreparable crack in the engine block on race morning. The discovery supposedly precipitated Parsons to charge for the lap leader prizes.[2] Presumably, he set his sights on leading as many laps as possible before the engine inevitably was to fail. Furthermore, the race ending early due to rain supposedly saved Parsons's day allowing him to secure the victory before the engine let go. However, the engine block crack was proved to be an urban myth,[3] and it was said to be a very minor but acceptable level of porosity, which did not significantly affect the performance.
Parsons's win saw him score 9 points and move to a temporary first-place tie (after 3 races on the Formula One season calendar) in the first ever World Drivers' Championship, alongside Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, and also saw him become the first American to win a World Championship race. Parsons is one of only three drivers to have won his first World Championship race, the other two being Farina, who won the first World Championship race (the 1950 British Grand Prix, 17 days earlier) and Giancarlo Baghetti, who won the 1961 French Grand Prix. Despite the 500 being his only race in the 1950 World Championship, it would be enough to see him finish the championship 6th in points.
During the month, Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck were at the track to film scenes for the film To Please a Lady. Stanwyck was on hand in victory lane after the race for the traditional celebratory kiss to the winner.
Time trials[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/1950Indy500CumminsDiesel.jpg/220px-1950Indy500CumminsDiesel.jpg)
Time trials was scheduled for six days.
- Saturday May 13: Walt Faulkner won the pole position with a record run of 134.343 mph.
- Sunday May 14
- Saturday May 20: The third day of time trials saw six cars complete runs. Bayliss Levrett (131.181 mph) was the fastest of the afternoon. Charles Van Acker was ruled physically disqualified, after a crash he suffered at the Speedway from 1949.[4]
- Sunday May 21
- Saturday May 27: The day began with 11 spots open in the grid.[5]
- Sunday May 28: Only one driver managed to bump his way into the field. Johnny McDowell bumped Cliff Griffith, while 15 other cars failed to make the field. The two Novi entries failed to qualify – Chet Miller had engine trouble in one of the cars, while the other snapped a supercharger shaft. Rain and two crashes cut the track time to less than three hours. Cy Marshall was among the few left in line when time trials closed at 6 p.m.[6]
Box score[]
Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Constructor | Qual | Rank | Laps | Led | Time/Retired | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 132.040 | 8 | 138 | 115 | 2:46:55.97 | 91 |
2 | 10 | 3 | ![]() |
Deidt-Offenhauser | 130.480 | 21 | 137 | 8 | + 1 Lap | 6 |
3 | 3 | 31 | ![]() |
Deidt-Offenhauser | 132.310 | 6 | 137 | 15 | + 1 Lap | 4 |
4 | 12 | 54 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 132.910 | 2 | 137 | 0 | + 1 Lap | 3 |
5 | 9 | 17 | ![]() (Relieved by Tony Bettenhausen) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 130.750 | 19 | 136 | 0 | + 2 Laps | 1 1 |
6 | 23 | 8 | ![]() |
Moore-Offenhauser | 132.430 | 5 | 136 | 0 | + 2 Laps | |
7 | 1 | 98 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 134.340 | 1 | 135 | 0 | + 3 Laps | |
8 | 4 | 5 | ![]() |
Lesovsky-Offenhauser | 132.160 | 7 | 135 | 0 | + 3 Laps | |
9 | 19 | 7 | ![]() |
Nichels-Offenhauser | 130.790 | 18 | 135 | 0 | + 3 Laps | |
10 | 11 | 59 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 129.600 | 30 | 135 | 0 | + 3 Laps | |
11 | 16 | 2 | ![]() |
Marchese-Offenhauser | 131.710 | 11 | 133 | 0 | + 5 Laps | |
12 | 13 | 18 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser | 131.660 | 12 | 133 | 0 | + 5 Laps | |
13 | 26 | 15 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 130.680 | 20 | 132 | 0 | + 6 Laps | |
14 | 6 | 49 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 131.860 | 10 | 131 | 0 | Spun Off | |
15 | 24 | 55 | ![]() |
Lesovsky-Offenhauser | 131.910 | 9 | 130 | 0 | + 8 Laps | |
16 | 31 | 75 | ![]() |
Langley-Offenhauser | 129.210 | 32 | 128 | 0 | + 10 Laps | |
17 | 27 | 22 | ![]() |
Ewing-Offenhauser | 130.400 | 23 | 128 | 0 | + 10 Laps | |
18 | 33 | 62 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 129.690 | 27 | 128 | 0 | + 10 Laps | |
19 | 20 | 4 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 130.450 | 22 | 127 | 0 | + 11 Laps | |
20 | 14 | 21 | ![]() |
Maserati-Offenhauser | 129.740 | 26 | 126 | 0 | + 12 Laps | |
21 | 15 | 81 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 129.520 | 31 | 125 | 0 | + 13 Laps | |
22 | 29 | 27 | ![]() |
Rae-Offenhauser | 129.940 | 25 | 123 | 0 | + 15 Laps | |
23 | 30 | 77 | ![]() |
Olson-Offenhauser | 129.690 | 28 | 123 | 0 | Spun Off | |
24 | 28 | 76 | ![]() |
Wetteroth-Offenhauser | 129.950 | 24 | 122 | 0 | + 16 Laps | |
25 | 21 | 12 | ![]() (Relieved by Fred Agabashian) |
Maserati-Offenhauser | 129.640 | 29 | 112 | 0 | Oil Line | |
26 | 22 | 67 | ![]() |
Snowberger-Offenhauser | 132.690 | 4 | 111 | 0 | Transmission | |
27 | 17 | 24 | ![]() (Relieved by Bill Cantrell) |
Adams-Offenhauser | 131.180 | 14 | 108 | 0 | Oil Pressure | |
28 | 2 | 28 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 132.790 | 3 | 64 | 0 | Oil Leak | |
29 | 32 | 61 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Cummins | 129.200 | 33 | 52 | 0 | Compressor | |
30 | 25 | 23 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 131.590 | 13 | 42 | 0 | Oil Pressure | |
31 | 8 | 14 | ![]() |
Deidt-Offenhauser | 130.940 | 16 | 30 | 0 | Wheel Bearing | |
32 | 18 | 45 | ![]() |
Watson-Offenhauser | 130.920 | 17 | 25 | 0 | Stalled | |
33 | 7 | 69 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 131.060 | 15 | 10 | 0 | Oil Leak | |
Source:[7]
|
- Notes
- ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap
W = past winner
R = rookie
Notes[]
- Pole position: Walt Faulkner – 4:27.97
- Fastest Lead Lap: Johnnie Parsons – 1:09.77
- Shared drivers:
- Joie Chitwood (82 laps) and Tony Bettenhausen (54 laps), after Bettenhausen retired. Points for 5th position were shared between the drivers.
- Henry Banks (71 laps) and Fred Agabashian (41 laps)
- Bayliss Levrett (105 laps) and Bill Cantrell (3 laps)
- First win for Firestone in the World Championship.
Qualifying[]
Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Lap | Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 98 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:27.97 | – |
2 | 28 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:31.10 | + 3.13 |
3 | 31 | ![]() |
Deidt-Offenhauser | 4:32.07 | + 4.10 |
4 | 5 | ![]() |
Lesovsky-Offenhauser | 4:32.39 | + 4.42 |
5 | 1 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:32.43 | + 4.46 |
6 | 49 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:33.00 | + 5.03 |
7 | 69 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:34.67 | + 6.70 |
8 | 14 | ![]() |
Deidt-Offenhauser | 4:34.92 | + 6.95 |
9 | 17 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:35.32 | + 7.35 |
10 | 3 | ![]() |
Deidt-Offenhauser | 4:35.90 | + 7.93 |
11 | 59 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:37.76 | + 9.79 |
12 | 54 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:30.86 | + 2.89 |
13 | 18 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser | 4:33.42 | + 5.45 |
14 | 21 | ![]() |
Maserati-Offenhauser | 4:37.46 | + 9.49 |
15 | 81 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:37.95 | + 9.98 |
16 | 2 | ![]() |
Marchese-Offenhauser | 4:33.32 | + 5.35 |
17 | 24 | ![]() |
Adams-Offenhauser | 4:34.43 | + 6.46 |
18 | 45 | ![]() |
Watson-Offenhauser | 4:34.96 | + 6.99 |
19 | 7 | ![]() |
Nichels-Offenhauser | 4:35.25 | + 7.28 |
20 | 4 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:35.96 | + 7.99 |
21 | 12 | ![]() |
Maserati-Offenhauser | 4:37.68 | + 9.71 |
22 | 67 | ![]() |
Snowberger-Offenhauser | 4:31.31 | + 3.34 |
23 | 8 | ![]() |
Moore-Offenhauser | 4:31.83 | + 3.86 |
24 | 55 | ![]() |
Lesovsky-Offenhauser | 4:32.91 | + 4.94 |
25 | 23 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:33.57 | + 5.60 |
26 | 15 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:35.32 | + 7.35 |
27 | 22 | ![]() |
Ewing-Offenhauser | 4:36.07 | + 8.10 |
28 | 76 | ![]() |
Wetteroth-Offenhauser | 4:37.01 | + 9.04 |
29 | 27 | ![]() |
Rae-Offenhauser | 4:37.05 | + 9.08 |
30 | 77 | ![]() |
Olson-Offenhauser | 4:37.57 | + 9.60 |
31 | 75 | ![]() |
Langley-Offenhauser | 4:38.61 | + 10.64 |
32 | 61 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Cummins | 4:38.62 | + 10.65 |
33 | 62 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 4:37.58 | + 9.61 |
First alternate[]
No | Driver | Constructor |
---|---|---|
66 | ![]() |
Miller-Offenhauser |
Non-qualifiers[]
No | Driver | Constructor |
---|---|---|
9 | ![]() |
Bromme-Offenhauser |
9 | ![]() |
Bromme-Offenhauser |
10 | ![]() |
Maserati-Maserati |
10 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
16 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
19 | ![]() |
Bardazon-Offenhauser |
19 | ![]() |
Bardazon-Offenhauser |
25 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo-Alfa Romeo |
26 | ![]() |
Deidt-Sparks |
29 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser |
33 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Sparks |
34 | ![]() |
Kupiec-Offenhauser |
36 | ![]() |
Snowberger-Offenhauser |
38 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Novi |
39 | ![]() |
Maserati-Maserati |
41 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser |
43 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Novi |
44 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
47 | ![]() |
Gdula-Offenhauser |
51 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser |
52 | ![]() |
Meyer-Offenhauser |
52 | ![]() |
Meyer-Offenhauser |
58 | ![]() |
Scopa-Offenhauser |
63 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
63 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
64 | ![]() |
Wetteroth-Offenhauser |
65 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Duray |
65 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Duray |
74 | ![]() |
Miller-Offenhauser |
78 | ![]() |
Miller-Miller |
79 | ![]() |
Cantarano-Wayne |
82 | ![]() |
Weidel-Mercury |
83 | ![]() |
Miller-Miller |
84 | ![]() |
Miller-Offenhauser |
85 | ![]() |
Maserati-Offenhauser |
85 | ![]() |
Maserati-Offenhauser |
87 | ![]() |
Rounds Rocket-Offenhauser |
99 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
99 | ![]() |
Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser |
Championship standings after the race[]
- World Drivers' Championship standings
Pos | Driver | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1 | ![]() |
9 |
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
9 |
![]() |
3 | ![]() |
9 |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
6 |
![]() |
5 | ![]() |
6 |
Source: [9] |
- Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.
Broadcasting[]
Radio[]
The race was carried live on the Mutual Broadcasting System, the precursor to the IMS Radio Network. The broadcast was sponsored by Perfect Circle Piston Rings and Bill Slater served as the anchor. Sid Collins moved into the booth for the first time to serve as analyst, and conducted the victory lane interview at the conclusion of the race. The broadcast feature live coverage of the start, the finish, and live updates throughout the race.
Prior to the race, it was reported that Slater might miss the race, due to illness. WIBC personality Sid Collins was named as a replacement, however, Slater was able to arrive in time for race day. Collins, who had previously served as a turn reporter, was invited to be the co-anchor in the booth.[10] For the first time, Collins interviewed the winner in victory lane at the conclusion of the race. Collins claims he burned his trousers on Parsons's hot exhaust pipe during the interview, which took place in the rain.
Because the race was shortened, Mutual had to interrupt Queen for a Day to cover the finish of the abbreviated event. This was cited by some as a reason why the Speedway would begin flag-to-flag coverage in 1953.
Mutual Broadcasting System | ||
---|---|---|
Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit reporters |
Booth Announcer: Bill Slater |
South turns: E. Z. Gwynn |
Gordon Graham Sid Collins (victory lane) |
Television[]
The race was carried live for the second year in a row on local television on WFBM-TV channel 6 of Indianapolis. Earl Townsend, Jr. was the announcer, along with Dick Pittenger and Paul Roberts. After the race, Speedway management disallowed WFBM from broadcasting the race live again, feeling that gate attendance had been negatively affected.
WFBM-TV | |
---|---|
Play-by-play | Pit reporters |
Announcer: Earl Townsend, Jr |
Paul Roberts |
References[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1950 Indianapolis 500. |
- ^ "Parsons Sets Record As Rain Halts 500-Mile Speedway Race". The Cincinnati Enquirer. May 31, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Great Moments From the Indy 500" (VanCamp's Pork and Beans Presents/Freetwood Sounds), 1975
- ^ "The Talk of Gasoline Alley" – WFNI, May 20, 2012
- ^ Vet Van Acker Is Ruled Out (May 22, 1950)
- ^ Speedway Qualifications End Tomorrow; 11 Vacancies
- ^ One Change In Lineup For Big Race (May 29, 1950)
- ^ "1950 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
- ^ "Indianapolis 1950 - Championship". statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ Davidson, Donald (2012-05-24). "IMS Radio Network celebrates 60th anniversary". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
External links[]
- Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site
- 1950 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, Mutual
- Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
- 1950 Indianapolis 500 at RacingReference.info (Relief driver statistics)
- Indianapolis 500 races
- 1950 in motorsport
- 1950 in sports in Indiana
- 1950 Formula One races
- 1950 in American motorsport