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1952 Indianapolis 500

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.

36th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1952
WinnerTroy Ruttman
Winning EntrantJ. C. Agajanian
Average speed128.922 mph (207.480 km/h)
Pole positionFred Agabashian
Pole speed138.010 mph (222.106 km/h)
Most laps ledBill Vukovich (150)
Pre-race
Pace carStudebaker Commander
Pace car driverP.O. Peterson
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeRaymond Firestone[1]
Estimated attendance200,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1951 1953

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.[3] 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

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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

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Row Inside Middle Outside
1 28   Fred Agabashian 9   Andy Linden 4   Jack McGrath
2 36   Duke Nalon 18   Sam Hanks 1   Duane Carter
3 98   Troy Ruttman 26   Bill Vukovich 22   Cliff Griffith
4 59   Jim Rathmann 16   Chuck Stevenson 2   Henry Banks
5 65   George Fonder 54   George Connor 7   Bill Schindler
6 14   Joe James 55   Bobby Ball 67   Gene Hartley
7 12   Alberto Ascari  R  33   Art Cross  R  77   Jimmy Bryan  R 
8 34   Rodger Ward 37   Jimmy Reece  R  81   Eddie Johnson  R 
9 93   Bob Scott  R  29   Jim Rigsby  R  21   Chet Miller
10 8   Manny Ayulo 48   Spider Webb 27   Tony Bettenhausen
11 5   Johnnie Parsons  W  73   Bob Sweikert  R  31   Johnny McDowell
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Failed to qualify

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Box score

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Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Time/Retired Points WDC Points
1 7 98   Troy Ruttman Kuzma-Offenhauser 135.36 18 200 3:52:41.88 1000 8
2 10 59   Jim Rathmann Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.34 7 200 +4:02.33 800 6
3 5 18   Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.73 14 200 +6:11.61 700 4
4 6 1   Duane Carter Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.52 16 200 +6:48.34 600 3
5 20 33   Art Cross  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.28 26 200 +8:40.15 500 2
6 21 77   Jimmy Bryan  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.14 27 200 +9:24.32 400
7 23 37   Jimmy Reece  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.99 29 200 +10:35.24 300
8 14 54   George Connor Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.60 15 200 +12:00.61 250
9 9 22   Cliff Griffith Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.61 6 200 +12:23.76 200
10 31 5   Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.32 19 200 +13:37.78 150
11 3 4   Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.66 5 200 +14:21.72 100
12 26 29   Jim Rigsby  R  Watson-Offenhauser 133.90 33 200 +16:05.10 50
13 16 14   Joe James Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.95 22 200 +16:55.65
14 15 7   Bill Schindler Stevens-Offenhauser 134.98 20 200 +18:48.66
15 13 65   George Fonder Sherman-Offenhauser 135.94 13 197 +3 Laps
16 24 81   Eddie Johnson  R  Trevis-Offenhauser 133.97 30 193 +7 Laps
17 8 26   Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.21 2 191 Steering 11
18 11 16   Chuck Stevenson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.14 9 187 +13 Laps
19 12 2   Henry Banks Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.96 11 184 +16 Laps
20 28 8   Manny Ayulo Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.98 10 184 +16 Laps
21 33 31   Johnny McDowell Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.93 32 182 +18 Laps
22 29 48   Spider Webb Bromme-Offenhauser 135.96 12 162 Oil leak
23 22 34   Rodger Ward Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.13 28 130 Oil Pressure
24 30 27   Tony Bettenhausen Diedt-Offenhauser 135.38 17 93 Oil Pressure
25 4 36   Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 136.18 8 84 Supercharger
26 32 73   Bob Sweikert  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.98 21 77 Differential
27 1 28   Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Cummins diesel 138.01 3 71 Turbocharger
28 18 67   Gene Hartley Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.34 24 65 Exhaust
29 25 93   Bob Scott  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.95 31 49 Transmission
30 27 21   Chet Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi 139.03 1 41 Supercharger
31 19 12   Alberto Ascari  R  Ferrari 134.30 25 40 Wheel
32 17 55   Bobby Ball Stevens-Offenhauser 134.72 23 34 Gearbox
33 2 9   Andy Linden Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.00 4 20 Oil Pump
Source:[5]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

^1 – 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics

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Notes

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  • 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.[8]
  • 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.[9]
  • 1952 was the first Indy 500 in which not a single relief driver was utilized during the race.[10]

Broadcasting

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Radio

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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.[11]

World Drivers' Championship

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1952 Indianapolis 500
Race 2 of 8 in the 1952 Formula One season
← Previous raceNext race →
 
Race details
Date May 30, 1952 (1952-05-30)
Location Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Speedway, Indiana
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4.023 km (2.500 miles)
Distance 200 laps, 804.672 km (500.000 miles)

Background

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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.[12][13]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[14] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.[15] 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

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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

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Pos Driver Points
  1   Piero Taruffi 9
  20 2   Troy Ruttman 8
  1 3   Rudi Fischer 6
  18 4   Jim Rathmann 6
  2 5   Jean Behra 4
Source: [16]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.

References

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  1. ^ a b Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
  2. ^ Stranahan, Bob (May 31, 1952). "Sets Race Record Of 128 MPH After Vukovich Bid Failes". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ "More Indy Hearbreaks". Autoweek. 62 (11): 82. May 28, 2012. ISSN 0192-9674.
  4. ^ "1952 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  5. ^ "1952 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  6. ^ O'Brien, J.E. (May 31, 1952). "Fate Taps Ruttman in Last 10 Minutes". Indianapolis News. p. 13. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ Barnet, Bob (May 31, 1952). "Vukovich Hits Wall, Ruttman Hits Jackpot". The Star Press. p. 11. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Greuter, Henri. "1952: Ferrari at Indianapolis". www.forixautosport.com. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  10. ^ "WIBC All Night Race Party - 2007
  11. ^ Cochran, Polly (May 30, 1952). "Everyone In Reach of Radio Will Have 'Ticket' To Race". The Indianapolis Star. p. 42. Retrieved March 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 23, 2007. 1070 WIBC-AM.
  13. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 19, 2016. WFNI.
  14. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 5, 2012. WFNI.
  15. ^ Capps, Don; Cameron Argetsinger (October 25, 2000). "Where Upon Our Scribe, Sherman, & Mr. Peabody Once Again Crank Up The Way-Back Machine for 1961." AtlasF1. Rear View Mirror. 6 (43). Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  16. ^ "Indianapolis 1952 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
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Previous race:
1952 Swiss Grand Prix 		FIA Formula One World Championship
1952 season 		Next race:
1952 Belgian Grand Prix
Previous race:
1951 Indianapolis 500
Lee Wallard 		1952 Indianapolis 500
Troy Ruttman 		Next race:
1953 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich
Preceded by
126.244 mph
(1951 Indianapolis 500)
 Record for the Indianapolis 500 fastest average speed
128.922 mph 		Succeeded by
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