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1958 Indianapolis 500

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.

42nd Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyUSAC
DateMay 30, 1958
WinnerJimmy Bryan
Winning teamGeorge Salih
Average speed133.791 mph (215.316 km/h)
Pole positionDick Rathmann
Pole speed145.974 mph (234.922 km/h)
Most laps ledJimmy Bryan (139)
Pre-race ceremonies
Pace carPontiac Bonneville
Pace car driverSam Hanks
StarterBill Vanderwater[1]
Estimated attendance175,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1957 1959

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

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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

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Row Inside Middle Outside
1 97   Dick Rathmann 5   Ed Elisian 16   Jimmy Reece
2 14   Bob Veith 4   Pat O'Connor 45   Johnnie Parsons  W 
3 1   Jimmy Bryan 9   Johnny Boyd 33   Tony Bettenhausen
4 25   Jack Turner 8   Rodger Ward 29   A. J. Foyt  R 
5 26   Don Freeland 15   Paul Russo 43   Billy Garrett
6 31   Paul Goldsmith  R  65   Bob Christie 88   Eddie Sachs
7 44   Jud Larson  R  2   Jim Rathmann 52   Al Keller
8 7   Johnny Thomson 83   Shorty Templeman 92   Jerry Unser  R 
9 99   George Amick  R  61   Eddie Johnson 68   Len Sutton  R 
10 57   Art Bisch  R  89   Chuck Weyant 19   Johnnie Tolan
11 77   Mike Magill 59   Dempsey Wilson  R  54   Bill Cheesbourg
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

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Failed to qualify

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Race summary

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Opening lap crash – Death of Pat O'Connor

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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.[5]

First half

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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

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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

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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

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Finish Grid No. Driver Constructor Qual Laps Time/Retired Points WDC Points
1 7 1   Jimmy Bryan Salih-Offenhauser 144.18 200 3:44:13.80 1000 8
2 25 99   George Amick  R  Epperly-Offenhauser 142.71 200 + 27.63 800 6
3 8 9   Johnny Boyd Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.02 200 + 1:09.67 700 4
4 9 33   Tony Bettenhausen Epperly-Offenhauser 143.91 200 + 1:34.81 600 41
5 20 2   Jim Rathmann Epperly-Offenhauser 143.14 200 + 1:35.62 500 2
6 3 16   Jimmy Reece Watson-Offenhauser 145.51 200 + 2:16.95 400  
7 13 26   Don Freeland Phillips-Offenhauser 143.03 200 + 2:21.06 300  
8 19 44   Jud Larson  R  Watson-Offenhauser 143.51 200 + 5:34.02 250  
9 26 61   Eddie Johnson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.67 200 + 6:15.76 200  
10 33 54   Bill Cheesbourg Kurtis Kraft-Novi 142.54 200 + 8:03.59 150  
11 21 52   Al Keller Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.93 200 + 9:14.20 100  
12 6 45   Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.68 200 + 9:40.85 50  
13 30 19   Johnnie Tolan Kuzma-Offenhauser 142.30 200 + 9:52.24    
14 17 65   Bob Christie Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.25 189 Spun off    
15 32 59   Dempsey Wilson  R  Kuzma-Offenhauser 143.27 151 Fire    
16 12 29   A. J. Foyt  R  Kuzma-Offenhauser 143.13 148 Spun off    
17 31 77   Mike Magill Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.27 136 Disqualified    
18 14 15   Paul Russo Kurtis Kraft-Novi 142.95 122 Radiator    
19 23 83   Shorty Templeman Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.81 116 Brakes    
20 11 8   Rodger Ward Lesovsky-Offenhauser 143.26 93 Magneto    
21 15 43   Billy Garrett Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.77 80 Magneto    
22 18 88   Eddie Sachs Kuzma-Offenhauser 144.66 68 Transmission    
23 22 7   Johnny Thomson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.90 52 Steering    
24 29 89   Chuck Weyant Dunn-Offenhauser 142.60 38 Accident    
25 10 25   Jack Turner Lesovsky-Offenhauser 143.43 21 Fuel pump    
26 4 14   Bob Veith Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.88 1 Accident    
27 1 97   Dick Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser 145.97 0 Accident    
28 2 5   Ed Elisian Watson-Offenhauser 145.92 0 Accident    
29 5 4   Pat O'Connor ✝ Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 144.82 0 Died in crash    
30 16 31   Paul Goldsmith  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.74 0 Accident    
31 24 92   Jerry Unser  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.75 0 Accident    
32 27 68   Len Sutton  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 142.65 0 Accident    
33 28 57   Art Bisch  R  Kuzma-Offenhauser 142.63 0 Accident    

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap


Race statistics

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Broadcasting

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Radio

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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.[8] The following year, the pre-race would be expanded to 30 minutes. The broadcast featured the debut of Lou Palmer, who reported from the normally quiet and remote third turn. 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.

And we've got an accident here! Car #5! Car #5, the Zink Special, is the first to wreck! Another over the wall! And we've got...one, two, three, four, five...six cars, piled up here, on the northeast turn! The 54 Novi into the infield...car #19 in the infield, 68 now down into the infield...and it's almost impossible to identify the others. Out of car #5, now, is Ed Elisian...and, er, car #91 against the wall...that is all that we can see at the moment. Further down the track, there are still others. ...One car has left this track, Sid, and did go over the retaining wall. That's all of the information we can give you at the moment...we will check each car for you, and report on all of them as soon as we can. Right now, better send it to you Sid, in the tower...

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 form the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website.[9][10]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Booth Announcers Turn Reporters Pit/garage reporters

Chief Announcer: Sid Collins
Statistician: Charlie Brockman

Turn 1: Bill Frosh
Turn 2: Bob Rhodes
Backstretch: Bernie Herman
Turn 3: Lou Palmer
Turn 4: Jim Shelton

 Jack Shapiro (north)
Luke Walton (center)
Greg Smith (south)
Bob Hoover (garages)

Race notes

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World Drivers' Championship

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1958 Indianapolis 500
Race 4 of 11 in the 1958 Formula One season
← Previous raceNext race →
 
Race details
Date May 30, 1958 (1958-05-30)
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.[11][12]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[13] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.[14] 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 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

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Pos Driver Points
  1   Stirling Moss 17
  2   Luigi Musso 12
  3   Maurice Trintignant 8
  31 4   Jimmy Bryan 8
  1 5   Harry Schell 8
Source: [15]
  • Notes: Only the top five positions are included.

USAC National Championship Trail standings after the race

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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
  • Notes: Only the top five positions are included.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1958 Indianapolis 500.
  1. ^ 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. ^ Cadou Jr., Jep (May 31, 1958). "National Champ Noses Out Amick; Boyd Finishes 3d". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  4. ^ "1958 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fatalities – 1958 INDY 500 – Pat O'Connor – driver". Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  6. ^ Fuson, Wayne (May 30, 1958). "Lap-By-Lap Story of Race (Part 2)". Indianapolis News. p. 2. Retrieved April 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ Fuson, Wayne (May 30, 1958). "Lap-By-Lap Story of Race (Part 3)". Indianapolis News. p. 2. Retrieved April 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "Speedway Network Taps 302 Stations Across Nation". The Indianapolis Star. May 30, 1958. p. 9. Retrieved April 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "IMS Museum to Offer Series of 'Lost' Indy 500 Radio Broadcasts for Sale; 1958 Race Available Now in Crisp Digital Quality". December 10, 2018. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 23, 2007. 1070 WIBC-AM.
  12. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 19, 2016. WFNI.
  13. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 5, 2012. WFNI.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Indianapolis 1958 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
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Previous race:
1958 Dutch Grand Prix 		FIA Formula One World Championship
1958 season 		Next race:
1958 Belgian Grand Prix
Previous race:
1957 Indianapolis 500
Sam Hanks 		1958 Indianapolis 500
Jimmy Bryan 		Next race:
1959 Indianapolis 500
Rodger Ward
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