Indianapolis 500 1956

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Flag of the United States.svg Indianapolis 500 1956
Racing data
3rd of 8 races of the 1956 World Automobile Championship
Route profile
Surname: 40th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes
Date: May 30, 1956
Place: Indianapolis , USA
Course: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Length: 805 km in 200 laps of 4.025 km

Weather: sunny, dry
Pole position
Driver: United States 48United States Pat Flaherty United States 48United States Watson-Offenhauser
Time: 1: 01.82 min
Fastest lap
Driver: United States 48United States Paul Russo United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Novi
Time: 1: 03.67 min
Podium
First: United States 48United States Pat Flaherty United States 48United States Watson-Offenhauser
Second: United States 48United States Sam Hanks United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser
Third: United States 48United States Don Freeland United States 48United States Phillips-Offenhauser

The Indianapolis 500 1956 took place on May 30, 1956 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway near Indianapolis and was the third race of the 1956 World Automobile Championship and the first race of the 1956 USAC season .

Reports

background

As in previous years, the Indianapolis 500 race was part of the Formula 1 World Championship. However, the race was completely ignored by the European teams and viewed as a deletion. The Formula 1 organizers also valued the race very little; the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix was planned just four days after the Indianapolis 500, so it was logistically impossible for the Formula 1 teams and drivers to take part in the Indianapolis 500 without while having to miss the next race in Europe.

After the withdrawal of the American Automobile Association , the United States Auto Club took over the organization of the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. Much of the route was paved, only a section of cobblestones remained on the start straight. In the run-up to the race, it rained very heavily for a few days, flooding parts of the track and the access tunnel. The race was about to be canceled when a short-term initiative by the racetrack operator Clarence Cagle initiated pumping out the masses of water. On the morning of the race, the condition of the track was so dry that a race without any safety concerns was possible.

Most teams relied on the Kurtis Kraft racing car , which won the Indianapolis 500 in previous years. Kuzma were also well represented in numbers, Watson , Phillips , Lesosvky and Stevens were each represented once.

training

The starting grid was determined by means of four time trial competitions. The first time trial took place on May 19th and determined, among other things, the pole position . The second time trial was held to determine the positions from starting position 18. A week later, two more time trials took place in which four drivers were allowed to qualify for the race. However, due to heavy rain, the time trial on Saturday was canceled.

With a time of 1: 01.82, Pat Flaherty took pole position in a Watson and set a new course record. This was Flaherty's only Formula 1 pole position.

Jim Rathmann , Pat O'Connor and Dick Rathmann qualified behind Flaherty , each in a Kurtis Kraft Wagen. Last year's winner Bob Sweikert reached tenth place on the grid.

run

The first laps of the Indianapolis 500 were marked by a three-way battle between pole-setter Flaherty, Paul Russo and Pat O'Connor. Paul Russo fought his way from eighth on the grid to the top, but was the first driver to retire after 21 laps. He lost control of his car due to a blown tire and hit the lane. He escaped unharmed from the then burning car. One lap later, Johnny Thomson and Troy Ruttman were eliminated by spin, on lap 49 Ray Crawford had an accident . After a quarter of the race distance and several caution phases due to the accidents, the drivers used the opportunity for pit stops. The leaders came to the pits, too, giving Johnnie Parsons the lead from Don Freeland .

The third accident of the race occurred on lap 74, in which Al Herman was eliminated. A few laps later, Flaherty took first place again. Halfway through the race, Freeland, Sweikert and Parsons were behind him. Two more accidents occurred on laps 134 and 160, in which Jimmy Daywalt and Tony Bettenhausen were eliminated.

Sam Hanks , who damaged his car in the crash of Russo, overtook Parsons, Sweikert and Freeland one after the other and fought his way to second place. Flaherty meanwhile built up his lead and made a second pit stop. Despite this safety pit stop, he kept the lead and won the race. For both Flaherty and his Watson car it was the only Formula 1 victory and the only Indianapolis 500 success. This broke the longstanding dominance of kurtis power cars, which won every Indianapolis 500 in the early 1950s.

Hanks crossed the finish line 20 seconds behind Flaherty, while Freeland completed the podium with a Philipps car. Parsons for fourth place and Dick Rathmann for fifth place received additional points for the Formula 1 drivers' championship . Paul Russo scored one point for the fastest race lap.

Flaherty rose to fourth in the Formula 1 drivers' championship, but did not take part in any other races in the 1956 World Cup. In the USAC season 1956 Flaherty finished second at the end of the season. He was the final winner of an Indianapolis 500 wearing only a t-shirt. In the years that followed, fireproof clothing became more and more popular among drivers.

Registration list

The entry list only shows the vehicles that have passed the qualification.

team No. driver chassis engine tires
United States 48United States Racing Associates 01 United States 48United States Bob Sweikert Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Dean Van Lines 02 United States 48United States Jimmy Bryan Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Cars Inc 04th United States 48United States Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States HA Chapman 05 United States 48United States Andy Linden Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Ansted Rotary Corp. 07th United States 48United States Pat O'Connor Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States John Zink 08th United States 48United States Pat Flaherty Watson Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
53 United States 48United States Troy Ruttman Kurtis Kraft 500C
United States 48United States Fred Somers 10 United States 48United States Ed Elisian Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Eddie Russo
United States 48United States Pat Clancy 12 United States 48United States Al Herman Kurtis Kraft 500B Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Federal Auto Associates 14th United States 48United States Bob Veith Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
42 United States 48United States Fred Agabashian
United States 48United States George Bignotti 15th United States 48United States Johnny Boyd Kurtis Kraft 500E Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Bob Estes 16 United States 48United States Don Freeland Phillips Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Ed Walsh 19th United States 48United States Rodger Ward Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Lindsey Hopkins 24 United States 48United States Jim Rathmann Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Joseph Massaglia Jr 26th United States 48United States Jimmy Reece Lesovsky Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Jim Robbins 27 United States 48United States Cliff Griffith Stevens Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Novi Racing Corp. 29 United States 48United States Paul Russo Kurti's power Novi 3.0 L8C F.
United States 48United States Carl L Anderson 34 United States 48United States Johnnie Tolan Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States ER Casale 41 United States 48United States Billy Garrett Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Chapman S. Root 48 United States 48United States Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Ray Crawford 49 United States 48United States Ray Crawford Kurtis Kraft 500B Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Ernest L. Ruiz 54 United States 48United States Jack Turner Kurtis Kraft 500B Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Samuel W Traylor III 55 United States 48United States Al basement Kurtis Kraft KK 4000 Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States HH Johnson 57 United States 48United States Bob Christie Kurtis Kraft 500D Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Shannon bros 64 United States 48United States Duke Dinsmore Kurtis Force 500A Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Kalamazoo Sports Inc. 73 United States 48United States Dick Rathmann Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Pete Salemi 81 United States 48United States Eddie Johnson Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
82 United States 48United States Gene Hartley
United States 48United States Peter Schmidt 88 United States 48United States Johnny Thomson Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Harry Dunn 89 United States 48United States Al basement Kurtis Kraft 500B Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States JC Agajanian 98 United States 48United States Johnnie Parsons Kuzma Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.
United States 48United States Murell Belanger 99 United States 48United States Tony Bettenhausen Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser 4.5 L4 F.

Remarks

  1. Ed Elisian drove the car 123 laps, Eddie Russo 37 laps.

Classifications

Starting grid

Item driver constructor time Ø speed begin
01 United States 48United States Pat Flaherty United States 48United States Watson-Offenhauser 1: 01.82 234.39 km / h 01
02 United States 48United States Jim Rathmann United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.02 233.63 km / h 02
03 United States 48United States Pat O'Connor United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.08 233.41 km / h 03
04th United States 48United States Dick Rathmann United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.30 232.58 km / h 04th
05 United States 48United States Tony Bettenhausen United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.24 232.81 km / h 05
06th United States 48United States Johnnie Parsons United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1:02:44 232.06 km / h 06th
07th United States 48United States Fred Agabashian United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.47 231.95 km / h 07th
08th United States 48United States Paul Russo United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Novi 1: 02.70 231.10 km / h 08th
09 United States 48United States Andy Linden United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.91 230.33 km / h 09
10 United States 48United States Bob Sweikert United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1: 02.92 230.29 km / h 10
11 United States 48United States Troy Ruttman United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.17 229.38 km / h 11
12 United States 48United States Johnny Boyd United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.23 229.16 km / h 12
13 United States 48United States Sam Hanks United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.36 228.69 km / h 13
14th United States 48United States Ed Elisian United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.65 227.65 km / h 14th
15th United States 48United States Rodger Ward United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.75 227.29 km / h 15th
16 United States 48United States Jimmy Daywalt United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.84 226.97 km / h 16
17th United States 48United States Ray Crawford United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.88 226.83 km / h 17th
18th United States 48United States Johnny Thomson United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1: 01.84 234.31 km / h 18th
19th United States 48United States Jimmy Bryan United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1: 02.61 231.43 km / h 19th
20th United States 48United States Keith Andrews United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 02.95 230.18 km / h 20th
21st United States 48United States Jimmy Reece United States 48United States Lesovsky-Offenhauser 1: 02.99 230.04 km / h 21st
22nd United States 48United States Gene Hartley United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1: 03.01 229.96 km / h 22nd
23 United States 48United States Bob Veith United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.14 229.49 km / h 23
24 United States 48United States Jack Turner United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.21 229.24 km / h 24
25th United States 48United States Bob Christie United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.28 228.98 km / h 25th
26th United States 48United States Don Freeland United States 48United States Phillips-Offenhauser 1: 05.70 228.12 km / h 26th
27 United States 48United States Al Herman United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.56 227.97 km / h 27
28 United States 48United States Al basement United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 03.74 227.33 km / h 28
29 United States 48United States Billy Garrett United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1: 04.03 226.30 km / h 29
30th United States 48United States Cliff Griffith United States 48United States Stevens-Offenhauser 1: 03.62 227.76 km / h 30th
31 United States 48United States Johnnie Tolan United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 04.26 225.49 km / h 31
32 United States 48United States Eddie Johnson United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 1: 04.71 223.92 km / h 32
33 United States 48United States Duke Dinsmore United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 1: 04.97 223.03 km / h 33

run

Item driver constructor Round Stops time begin Fastest lap Failure reason
01 United States 48United States Pat Flaherty United States 48United States Watson-Offenhauser 200 3: 53: 28.84 01
02 United States 48United States Sam Hanks United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 200 + 20.5 13
03 United States 48United States Don Freeland United States 48United States Phillips-Offenhauser 200 +1: 30.2 26th
04th United States 48United States Johnnie Parsons United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 200 + 3: 25.7 06th
05 United States 48United States Dick Rathmann United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 200 + 4: 21.8 04th
06th United States 48United States Bob Sweikert United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 200 + 5: 35.1 10
07th United States 48United States Bob Veith United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 200 + 6: 25.6 23
08th United States 48United States Rodger Ward United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 200 + 6: 32.3 15th
09 United States 48United States Jimmy Reece United States 48United States Lesovsky-Offenhauser 200 + 6: 38.3 21st
10 United States 48United States Cliff Griffith United States 48United States Stevens-Offenhauser 199 + 1 lap 30th
11 United States 48United States Gene Hartley United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 196 + 4 rounds 22nd
12 United States 48United States Fred Agabashian United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 196 + 4 rounds 07th
13 United States 48United States Bob Christie United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 196 + 4 rounds 25th
14th United States 48United States Al basement United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 195 + 5 rounds 28
15th United States 48United States Eddie Johnson United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 195 + 5 rounds 32
16 United States 48United States Billy Garrett United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 194 + 6 rounds 29
17th United States 48United States Duke Dinsmore United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 191 + 9 rounds 33
18th United States 48United States Pat O'Connor United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 187 DNF 03
19th United States 48United States Jimmy Bryan United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 185 + 15 rounds 19th
20th United States 48United States Jim Rathmann United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 175 DNF 02 Piston ring / engine damage
21st United States 48United States Johnnie Tolan United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 173 + 27 laps 31
22nd United States 48United States Tony Bettenhausen United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 160 DNF 05 accident
23 United States 48United States Eddie Russo Ed Elisian
United States 48United States 
United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 160 DNF 14th stalled
24 United States 48United States Jimmy Daywalt United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134 DNF 16 accident
25th United States 48United States Jack Turner United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131 DNF 24 Engine problems
26th United States 48United States Keith Andrews United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 94 DNF 20th Lathe operator
27 United States 48United States Andy Linden United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 90 DNF 09 Oil leak
28 United States 48United States Al Herman United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 74 DNF 27 accident
29 United States 48United States Ray Crawford United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 49 DNF 17th accident
30th United States 48United States Johnny Boyd United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 35 DNF 12 Engine problems
31 United States 48United States Troy Ruttman United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 22nd DNF 11 Lathe operator
32 United States 48United States Johnny Thomson United States 48United States Kuzma-Offenhauser 22nd DNF 18th Lathe operator
33 United States 48United States Paul Russo United States 48United States Kurtis Kraft-Novi 21st DNF 08th Tire damage / accident

World Cup stand after the race

In 1956, points were awarded according to the following scheme:

1st place place 2 place 3 4th place 5th place Fastest lap
8th 6th 4th 3 2 1
  • Only the five best results from eight races counted. Deleted results are shown in brackets.
  • The numbers marked with * include the point for the fastest lap.
  • Fields marked in the same color indicate shared vehicles.
Item driver constructor Flag of Argentina.svg Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of the United States (1912-1959) .svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Points
1. ArgentinaArgentina Juan Manuel Fangio Ferrari Lancia 5 * 3 + 1.5 * 10.5
2. FranceFrance Jean Behra Maserati 6th 4th 10
3. United KingdomUnited Kingdom Stirling Moss Maserati 8th 8th
United StatesUnited States Pat Flaherty Watson 8th 8th
5. United StatesUnited States Sam Hanks Kurtis power 6th 6th
6th United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Maserati 4th 4th
ItalyItaly Luigi Musso Ferrari Lancia 4th 4th
United StatesUnited States Don Freeland Watson 4th 4th
9. United KingdomUnited Kingdom Peter Collins Ferrari 3 * 3
United StatesUnited States Johnnie Parsons Kuzma 3 3
11. BelgiumBelgium Olivier Gendebien Ferrari Lancia 2 2
Brazil 1889Brazil Hernando da Silva Ramos Gordini 2 2
United StatesUnited States Dick Rathmann Kurtis power 2 2
14th ItalyItaly Gerino Gerini Maserati 1.5 1.5
BrazilBrazil Chico Landi Maserati 1.5 1.5
ItalyItaly Eugenio Castellotti Ferrari Lancia 1.5 1.5
17th United StatesUnited States Eddie Russo Kurtis power 1* 1

Web links

Commons : Indianapolis 500 1956  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files