34th Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body	AAA
Date	May 30, 1950
Winner	Johnnie Parsons
Winning Entrant	Frank Kurtis
Average speed	124.002 mph (199.562 km/h)
Pole position	Walt Faulkner
Pole speed	134.343 mph (216.204 km/h)
Most laps led	Johnnie Parsons (115)
Pre-race
Pace car	Mercury
Pace car driver	Benson Ford
Starter	Seth Klein[1]
Honorary referee	Clarence Beesmyer[1]
Estimated attendance	175,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next 1949 1951

The34th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. The event was sanctioned by theAAA and served as the premier event on the calendar of the1950 AAA National Championship Trail. For the first time, the race was included as a points-paying event towards theFIA-sanctionedWorld Drivers' Championship. 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 thatJohnnie Parsons's team discovered an irreparable crack in theengine block on race morning. The discovery supposedly precipitated Parsons to charge for the lap leader prizes.^[3] 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 anurban myth,^[4] and it was said to be a very minor but acceptable level ofporosity, 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, alongsideNino Farina andJuan 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 (the1950 British Grand Prix, 17 days earlier) andGiancarlo Baghetti, who won the1961 French Grand Prix. Despite the 500 being his only race in the1950 World Championship, it would be enough to see him finish the championship 6th in points.

During the month,Clark Gable andBarbara Stanwyck were at the track to film scenes for the filmTo Please a Lady. Stanwyck was on hand in victory lane after the race for the traditional celebratory kiss to the winner. During 1951 a youngMario Andretti saw the film in his nativeItaly - where it was titledIndianapolis - an event which exposed the future Indianapolis 500 winner and four-timeNational Champion to the race for the first time.^[5]

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.^[6]
• Sunday May 21
• Saturday May 27: The day began with 11 spots open in the grid.^[7]
• Sunday May 28: Only one driver managed to bump his way into the field.Johnny McDowell bumpedCliff 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.^[8]

Row	Inside		Middle		Outside
1	98	Walt Faulkner R	28	Fred Agabashian	31	Mauri Rose W
2	5	George Connor	1	Johnnie Parsons	49	Jack McGrath
3	69	Duke Dinsmore	14	Tony Bettenhausen	17	Joie Chitwood
4	3	Bill Holland W	59	Pat Flaherty R	54	Cecil Green R
5	18	Duane Carter	21	Spider Webb	81	Jerry Hoyt R
6	2	Myron Fohr	24	Bayliss Levrett	45	Dick Rathmann R
7	7	Paul Russo	4	Walt Brown	12	Henry Banks
8	67	Bill Schindler R	8	Lee Wallard	55	Troy Ruttman
9	23	Sam Hanks	15	Mack Hellings	22	Jimmy Davies R
10	76	Jim Rathmann	27	Walt Ader R	77	Jackie Holmes
11	75	Gene Hartley R	61	Jimmy Jackson	62	Johnny McDowell

Finish	Grid	No.	Driver	Constructor	Qualifying		Laps	Time/Retired	Points
					Speed	Rank			USAC	WDC
1	5	1	Johnnie Parsons	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	132.04	8	138	2:46:55.97	690	91
2	10	3	Bill Holland W	Diedt-Offenhauser	130.48	21	137	- 1 Lap	552	6
3	3	31	Mauri Rose W	Diedt-Offenhauser	132.31	6	137	- 1 Lap	483	4
4	12	54	Cecil Green R	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	132.91	2	137	- 1 Lap	414	3
5	9	17	Joie Chitwood (Tony Bettenhausen Laps 86–136)	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	130.75	19	136	- 2 Laps	217½ 127½	1 1
6	23	8	Lee Wallard	Moore-Offenhauser	132.43	5	136	- 2 Laps	276
7	1	98	Walt Faulkner R	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	134.34	1	135	- 3 Laps	207
8	4	5	George Connor	Lesovsky-Offenhauser	132.16	7	135	- 3 Laps	172½
9	19	7	Paul Russo	Nichels-Offenhauser	130.79	18	135	- 3 Laps	138
10	11	59	Pat Flaherty R	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	129.60	30	135	- 3 Laps	103½
11	16	2	Myron Fohr	Marchese-Offenhauser	131.71	11	133	- 5 Laps	69
12	13	18	Duane Carter	Stevens-Offenhauser	131.66	12	133	- 5 Laps	34½
13	26	15	Mack Hellings	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	130.68	20	132	- 6 Laps
14	6	49	Jack McGrath	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	131.86	10	131	Spun Off
15	24	55	Troy Ruttman	Lesovsky-Offenhauser	131.91	9	130	- 8 Laps
16	31	75	Gene Hartley R	Langley-Offenhauser	129.21	32	128	- 10 Laps
17	27	22	Jimmy Davies R	Ewing-Offenhauser	130.40	23	128	- 10 Laps
18	33	62	Johnny McDowell	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	129.69	27	128	- 10 Laps
19	20	4	Walt Brown	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	130.45	22	127	- 11 Laps
20	14	21	Spider Webb	Maserati-Offenhauser	129.74	26	126	- 12 Laps
21	15	81	Jerry Hoyt R	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	129.52	31	125	- 13 Laps
22	29	27	Walt Ader R	Rae-Offenhauser	129.94	25	123	- 15 Laps
23	30	77	Jackie Holmes	Olson-Offenhauser	129.69	28	123	Spun Off
24	28	76	Jim Rathmann	Wetteroth-Offenhauser	129.95	24	122	- 16 Laps
25	21	12	Henry Banks (Fred Agabashian Laps 72–112)	Maserati-Offenhauser	129.64	29	112	Oil Line
26	22	67	Bill Schindler R	Snowberger-Offenhauser	132.69	4	111	Transmission
27	17	24	Bayliss Levrett (Bill Cantrell Laps 106–108)	Adams-Offenhauser	131.18	14	108	Oil Pressure
28	2	28	Fred Agabashian	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	132.79	3	64	Oil Leak
29	32	61	Jimmy Jackson	Kurtis Kraft-Cummins	129.20	33	52	Compressor
30	25	23	Sam Hanks	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	131.59	13	42	Oil Pressure
31	8	14	Tony Bettenhausen	Diedt-Offenhauser	130.94	16	30	Wheel Bearing
32	18	45	Dick Rathmann R	Watson-Offenhauser	130.92	17	25	Stalled
33	7	69	Duke Dinsmore	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	131.06	15	10	Oil Leak
Source:[9]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses^[10]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilizedFirestone tires.

^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap.

• Pole position:Walt Faulkner – 4:27.97
• Fastest Lead Lap:Johnnie Parsons – 1:09.77
• Shared drivers:
  • Joie Chitwood (82 laps) andTony Bettenhausen (54 laps), after Bettenhausen retired. Points for 5th position were shared between the drivers.
  • Henry Banks (71 laps) andFred Agabashian (41 laps)
  • Bayliss Levrett (105 laps) andBill Cantrell (3 laps)
• First win forFirestone in the World Championship.

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Lap	Gap
1	98	Walt Faulkner	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:27.97	–
2	28	Fred Agabashian	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:31.10	+ 3.13
3	31	Mauri Rose	Diedt-Offenhauser	4:32.07	+ 4.10
4	5	George Connor	Lesovsky-Offenhauser	4:32.39	+ 4.42
5	1	Johnnie Parsons	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:32.43	+ 4.46
6	49	Jack McGrath	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:33.00	+ 5.03
7	69	Duke Dinsmore	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:34.67	+ 6.70
8	14	Tony Bettenhausen	Diedt-Offenhauser	4:34.92	+ 6.95
9	17	Joie Chitwood	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:35.32	+ 7.35
10	3	Bill Holland	Diedt-Offenhauser	4:35.90	+ 7.93
11	59	Pat Flaherty	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:37.76	+ 9.79
12	54	Cecil Green	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:30.86	+ 2.89
13	18	Duane Carter	Stevens-Offenhauser	4:33.42	+ 5.45
14	21	Spider Webb	Maserati-Offenhauser	4:37.46	+ 9.49
15	81	Jerry Hoyt	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:37.95	+ 9.98
16	2	Myron Fohr	Marchese-Offenhauser	4:33.32	+ 5.35
17	24	Bayliss Levrett	Adams-Offenhauser	4:34.43	+ 6.46
18	45	Dick Rathmann	Watson-Offenhauser	4:34.96	+ 6.99
19	7	Paul Russo	Nichels-Offenhauser	4:35.25	+ 7.28
20	4	Walt Brown	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:35.96	+ 7.99
21	12	Henry Banks	Maserati-Offenhauser	4:37.68	+ 9.71
22	67	Bill Schindler	Snowberger-Offenhauser	4:31.31	+ 3.34
23	8	Lee Wallard	Moore-Offenhauser	4:31.83	+ 3.86
24	55	Troy Ruttman	Lesovsky-Offenhauser	4:32.91	+ 4.94
25	23	Sam Hanks	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:33.57	+ 5.60
26	15	Mack Hellings	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:35.32	+ 7.35
27	22	Jimmy Davies	Ewing-Offenhauser	4:36.07	+ 8.10
28	76	Jim Rathmann	Wetteroth-Offenhauser	4:37.01	+ 9.04
29	27	Walt Ader	Rae-Offenhauser	4:37.05	+ 9.08
30	77	Jackie Holmes	Olson-Offenhauser	4:37.57	+ 9.60
31	75	Gene Hartley	Langley-Offenhauser	4:38.61	+ 10.64
32	61	Jimmy Jackson	Kurtis Kraft-Cummins	4:38.62	+ 10.65
33	62	Johnny McDowell	Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser	4:37.58	+ 9.61

No	Driver	Constructor
66	Cliff Griffith R [14]	Miller-Offenhauser

No	Driver	Constructor
9	Andy Linden R	Bromme-Offenhauser
9	Bud Rose R	Bromme-Offenhauser
10	Bill Vukovich R	Maserati-Maserati
10	Hal Cole	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
16	Ted Duncan R	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
19	Ralph Pratt R	Bardazon-Offenhauser
19	Kenny Eaton R	Bardazon-Offenhauser
25	Johnny Mauro	Alfa Romeo-Alfa Romeo
26	George Fonder	Diedt-Sparks
29	Charles Van Acker	Stevens-Offenhauser
33	Joel Thorne	Kurtis-Kraft-Sparks
34	Johnny Fedricks R	Kupiec-Offenhauser
36	George Lynch	Snowberger-Offenhauser
38	Duke Nalon	Kurtis-Kraft-Novi
39	Danny Kladis	Maserati-Maserati
41	Milt Fankhouser	Stevens-Offenhauser
43	Chet Miller	Kurtis-Kraft-Novi
44	Bill Cantrell	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
47	Ralph Pratt R	Gdula-Offenhauser
51	Mark Light R	Stevens-Offenhauser
52	Mark Light R	Meyer-Offenhauser
52	Dick Frazier R	Meyer-Offenhauser
58	Billy Devore	Scopa-Offenhauser
63	Joe James R	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
63	Bob Gregg R	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
64	Bob Sweikert R	Wetteroth-Offenhauser
65	Marvin Burke R	Kurtis-Kraft-Duray
65	Norm Houser	Kurtis-Kraft-Duray
74	Carl Forberg R	Miller-Offenhauser
78	Cy Marshall	Miller-Miller
79	Chuck Leighton R	Cantarano-Wayne
82	Joe James R	Weidel-Mercury
83	Al Miller	Miller-Miller
84	Mike Burch R	Miller-Offenhauser
85	Manuel Ayulo	Maserati-Offenhauser
85	Jim Rigsby R	Maserati-Offenhauser
87	Bill Vukovich R	Rounds Rocket-Offenhauser
99	Kenny Eaton R	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser
99	Emil Andres	Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser

1950 Indianapolis 500
Race 3 of 7 in the1950 Formula One season ← Previous race Next race →
Race details
Date	May 30, 1950 (1950-05-30)
Location	Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	4.023 km (2.500 miles)
Distance	138 laps, 555.224 km (345.000 miles)
Scheduled distance	200 laps, 804.672 km (500.000 miles)

The Indianapolis 500 was included in theFIAWorld Championship of Drivers from1950 through1960. The race was sanctioned byAAA through1955, and then byUSAC beginning in1956. At the time the new world championship was announced and first organized by theCSI, the United States did not yet have aGrand 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.^[15][16]

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.^[17] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run toFormula One specifications and regulations.^[18] The drivers also earned separate points (on a differentscale) towards the respectiveAAA orUSACnational championships. No points, however, were awarded by the FIA towards theWorld Constructors' Championship.

The 1950 Indianapolis 500 was round 3 of 7 on the1950 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract significant interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit.Giuseppe Farina andFranco Rol submittedMaserati entries, but their cars never arrived, and the race took place without any European competitors.^[19] Race winnerJohnnie Parsons earned 9 points towards the World Championship (8 points for first place, and 1 point for the fastest lap). Despite not competing in any of the other World Championship events, he finished sixth in the final season standings.

Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on their WDC début. The other two are Farina, who won the inaugural World Championship race – the1950 British Grand Prix, 17 days earlier – andGiancarlo Baghetti, who won the1961 French Grand Prix.

Change	Pos	Driver	Points
	1	Giuseppe Farina	9
	2	Juan Manuel Fangio	9
31	3	Johnnie Parsons	9
1	4	Luigi Fagioli	6
1	5	Alberto Ascari	6

• Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best four results counted towards the Championship.

The race was carried live on theMutual Broadcasting System, the precursor to theIMS Radio Network. The broadcast was sponsored byPerfect Circle Piston Rings andBill 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 personalitySid 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.^[20] 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 interruptQueen 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.

The race was carried live for the second year in a row on local television onWFBM-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.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to1950 Indianapolis 500.

• 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

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