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| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1951 | ||||
| Winner | Lee Wallard | ||||
| Winning Entrant | Murrell Belanger | ||||
| Average speed | 126.244 mph (203.170 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Duke Nalon | ||||
| Pole speed | 136.498 mph (219.672 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Lee Wallard (159) | ||||
| Pre-race | |||||
| Pace car | Chrysler New Yorker | ||||
| Pace car driver | David A. Wallace | ||||
| Starter | Seth Klein[1] | ||||
| Honorary referee | Clarence Beesmyer[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 150,000[2] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
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The35th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1951. The event was part of the1951 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 8 in the1951 World Championship of Drivers. For the second year in a row, no European Formula One-based teams entered the race.
Duke Nalon, who had suffered serious burns in a crash in 1949, and who missed the 1950 race, made a comeback at Indy by winning the pole position in a Novi. Heavy attrition saw only eight cars running at the finish. WinnerLee Wallard's car lost itsbrakes, suffered a damagedexhaust pipe, and broke ashock absorber mounting.[3][4] In addition to the unbearably uncomfortable ride, Wallard had worn afire retardant outfit, created by dipping hisuniform in a mixture ofborax crystals and water. Due to not wearing anundershirt, Wallard suffered seriouschafing, and required treatment at the infield hospital after the victory lane celebration.[4] It was estimated he lost 15 pounds during the race.[4]
Wallard's winning car had the smallest displacement in the field. About a week after winning the race, Wallard suffered severe burns in a crash atReading, which effectively ended his professional racing career. Three-time winnerMauri Rose, in his 15th Indy start, crashed and flipped on lap 126. It was his final 500, as he retired from driving after the crash.
Wallard's improbable victory helped earn him the nickname "Cinderella Man".[5][6]
Time trials were scheduled for six days. Rain, however, pushed qualifying into a seventh day.
| Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 |  Duke Nalon | 99 | Lee Wallard | 9 | Jack McGrath |
| 2 | 27 | Duane Carter | 16 | Mauri Rose W | 98 | Troy Ruttman |
| 3 | 83 | Mike Nazaruk R | 3 | Johnnie Parsons W | 5 | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 4 | 4 | Cecil Green | 59 | Fred Agabashian | 25 | Sam Hanks |
| 5 | 44 | Walt Brown | 2 | Walt Faulkner | 73 | Carl Scarborough R |
| 6 | 10 | Bill Schindler | 1 | Henry Banks | 23 | Cliff Griffith R |
| 7 | 8 | Chuck Stevenson R | 81 | Bill Vukovich R | 22 | George Connor |
| 8 | 69 | Gene Force R | 19 | Mack Hellings | 68 | Carl Forberg R |
| 9 | 48 | Rodger Ward R | 12 | Johnny McDowell | 76 | Jimmy Davies |
| 10 | 32 | Chet Miller | 52 | Bobby Ball R | 26 | Joe James R |
| 11 | 57 | Andy Linden R | 6 | Duke Dinsmore | 71 | Bill Mackey R |
All drivers from the United States unless stated.
(real name – Jean-Jacques Grosman)[8](R) (#100) — Did not appearW Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilizedFirestone tires.
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| 1951 Indianapolis 500 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 2 of 8 in the1951 Formula One season
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | May 30, 1951 (1951-05-30) | ||||
| 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) | ||||
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.[14][15]
Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.[16] However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run toFormula One specifications and regulations.[17] 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 1951 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 8 on the1951 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit, particularly since it was held only three day after theSwiss Grand Prix. Race winnerLee Wallard 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 seventh in the final season standings.
| Pos | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1 |  Juan Manuel Fangio | 9 |
 20 | 2 | Lee Wallard | 9 |
 1 | 3 |  Piero Taruffi | 6 |
| 18 | 4 | Mike Nazaruk | 6 |
| 2 | 5 | Nino Farina | 4 |
| Source:[18] | |||
The race was carried live on the radio through anetwork arrangement set up by1070 WIBC-AM ofIndianapolis.Mutual, which had carried the race for several years, had raised its advertising rates for 1951, and lost its primary sponsor for the event,Perfect Circle Piston Rings. As a result, Mutual dropped the coverage altogether. Local station WIBC stepped in to cover the race, and provided its feed to various Mutual affiliates.[19] A total of 26 stations carried the broadcast.
WIBC personalitySid Collins served as the chief announcer in the booth, and the remainder of the crew consisted mostly of WIBC talent. Jim Shelton reported from his familiar turn four location, and Bill Fox was also in the booth. Easy Gwynn was also to be part of the crew. Collins interviewed the winner in victory lane, leaving Fox to call the actual finish of the race. Like the Mutual broadcasts, WIBC featured live coverage of the start (30 minutes), the finish (30 minutes), and 15-minute live updates throughout the race. The on-air crew was smaller than normal. There were not turn and pit reporters stationed around the entire track, instead recorded interviews were played back during later broadcast segments.[20]
| Previous race: 1951 Swiss Grand Prix | FIA Formula One World Championship 1951 season | Next race: 1951 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1950 Indianapolis 500 Johnnie Parsons | 1951Indianapolis 500 Lee Wallard | Next race: 1952 Indianapolis 500 Troy Ruttman |
| Preceded by 124.002mph (1950 Indianapolis 500) | Record for the Indianapolis 500 fastest average speed 126.244 mph | Succeeded by 128.922mph (1952 Indianapolis 500) |