1951 Indianapolis 500

The 35th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1951. The event was part of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1951 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. Winner Lee Wallard's car lost its brakes, suffered a damaged exhaust pipe, and broke a shock absorber mounting. In addition to the unbearably uncomfortable ride, Wallard had worn a fire retardant outfit, created by dipping his uniform in a mixture of borax crystals and water. Due to not wearing an undershirt, Wallard suffered serious chafing, and required treatment at the infield hospital after the victory lane celebration. It was estimated he lost 15 pounds during the race.

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 at Reading, which effectively ended his professional racing career. Three-time winner Mauri 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.

Time trials
Time trials were scheduled for six days. Rain, however, pushed qualifying into a seventh day.


 * Saturday May 12 – Pole Day time trials
 * Sunday May 13 – Second day time trials
 * Saturday May 19 – Third day time trials
 * Sunday May 20 – Fourth day time trials
 * Saturday May 26 – Fifth day time trials
 * Sunday May 27 – Sixth day time trials (rained out)
 * Monday May 28 – Seventh day time trials (rain makeup day)

Starting grid
{{legend|orange|text=R|Indianapolis 500 rookie|border=solid 1px darkgray}} {{legend|gold|text=W|Indianapolis 500 winner|border=solid 1px darkgray}}

Alternates

 * First alternate: Bob Sweikert  (#37)

Failed to qualify

 * Jean Achard (real name – Jean-Jacques Grosman) (R) (#100) — Did not appear
 * Frank Armi  (#35, #58, #64)
 * Manny Ayulo (#31)
 * Joe Barzda  (#49)
 * Bill Boyd  (#42)
 * Jimmy Bryan  (#72)
 * Bill Cantrell (#62, #79)
 * Jimmy Daywalt  (#33, #47)
 * Kenny Eaton  (#66)
 * Myron Fohr (#56)
 * George Fonder (#29, #53, #63)
 * Potsy Goacher  (#45)
 * Jackie Holmes (#24, #45)
 * Norm Houser (#61)
 * Jerry Hoyt (#14)
 * Bill Johnson  (#15)
 * Danny Kladis (#89)
 * Ray Knepper  (#78)
 * Bayliss Levrett (#46)
 * Mark Light  (#33)
 * George Lynch (#36)
 * Dick Page  (#64)
 * Roscoe Rann  (#14)
 * Gordon Reid  (#67)
 * Paul Russo (#7)
 * Mike Salay (#41)
 * Bob Scott  (#82)
 * Bud Sennett  (#51)
 * Doc Shanebrook  (#77)
 * Roy Sherman  (#57)
 * Joel Thorne (#88)
 * Johnnie Tolan  (#34)
 * Leroy Warriner  (#75)

Box score
 Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.


 * – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Background
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.

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers. However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations. 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
The 1951 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 8 on the 1951 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 the Swiss Grand Prix. Race winner Lee 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.

World Drivers' Championship standings after the race

 * Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.

Radio
The race was carried live on the radio through a network arrangement set up by 1070 WIBC-AM of Indianapolis. 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. A total of 26 stations carried the broadcast.

WIBC personality Sid 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.