1952 Indianapolis 500

The 36th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was a motor race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1952. It was the opening race of the 1952 AAA National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1952 World Championship of Drivers.

Troy Ruttman won the race for car owner J. C. Agajanian. Ruttman, aged 22 years and 80 days, set the record for the youngest 500 winner in history. It was also the last dirt track car to win at Indy. Ruttman's win also saw him become the youngest winner of a World Drivers' Championship race, a record he would hold for 51 years until the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix when Spanish driver Fernando Alonso won at the age of 22 years and 26 days.

Bill Vukovich led 150 laps, but with 9 laps to go, he broke a steering linkage while leading. He nursed his car to a stop against the outside wall, preventing other cars from getting involved in the incident.

In the third year that the 500 was included in the World Championship, Ferrari entered the race with Alberto Ascari driving a Ferrari 375 Indianapolis. The effort gained considerable attention, but Ascari was forced to retire after a few laps when the hub of a wheel on his car collapsed. He was classified 31st. It was the only World Championship race in 1952 that Ascari entered and did not win.

Fifth place finisher Art Cross was voted the Rookie of the Year. Though at least one rookie starter was in the field every year dating back to 1911, this was the first time the now-popular award was officially designated.

Time trials
Time trials was scheduled for four days, but rain pushed qualifying into a fifth day.


 * Saturday May 17 – Pole Day time trials
 * Sunday May 18 – Second day time trials (rained out)
 * Saturday May 24 – Third day time trials
 * Sunday May 25 – Fourth day time trials (rained out)
 * Monday May 26 – Fifth day time trials (rain make up 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}}

Failed to qualify

 * Frank Armi  (#39)
 * George Armstrong  – Did not arrive
 * Buzz Barton  (#58)
 * Joe Barzda  (#53)
 * Bill Boyd  (#92) – Did not arrive
 * Bill Cantrell (#52)
 * Neal Carter  (#25)
 * Jimmy Daywalt  (#64)
 * Duke Dinsmore (#68)
 * Giuseppe Farina  – Withdrew
 * Walt Faulkner (#3)
 * Johnny Fedricks  (#82)
 * Carl Forberg (#53)
 * Gene Force (#96)
 * Dick Fraizer  (#63)
 * Potsy Goacher  (#93)
 * Perry Grimm  (#55)
 * Peter Hahn  (#74)
 * Allen Heath  (#32, #97)
 * Tommy Hinnershitz (#27)
 * Jackie Holmes (#41)
 * Jimmy Jackson (#61)
 * Danny Kladis (#19)
 * Jud Larson  (#39, #66)
 * Bayliss Levrett (#69) – Wrecked practice, retired
 * Frank Luptow  (#56)
 * George Lynch  (#74)
 * Johnny Mauro (#35)
 * Mike Nazaruk (#5, #66)
 * Danny Oakes  (#39)
 * Puffy Puffer 
 * Paul Russo (#10)
 * Carl Scarborough (#33, #44)
 * Albert Scully  (#62) – Did not arrive
 * Doc Shanebrook  (#76)
 * Ottis Stine  (#84)
 * Bill Taylor  (#47)
 * George Tichenor  (#88)
 * Johnnie Tolan (#51) 
 * Leroy Warriner (#27) 
 * Chuck Weyant (#92)  – Did not arrive

Box score
 Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

– 1 point for fastest lead lap

Radio
The race was carried live on the radio on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. During the offseason, the Speedway management created the network to handle broadcasting duties in-house. The arrangement was under the flagship of 1070 WIBC-AM of Indianapolis, and featured a crew that consisted mostly of WIBC talent. WIBC landed exclusive rights of the broadcast in the Indianapolis market, which eventually would draw the ire of the other major stations in the area. In later years, the broadcast would be carried on all five stations inside the city, and they would utilize talent and crew representing each station.

Sid Collins served as booth announcer. Jim Shelton was among the turn reporters, reporting from turn 4. Gordon Graham reported from the pits and from victory lane. Like previous years, the broadcast featured live coverage of the start, the finish, and 15-minute live updates throughout the race. At least twenty stations around the county picked up the broadcast.

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 1952 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 8 of the 1952 World Championship. Alberto Ascari, driving for Ferrari, competed in the race. He became the first European-based driver who was seriously competing for the World Championship to come to Indianapolis to race in the 500. In doing so, Ascari skipped the Swiss Grand Prix. He dropped out early and finished 31st. He failed to score any points, but he would go on to win the remaining seven races and won the world title. Race winner Troy Ruttman earned 8 points towards the World Championship and finished seventh in the final season standings.

World Drivers' Championship standings after the race

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