38th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 31, 1954
WinnerBill Vukovich
Winning EntrantHoward B. Keck
Average speed130.840 mph (210.567 km/h)
Pole positionJack McGrath
Pole speed141.033 mph (226.971 km/h)
Most laps ledBill Vukovich (90)
Pre-race
Pace carDodge Royal 500
Pace car driverW. C. Newberg
StarterBill Vanderwater[1]
Honorary refereeRalph DePalma[1]
Estimated attendance175,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1953 1955

The 38th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1954. The event was part of the 1954 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers.

Time trials

Time trials was scheduled for four days.

  • Saturday May 15 – Pole Day time trials
  • Sunday May 16 – Second day time trials
  • Saturday May 22 – Third day time trials
  • Sunday May 23 – Fourth day time trials

Starting grid

 R  = Indianapolis 500 rookie;  W  = Former Indianapolis 500 winner

Row Inside Middle Outside
1 2 United States Jack McGrath 19 United States Jimmy Daywalt 9 United States Jimmy Bryan
2 43 United States Johnny Thomson 98 United States Chuck Stevenson 7 United States Don Freeland
3 25 United States Jimmy Reece 16 United States Duane Carter 17 United States Bob Sweikert
4 1 United States Sam Hanks 34 United States Troy Ruttman  W  35 United States Pat O'Connor  R 
5 24 United States Cal Niday 73 United States Mike Nazaruk 15 United States Johnnie Parsons  W 
6 12 United States Rodger Ward 31 United States Gene Hartley 51 United States Bill Homeier  R 
7 14 United States Bill Vukovich  W  32 United States Ernie McCoy 10 United States Tony Bettenhausen
8 88 United States Manny Ayulo 74 United States Andy Linden 77 United States Fred Agabashian
9 28 United States Larry Crockett  R  33 United States Len Duncan  R  45 United States Art Cross
10 38 United States Jim Rathmann 65 United States Spider Webb 99 United States Jerry Hoyt
11 27 United States Ed Elisian  R  5 United States Paul Russo 71 United States Frank Armi  R 

Alternates

  • First alternate: Eddie Johnson (#26)[3] — Johnson drove relief during the race

Failed to qualify

Race summary

Bill Vukovich had to work much harder in this race due to his car was now 2 years old and the team had trouble getting it up to speed leading to a 19th place starting spot inside of row 7 for the race. Vukovich did not see the lead until lap 61 when he led 1 lap. He then after losing positions during pitstops worked his way forward, seeing the lead again on lap 92 leading for the next 38 laps until falling back due to another round of pitstops. Then Vukovich took the lead for good on 150 to win his second consecutive 500, setting a record (at the time) 130.840 mph average race speed. The record would stand until the 1957 Indianapolis 500. Sadly Vukovich died the following year attempting to win his third consecutive Indy 500. The race reportedly went 110 laps before the first yellow light.[5]

Box score

Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Led Time/Retired Points
1 19 14 United States Bill Vukovich  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.47 14 200 90 3:49:17.27 8
2 3 9 United States Jimmy Bryan Kuzma-Offenhauser 139.66 5 200 46 + 1:09.95 6
3 1 2 United States Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 141.03 1 200 47 + 1:19.73 51
4 11 34 United States Troy Ruttman  W 
(Relieved by Duane Carter)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.73 31 200 0 + 2:52.68 1.5
1.5
5 14 73 United States Mike Nazaruk Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.58 6 200 0 + 3:24.55 2
6 24 77 United States Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.74 30 200 0 + 3:47.55  
7 6 7 United States Don Freeland Phillips-Offenhauser 138.33 16 200 0 + 4:13.35  
8 32 5 United States Paul Russo
(Relieved by Jerry Hoyt)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.67 32 200 0 + 5:01.17  
9 25 28 United States Larry Crockett  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.55 8 200 0 + 7:07.24  
10 13 24 United States Cal Niday Stevens-Offenhauser 139.82 3 200 0 + 7:07.69  
11 27 45 United States Art Cross
(Relieved by Johnnie Parsons)
(Relieved by Sam Hanks)
(Relieved by Andy Linden)
(Relieved by Jimmy Davies)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.67 13 200 8 + 8:22.19  
12 5 98 United States Chuck Stevenson
(Relieved by Walt Faulkner)		 Kuzma-Offenhauser 138.77 12 199 0 + 1 Lap  
13 22 88 United States Manny Ayulo Kuzma-Offenhauser 138.16 22 197 0 + 3 Laps  
14 9 17 United States Bob Sweikert Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.20 21 197 0 + 3 Laps  
15 8 16 United States Duane Carter
(Relieved by Marshall Teague)
(Relieved by Jimmy Jackson)
(Relieved by Tony Bettenhausen)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.23 19 196 0 + 4 Laps  
16 20 32 United States Ernie McCoy Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.41 15 194 0 + 6 Laps  
17 7 25 United States Jimmy Reece Pankratz-Offenhauser 138.31 17 194 0 + 6 Laps  
18 31 27 United States Ed Elisian  R 
(Relieved by Bob Scott)		 Stevens-Offenhauser 137.79 29 193 0 + 7 Laps  
19 33 71 United States Frank Armi  R 
(Relieved by George Fonder)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.67 33 193 0 + 7 Laps  
20 10 1 United States Sam Hanks
(Relieved by Jimmy Davies)
(Relieved by Jim Rathmann)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.99 25 191 1 Spun Off  
21 12 35 United States Pat O'Connor  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.08 23 181 0 Spun Off  
22 16 12 United States Rodger Ward
(Relieved by Eddie Johnson)		 Pawl-Offenhauser 139.92 2 172 0 Retirement  
23 17 31 United States Gene Hartley
(Relieved by Marshall Teague)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.06 10 168 0 Clutch  
24 4 43 United States Johnny Thomson
(Relieved by Andy Linden)
(Relieved by Jimmy Daywalt)		 Nichels-Offenhauser 138.78 11 165 0 Retirement  
25 23 74 United States Andy Linden
(Relieved by Bob Scott)		 Schroeder-Offenhauser 137.82 27 165 0 Suspension  
26 30 99 United States Jerry Hoyt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.82 28 130 0 Engine  
27 2 19 United States Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.78 4 111 8 Accident  
28 28 38 United States Jim Rathmann
(Relieved by Pat Flaherty)		 Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.22 20 110 0 Accident  
29 21 10 United States Tony Bettenhausen Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.27 18 105 0 Wheel Bearing  
30 29 65 United States Spider Webb
(Relieved by Danny Kladis)		 Bromme-Offenhauser 137.97 26 104 0 Fuel pump  
31 26 33 United States Len Duncan  R 
(Relieved by George Fonder)		 Schroeder-Offenhauser 139.21 9 101 0 Brakes  
32 15 15 United States Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.57 7 79 0 Engine  
33 18 51 United States Bill Homeier  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.00 24 74 0 Accident  
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Additional stats

  • Pole position: Jack McGrath – 4:15.26 (4 laps)
  • Pole Speed: 141.033 mph (average for 4 laps)
  • Fastest Lead Lap: Jack McGrath – 1:04.04 (140.540 mph)
  • Relief drivers:
    • Troy Ruttman (130 laps) & Duane Carter (70) shared car no 34. Shared points for 4th position.
    • Paul Russo (150) & Jerry Hoyt (50) shared car no 5.
    • Art Cross (120), Jimmie Davies (30), Johnnie Parsons (22), Andy Linden (17) & Sam Hanks (11) shared car no 45.
    • Chuck Stevenson (82), Walt Faulkner (117) shared car no 98.
    • Duane Carter (76), Jimmy Jackson (57), Tony Bettenhausen (34) & Marshall Teague (29) shared car no 16.
    • Ed Elisian (148) & Bob Scott (45) shared car no 27.
    • Frank Armi (179) & George Fonder (14) shared car no 71.
    • Sam Hanks (112), Jimmie Davies (36) & Jim Rathmann (43) shared car no 1.
    • Rodger Ward (105) & Eddie Johnson (67) shared car no 12.
    • Gene Hartley (151) & Marshall Teague (17) shared car no 31.
    • Andy Linden (113) & Bob Scott (52) shared car no 74.
    • Johnny Thomson (113), Andy Linden (27) & Jimmy Daywalt (25) shared car no 43.
    • Jim Rathmann (95) & Pat Flaherty (15) shared car no 38.
    • Spider Webb (54) & Danny Kladis (50) shared car no 65.
    • Len Duncan (43) & George Fonder (58) shared car no 33.
  • It was the first Indy 500 where the entire field on race day had Offenhauser engines.

Broadcasting

Radio

The race was carried live flag-to-flag on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. It was the second time the race was carried in its entirety. The broadcast was anchored by Sid Collins, his third as chief announcer, and seventh year overall with the crew. Charlie Brockman served as booth analyst and statistician, and also reported from victory lane.[5] For the first time ever, a female reporter was part of the radio crew. Paula Carr of WIRE served as a roving reporter, interviewing celebrities and other special guests.[6]

Of note, the network expanded its coverage to include four qualifying wrap-up shows during time trials weekends.

The network expanded to include four qualifying wrap-up shows, and the number of affiliate stations increased to 210. All five major radio stations in Indianapolis carried the broadcast. The 1954 broadcast is notable in that it featured for the first time the famous phrase "Stay tuned for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Due to the increased number of affiliates at the time, the network needed a scripted "out-cue" to alert producers when to manually insert local commercials. A young WIBC marketing staff member named Alice Greene (née Bunger) is credited with inventing the phrase, and chief announcer Sid Collins coined it on-air. It has been used ever since, with all of the chief announcers proudly reciting it during their respective tenures.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Booth AnnouncersTurn ReportersPit/garage reporters

Chief Announcer: Sid Collins
Color: Charlie Brockman

South Turns: Bill Frosch
Backstretch: Jack Shapiro
North Turns: Easy Gwynn

 Luke Walton (north pits)
Greg Smith (south pits)
Dick Lingle
Paula Carr

Championship standings after the race

World Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 8
16 2 United States Bill Vukovich 8
1 3 Italy Nino Farina 6
14 4 United States Jimmy Bryan 6
2 5 Argentina José Froilán González 5
Source: [7]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included.

References

  1. 1 2 Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Don G. (June 1, 1954). "Even Weather Co-Operates At Speedway". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ↑ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  4. ↑ "1954 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Heroes of the 500: The 1954 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast" – WIBC, May 2014
  6. ↑ "Air Network To Catch Speedway Action, Color". The Indianapolis Star. May 30, 1954. p. 9. Retrieved May 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  7. ↑ "Indianapolis 1954 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
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