1951 Indianapolis 500

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

Alternates

• First alternate: Bob Sweikert **** (#37)

Failed to qualify

All drivers from the United States unless stated.

• Jean Achard FRA (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

Race statistics

Notes

• Pole position: Duke Nalon – 4:23.74 (136.498 mph)
• Fastest Lead Lap: Lee Wallard – 1:07.26 (133.809 mph)
• Ayulo (100 laps) and McGrath (100) shared the same car. Points for 3rd position were shared between the drivers.
• First Indianapolis 500 to be completed in under four hours.
• Roger Penske stated in a live interview on WRTV on November 4, 2019, when the Penske Corporation was announcing the purchased of all the IMS assets, that 1951 was the first race he attended at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

World Drivers' Championship

Speedway, Indiana

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.

Broadcasting

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.

References

References

1. Fox, Jack C.. (1994). "The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994". Carl Hungness Publishing.
2. Stranahan, Bob. (May 31, 1951). "Pilot's Hoosier's Car To Victory; Nazaruk Second". The Indianapolis Star.
3. Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: ''Great Moments From the Indy 500'' – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
4. ''[[Donald Davidson (historian). The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' – [[WIBC (FM). 1070-AM WIBC]]/Network Indiana, May 17, 2007
5. Davidson, Donald. (May 13, 2000). "'Cinderella Man' found his groove at the track". [[The Indianapolis Star]].
6. Davidson, Donald. (May 13, 2005). "Winning in a broken car". [[The Indianapolis Star]].
7. ''[[Donald Davidson (historian). The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' – [[WIBC (FM). 1070-AM WIBC]], May 14, 2004
8. "Jean ACHARD".
9. "1951 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes".
10. "1951 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com.
11. O'Brien, J.E.. (May 31, 1951). "Swell Little Guy's Heavy Foot Left No Room for Strategy". [[Indianapolis News]].
12. O'Brien, J.E.. (May 31, 1951). "Faulkner Out After 123 Laps". [[Indianapolis News]].
13. Lang, Mike. (1981). "Grand Prix! Vol 1". Haynes Publishing Group.
14. {{cite episode. The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]. 1070 WIBC-AM]]
15. {{cite episode. The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]
16. {{cite episode. The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]
17. Capps, Don. (October 25, 2000). "Where Upon Our Scribe, Sherman, & Mr. Peabody Once Again Crank Up The Way-Back Machine for 1961..". AtlasF1.
18. "Indianapolis 1951 - Championship".
19. Davidson, Donald. (May 24, 2012). "IMS Radio Network celebrates 60th anniversary". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
20. Hynes, Beatrice. (May 30, 1951). "Mike-Row-Scopes". The Indianapolis Star.