1952 Indianapolis 500

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

Failed to qualify

All drivers from the United States unless stated.

• 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 ITA**** – 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

Race statistics

Notes

• Pole position: Fred Agabashian – 4:20.85 (4 laps)
• Agabashian's Cummins Diesel Special was the first entry in the Indianapolis 500 to be powered by a turbocharged engine (then described as "turbosupercharged"). Gear-driven centrifugal blowers known as "superchargers" had been used since the 1920s to increase the volumetric efficiency and power output of racing engines, but the Cummins Diesel was the first to make use of the "free" energy contained in the engine exhaust stream to drive a turbine wheel connected to a centrifugal blower (thus, "turbo-supercharging").
• Fastest Lead Lap: Bill Vukovich – 1:06.60 (135.135 mph)
• As of 2022, Troy Ruttman remains the youngest driver to win the Indianapolis 500, at 22 years and 80 days.
• Ruttman also became the youngest driver to win a race counting for the World Championship of Drivers. His record was broken by Fernando Alonso at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix.
• 1952 was the only occasion when the fastest (Chet Miller) and slowest (Jim Rigsby) qualifiers for the race started next to each other.
• 1952 was the first Indy 500 in which not a single relief driver was utilized during the race.

Broadcasting

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.

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 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.

References

References

1. Fox, Jack C.. (1994). "The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994". Carl Hungness Publishing.
2. Stranahan, Bob. (May 31, 1952). "Sets Race Record Of 128 MPH After Vukovich Bid Failes". The Indianapolis Star.
3. (May 28, 2012). "More Indy Hearbreaks". [[Autoweek]].
4. "1952 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes".
5. "1952 Indianapolis 500". formula1.com.
6. O'Brien, J.E.. (May 31, 1952). "Fate Taps Ruttman in Last 10 Minutes". [[Indianapolis News]].
7. Barnet, Bob. (May 31, 1952). "Vukovich Hits Wall, Ruttman Hits Jackpot". The Star Press.
8. [[Donald Davidson (historian). Davidson, Donald]]. (2007). "The Talk of Gasoline Alley" [Radio program]. ''[[WIBC (FM)]]'', April 30, 2007. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20070928124654/http://media.wibc.com/av/audio/talk_gas/2007/april30.mp3, retrieved on January 6, 2016.
9. Greuter, Henri. "1952: Ferrari at Indianapolis". www.forixautosport.com.
10. "WIBC All Night Race Party - 2007
11. Cochran, Polly. (May 30, 1952). "Everyone In Reach of Radio Will Have 'Ticket' To Race". The Indianapolis Star.
12. {{cite episode. The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]. 1070 WIBC-AM]]
13. {{cite episode. The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]
14. {{cite episode. The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]
15. Capps, Don. (October 25, 2000). "Where Upon Our Scribe, Sherman, & Mr. Peabody Once Again Crank Up The Way-Back Machine for 1961..". AtlasF1.
16. "Indianapolis 1952 - Championship • STATS F1".