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
Bob Scott Qualifying Run Late in the afternoon on the final day of time trials, Bob Scott was bumped from the field. With help from his friend Bob Sweikert, Scott was able to find a new car to qualify, the number 18 owned by Ray Brady. With only minutes left in time trials, Scott went on track to qualify. His first three laps were fast enough to bump into the starting lineup. As the sun was setting low in the sky, Scott was unable to see the flag waved by the flagman, having lost track of how many laps he had run, and mistook the white flag for the checkered flag. He also saw Sweikert waving his hands over his head, thinking Sweikert was congratulating him on the completion of his run. After only three of four required laps, Scott slowed and returned to the pits, thinking his run was over. Upon his return to the pits, Scott was informed what had happened. Scott and Sweikert were left in tears over the disappointment and realization over how much money was lost by missing the race. Scott died in a crash at Darlington Raceway over a month later.
Starting grid = Indianapolis 500 rookie; = Former Indianapolis 500 winner
RowInsideMiddleOutside 1 2 Jack McGrath 19 Jimmy Daywalt 9 Jimmy Bryan 2 43 Johnny Thomson 98 Chuck Stevenson 7 Don Freeland 3 25 Jimmy Reece 16 Duane Carter 17 Bob Sweikert 4 1 Sam Hanks 34 Troy Ruttman 35 Pat O'Connor 5 24 Cal Niday 73 Mike Nazaruk 15 Johnnie Parsons 6 12 Rodger Ward 31 Gene Hartley 51 Bill Homeier 7 14 Bill Vukovich 32 Ernie McCoy 10 Tony Bettenhausen 8 88 Manny Ayulo 74 Andy Linden 77 Fred Agabashian 9 28 Larry Crockett 33 Len Duncan 45 Art Cross 10 38 Jim Rathmann 65 Spider Webb 99 Jerry Hoyt 11 27 Ed Elisian 5 Paul Russo 71 Frank Armi
Alternates First alternate: Eddie Johnson (#26)The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004 — Johnson drove relief during the race
Failed to qualify
Henry Banks (#26) - Retired Joe Barzda (#54) Bill Boyd (#47) Wally Campbell (#66, #81) - Failed rookie test Bob Christie (#66) George Connor (#27, #32) - Retired Ray Crawford (#32) - Entry declined Jimmy Davies (#53) Billy Devore (#93) Duke Dinsmore (#62, #67) Walt Faulkner (#44, #97) Pat Flaherty (#39, #76, #89) Johnny Fedricks (#89) George Fonder (#33, #36) Potsy Goacher (#67) Cliff Griffith (#22) Al Herman (#36) Bill Holland #38) Frank Mundy (#41) Duke Nalon (#8) Danny Oakes (#47, #49) Eddie Russo (#37) Eddie Sachs (#54) Bob Scott (#18, #21) Joe Sostilio (#45) Marshall Teague (#3) George Tichenor (#22) Johnnie Tolan (#69) Lee Wallard(#99) - Retired Leroy Warriner (#67) - Withdrew, injured Chuck Weyant (#52)
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. Vukovich died the following year attempting to win his third consecutive Indy 500.
Box score FinishGridNo.DriverConstructorQualifyingLapsStatusPointsSpeedRank 1 19 14 Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.47 14 200 130.840 mph 1,000 8 2 3 9 Jimmy Bryan Kuzma-Offenhauser 139.66 5 200 +1:09.95 800 6 3 1 2 Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 141.03 1 200 +1:19.73 700 5 4 11 34 Troy Ruttman (Duane Carter Laps 101–170) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.73 31 200 +2:52.68 387213 1.5 1.5 5 14 73 Mike Nazaruk Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.58 6 200 +3:24.55 500 2 6 24 77 Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.74 30 200 +3:47.55 400 7 6 7 Don Freeland Phillips-Offenhauser 138.33 16 200 +4:13.35 300 8 32 5 Paul Russo(Jerry Hoyt Laps 151–200) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.67 32 200 +5:01.17 187½62½ 9 25 28 Larry Crockett Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.55 8 200 +7:07.24 200 10 13 24 Cal Niday Stevens-Offenhauser 139.82 3 200 +7:07.69 150 11 27 45 Art Cross(Johnnie Parsons Laps 121–142)(Sam Hanks Laps 143–153)(Andy Linden Laps 154–170)(Jimmy Davies Laps 171–200) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.67 13 200 +8:22.19 59½12½5½814½ 12 5 98 Chuck Stevenson(Walt Faulkner Laps 56–94(Walt Faulkner Laps 122–199) Kuzma-Offenhauser 138.77 12 199 -1 Lap 21½28½ 13 22 88 Manny Ayulo Kuzma-Offenhauser 138.16 22 197 -3 Laps 14 9 17 Bob Sweikert Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.20 21 197 -3 Laps 15 8 16 Duane Carter(Marshall Teague Laps 77–105)(Jimmy Jackson Laps 106–120)(Tony Bettenhausen Laps 121–154)(Jimmy Jackson Laps 155–196) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.23 19 196 -4 Laps 16 20 32 Ernie McCoy Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.41 15 194 -6 Laps 17 7 25 Jimmy Reece Pankratz-Offenhauser 138.31 17 194 -6 Laps 18 31 27 Ed Elisian (Bob Scott Laps 149–193) Stevens-Offenhauser 137.79 29 193 -7 Laps 19 33 71 Frank Armi (George Fonder Laps 141–164) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.67 33 193 -7 Laps 20 10 1 Sam Hanks(Jimmy Davies Laps 113–148)(Jim Rathmann Laps 149–191) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.99 25 191 Spun Off 21 12 35 Pat O'Connor Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.08 23 181 Spun Off 22 16 12 Rodger Ward(Eddie Johnson Laps 94–160) Pawl-Offenhauser 139.92 2 172 Retirement 23 17 31 Gene Hartley(Marshall Teague Laps 152–168) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.06 10 168 Clutch 24 4 43 Johnny Thomson(Andy Linden Laps 114–140)(Bill Homeier Laps 141–165) Nichels-Offenhauser 138.78 11 165 Retirement 25 23 74 Andy Linden(Bob Scott Laps 87–138) Schroeder-Offenhauser 137.82 27 165 Suspension 26 30 99 Jerry Hoyt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.82 28 130 Engine 27 2 19 Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.78 4 111 Accident 28 28 38 Jim Rathmann(Pat Flaherty Laps 96–110) Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.22 20 110 Accident 29 21 10 Tony Bettenhausen Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.27 18 105 Wheel Bearing 30 29 65 Spider Webb(Danny Kladis Laps 55–104) Bromme-Offenhauser 137.97 26 104 Fuel pump 31 26 33 Len Duncan (George Fonder Laps 44–101) Schroeder-Offenhauser 139.21 9 101 Brakes 32 15 15 Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 139.57 7 79 Engine 33 18 51 Bill Homeier Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.00 24 74 Accident
Note: Relief drivers in parentheses
Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
– Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap
Race statistics
Lap Leaders Laps Leader1–44 Jack McGrath45–50 Jimmy Daywalt51–54 Art Cross55 Jimmy Daywalt56–59 Art Cross60 Jimmy Daywalt61 Bill Vukovich62 Sam Hanks63–88 Jimmy Bryan89–91 Jack McGrath92–129 Bill Vukovich130–149 Jimmy Bryan150–200 Bill Vukovich
Total laps led Driver LapsBill Vukovich 90Jack McGrath 47Jimmy Bryan 46Art Cross 8Jimmy Daywalt 8Sam Hanks 1
Yellow Lights: 21 minutes, 16 seconds Laps* Reason55 Troy Ruttman spin in turn 3 (1:01)111–115 Jimmy Daywalt, Pat Flaherty crash in turn 4 (12:25)183–190 Pat O'Connor spin in turn 2; Rain & wind (6:37)197 Jim Rathmann spin on mainstretch (1:13)* – Approximate lap counts
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."Heroes of the 500: The 1954 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast" – WIBC, May 2014 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.
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 reportersChief Announcer: Sid Collins Color: Charlie BrockmanSouth Turns: Bill Frosch Backstretch: Jack Shapiro North Turns: Easy GwynnLuke Walton (north pits)Greg Smith (south pits)Dick LinglePaula Carr
World Drivers' Championship
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