1951 Indianapolis 500

35th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1951
WinnerLee Wallard
Winning EntrantMurrell Belanger
Average speed126.244 mph (203.170 km/h)
Pole positionDuke Nalon
Pole speed136.498 mph (219.672 km/h)
Most laps ledLee Wallard (159)
Pre-race
Pace carChrysler New Yorker
Pace car driverDavid A. Wallace
StarterSeth Klein
Honorary refereeClarence Beesmyer
Estimated attendance150,000
Chronology
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1950 1952

The 35th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1951. The event was part of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1951 World Championship of Drivers. For the second year in a row, no European Formula One-based teams entered the race.

Duke Nalon, who had suffered serious burns in a crash in 1949, and who missed the 1950 race, made a comeback at Indy by winning the pole position in a Novi. Heavy attrition saw only eight cars running at the finish. Winner Lee Wallard's car lost its brakes, suffered a damaged exhaust pipe, and broke a shock absorber mounting. In addition to the unbearably uncomfortable ride, Wallard had worn a fire retardant outfit, created by dipping his uniform in a mixture of borax crystals and water. Due to not wearing an undershirt, Wallard suffered serious chafing, and required treatment at the infield hospital after the victory lane celebration. It was estimated he lost 15 pounds during the race.

Wallard's winning car had the smallest displacement in the field. About a week after winning the race, Wallard suffered severe burns in a crash at Reading, which effectively ended his professional racing career. Three-time winner Mauri Rose, in his 15th Indy start, crashed and flipped on lap 126. It was his final 500, as he retired from driving after the crash.

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)

Box score

Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Led Time/Retired Points
1 2 99 United States Lee Wallard Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.03 5 200 159 3:57:38.05 91
2 7 83 United States Mike Nazaruk  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.18 26 200 0 + 1:47.24 6
3 3 9 United States Jack McGrath(Laps 1–100)
United States Manny Ayulo(Laps 101–200)
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.30 8 200 11 + 2:51.39 2
2
4 31 57 United States Andy Linden  R  Sherman-Offenhauser 132.22 25 200 0 + 4:40.12 3
5 29 52 United States Bobby Ball  R  Schroeder-Offenhauser 134.09 9 200 0 + 4:52.23 2
6 17 1 United States Henry Banks Moore-Offenhauser 133.89 12 200 0 + 5:40.02  
7 24 68 United States Carl Forberg  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.89 22 193 0 + 7 Laps  
8 4 27 United States Duane Carter Deidt-Offenhauser 133.74 15 180 0 + 20 Laps  
9 9 5 United States Tony Bettenhausen Deidt-Offenhauser 131.95 29 178 0 Spun Off  
10 1 18 United States Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 136.49 2 151 0 Retirement  
11 22 69 United States Gene Force  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.10 20 142 0 Engine  
12 12 25 United States Sam Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.99 21 135 0 Engine  
13 16 10 United States Bill Schindler Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 134.03 11 129 0 Engine  
14 5 16 United States Mauri Rose  W  Deidt-Offenhauser 133.42 18 126 0 Accident  
15 14 2 United States Walt Faulkner Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.87 1 123 0 Engine  
16 27 76 United States Jimmy Davies Pawl-Offenhauser 133.51 17 110 25 Axle  
17 11 59 United States Fred Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.02 6 109 0 Clutch  
18 15 73 United States Carl Scarborough  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.61 4 100 0 Fire  
19 33 71 United States Bill Mackey  R  Stevens-Offenhauser 131.47 32 97 0 Clutch  
20 19 8 United States Chuck Stevenson  R  Marchese-Offenhauser 133.76 14 93 0 Fire  
21 8 3 United States Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.15 27 87 0 Magneto  
22 10 4 United States Cecil Green Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.89 31 80 5 Engine  
23 6 98 United States Troy Ruttman Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 132.31 24 78 0 Engine  
24 32 6 United States Duke Dinsmore Schroeder-Offenhauser 131.97 28 73 0 Overheating  
25 28 32 United States Chet Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi 135.79 3 56 0 Ignition  
26 13 44 United States Walt Brown Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 131.90 30 55 0 Magneto  
27 25 48 United States Rodger Ward  R  Bromme-Offenhauser 134.86 7 34 0 Oil Pipe  
28 18 23 United States Cliff Griffith  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 133.83 13 30 0 Axle  
29 20 81 United States Bill Vukovich  R  Trevis-Offenhauser 133.72 16 29 0 Oil leak  
30 21 22 United States George Connor Lesovsky-Offenhauser 133.35 19 29 0 Transmission  
31 23 19 United States Mack Hellings Deidt-Offenhauser 132.92 33 18 0 Engine  
32 26 12 United States Johnny McDowell Maserati-Offenhauser 132.47 23 15 0 Fuel leak  
33 30 26 United States Joe James  R  Watson-Offenhauser 134.09 10 8 0 Transmission  
Source:
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Alternates

Failed to Qualify


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