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.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
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Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
Date | May 31, 1954 | ||||
Winner | Bill Vukovich | ||||
Winning Entrant | Howard B. Keck | ||||
Average speed | 130.840 mph (210.567 km/h) | ||||
Pole position | Jack McGrath | ||||
Pole speed | 141.033 mph (226.971 km/h) | ||||
Most laps led | Bill Vukovich (90) | ||||
Pre-race | |||||
Pace car | Dodge Royal 500 | ||||
Pace car driver | W. C. Newberg | ||||
Starter | Bill Vanderwater[1] | ||||
Honorary referee | Ralph DePalma[1] | ||||
Estimated attendance | 175,000[2] | ||||
Chronology | |||||
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Time trials was scheduled for four days.
R = Indianapolis 500 rookie; W = Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
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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 W | 35 | Pat O'Connor R |
5 | 24 | Cal Niday | 73 | Mike Nazaruk | 15 | Johnnie Parsons W |
6 | 12 | Rodger Ward | 31 | Gene Hartley | 51 | Bill Homeier R |
7 | 14 | Bill Vukovich W | 32 | Ernie McCoy | 10 | Tony Bettenhausen |
8 | 88 | Manny Ayulo | 74 | Andy Linden | 77 | Fred Agabashian |
9 | 28 | Larry Crockett R | 33 | Len Duncan R | 45 | Art Cross |
10 | 38 | Jim Rathmann | 65 | Spider Webb | 99 | Jerry Hoyt |
11 | 27 | Ed Elisian R | 5 | Paul Russo | 71 | Frank Armi R |
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. The race reportedly went 110 laps before the first yellow light.[5]
Finish | Grid | No. | Driver | Constructor | Qual | Rank | Laps | Time/Retired | WDC Points |
AAA Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 | 14 | Bill Vukovich W | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 138.47 | 14 | 200 | 3:49:17.27 | 8 | 1,000 |
2 | 3 | 9 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma-Offenhauser | 139.66 | 5 | 200 | + 1:09.95 | 6 | 800 |
3 | 1 | 2 | Jack McGrath | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 141.03 | 1 | 200 | + 1:19.73 | 51 | 700 |
4 | 11 | 34 | Troy Ruttman W (Relieved by Duane Carter) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.73 | 31 | 200 | + 2:52.68 | 1.5 1.5 |
387 |
5 | 14 | 73 | Mike Nazaruk | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 139.58 | 6 | 200 | + 3:24.55 | 2 | 500 |
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 (Relieved by Jerry Hoyt) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.67 | 32 | 200 | + 5:01.17 | 187.5 | |
9 | 25 | 28 | Larry Crockett R | 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 (Relieved by Johnnie Parsons) (Relieved by Sam Hanks) (Relieved by Andy Linden) (Relieved by Jimmy Davies) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 138.67 | 13 | 200 | + 8:22.19 | 59.5 | |
12 | 5 | 98 | Chuck Stevenson (Relieved by Walt Faulkner) |
Kuzma-Offenhauser | 138.77 | 12 | 199 | + 1 Lap | 21.5 | |
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 (Relieved by Marshall Teague) (Relieved by Jimmy Jackson) (Relieved by Tony Bettenhausen) |
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 R (Relieved by Bob Scott) |
Stevens-Offenhauser | 137.79 | 29 | 193 | + 7 Laps | ||
19 | 33 | 71 | Frank Armi R (Relieved by George Fonder) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.67 | 33 | 193 | + 7 Laps | ||
20 | 10 | 1 | Sam Hanks (Relieved by Jimmy Davies) (Relieved by Jim Rathmann) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.99 | 25 | 191 | Spun Off | ||
21 | 12 | 35 | Pat O'Connor R | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 138.08 | 23 | 181 | Spun Off | ||
22 | 16 | 12 | Rodger Ward (Relieved by Eddie Johnson) |
Pawl-Offenhauser | 139.92 | 2 | 172 | Retirement | ||
23 | 17 | 31 | Gene Hartley (Relieved by Marshall Teague) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 139.06 | 10 | 168 | Clutch | ||
24 | 4 | 43 | Johnny Thomson (Relieved by Andy Linden) (Relieved by Jimmy Daywalt) |
Nichels-Offenhauser | 138.78 | 11 | 165 | Retirement | ||
25 | 23 | 74 | Andy Linden (Relieved by Bob Scott) |
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 (Relieved by Pat Flaherty) |
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 (Relieved by Danny Kladis) |
Bromme-Offenhauser | 137.97 | 26 | 104 | Fuel pump | ||
31 | 26 | 33 | Len Duncan R (Relieved by George Fonder) |
Schroeder-Offenhauser | 139.21 | 9 | 101 | Brakes | ||
32 | 15 | 15 | Johnnie Parsons W | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 139.57 | 7 | 79 | Engine | ||
33 | 18 | 51 | Bill Homeier R | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 138.00 | 24 | 74 | Accident |
W Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap
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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.[8]
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 | ||
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Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit/garage reporters |
South Turns: Bill Frosch |
Luke Walton (north pits) Greg Smith (south pits) Dick Lingle Paula Carr |
Pos | Driver | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 8 | |
16 | 2 | Bill Vukovich | 8 |
1 | 3 | Nino Farina | 6 |
14 | 4 | Jimmy Bryan | 6 |
2 | 5 | José Froilán González | 5 |
Source: [9] |
Pos | Driver | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bill Vukovich | 1,000 | |
2 | Jimmy Bryan | 800 | |
3 | Jack McGrath | 700 | |
4 | Mike Nazaruk | 500 | |
5 | Fred Agabashian | 400 | |
Source: [4] |