History 1950 Indy 500

Take the wayback machine to Indianapolis Indiana ..... 1950




found this ticket photo here:
http://www.sportsartifacts.com/other.html#anchor79466








program photo link:
http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/transportation/images/Automobilia Page/1950indy500program.JPG





























Benson Ford drove the Mercury pace car.

The actual running of the 500 was used for the final scenes in the 1950
Hollywood film "To Please a Lady" staring Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck.

link to movie database:
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0043052/

link to screen captures of cars used in the movie:
http://www.imcdb.org/movie.php?id=43052


MGM was well into production on the movie. The previous season, they
had closely followed and filmed Rex Mays in the red #17 Wolfe Special, a
KK2000 owned by Ervin Wolfe, focusing their filming on his car as the
target car that Gable “drove” in the movie. After Mays’ fatal crash in the
car at Del Mar, the studio found itself frantically looking for a look-alike
Kurtis for staged scenes, and quickly bought Tommy Lee’s car that had
raced the previous year.

Read about the cars and making the movie here:
http://www.loubrooks.com/news_donlee.html







this is a movie still so it's probably from 1949













Johnnie Parsons won the rain-shortened 138 lap race in a Kurtis-Kraft.



There's over 200 hi-res photos on the Life Magazine archive:
Not many racing but lots of pits & behind the scenes

http://images.google.com/images?q=I...:life&btnG=Search&hl=en&safe=off&sa=2&start=0

click on the thumbnails in the link to open bigger
then click on big photo for high resolution

 

Qualifiers

<TABLE class=wikitable style="FONT-SIZE: 95%"><TBODY><TR><TH>Pos</TH><TH>No</TH><TH>Driver</TH><TH>Constructor</TH><TH>Lap</TH><TH>Gap</TH></TR><TR><TH>1</TH><TD>98</TD><TD>Walt Faulkner</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:27.97</TD><TD>-</TD></TR><TR><TH>2</TH><TD>28</TD><TD>Fred Agabashian</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:31.10</TD><TD>+ 3.913</TD></TR><TR><TH>3</TH><TD>31</TD><TD>Mauri Rose</TD><TD>Deidt-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:32.07</TD><TD>+ 4.910</TD></TR><TR><TH>4</TH><TD>5</TD><TD>George Connor</TD><TD>Lesovsky-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:32.39</TD><TD>+ 4.942</TD></TR><TR><TH>5</TH><TD>1</TD><TD>Johnnie Parsons</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:32.43</TD><TD>+ 4.946</TD></TR><TR><TH>6</TH><TD>49</TD><TD>Jack McGrath</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:33.00</TD><TD>+ 5.903</TD></TR><TR><TH>7</TH><TD>69</TD><TD>Duke Dinsmore</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:34.67</TD><TD>+ 6.970</TD></TR><TR><TH>8</TH><TD>14</TD><TD>Tony Bettenhausen</TD><TD>Deidt-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:34.92</TD><TD>+ 6.995</TD></TR><TR><TH>9</TH><TD>17</TD><TD>Joie Chitwood</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:35.32</TD><TD>+ 7.935</TD></TR><TR><TH>10</TH><TD>3</TD><TD>Bill Holland</TD><TD>Deidt-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:35.90</TD><TD>+ 7.993</TD></TR><TR><TH>11</TH><TD>59</TD><TD>Pat Flaherty</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.76</TD><TD>+ 9.979</TD></TR><TR><TH>12</TH><TD>54</TD><TD>Cecil Green</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:30.86</TD><TD>+ 2.989</TD></TR><TR><TH>13</TH><TD>18</TD><TD>Duane Carter</TD><TD>Stevens-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:33.42</TD><TD>+ 5.945</TD></TR><TR><TH>14</TH><TD>21</TD><TD>Spider Webb</TD><TD>Maserati-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.46</TD><TD>+ 9.949</TD></TR><TR><TH>15</TH><TD>81</TD><TD>Jerry Hoyt</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.95</TD><TD>+ 9.998</TD></TR><TR><TH>16</TH><TD>2</TD><TD>Myron Fohr</TD><TD>Marchese-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:33.32</TD><TD>+ 5.935</TD></TR><TR><TH>17</TH><TD>24</TD><TD>Bayliss Levrett</TD><TD>Adams-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:34.43</TD><TD>+ 6.946</TD></TR><TR><TH>18</TH><TD>45</TD><TD>Dick Rathmann</TD><TD>Watson-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:34.96</TD><TD>+ 6.999</TD></TR><TR><TH>19</TH><TD>7</TD><TD>Paul Russo</TD><TD>Nichels-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:35.25</TD><TD>+ 7.928</TD></TR><TR><TH>20</TH><TD>4</TD><TD>Walt Brown</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:35.96</TD><TD>+ 7.999</TD></TR><TR><TH>21</TH><TD>12</TD><TD>Henry Banks</TD><TD>Maserati-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.68</TD><TD>+ 9.971</TD></TR><TR><TH>22</TH><TD>67</TD><TD>Bill Schindler</TD><TD>Snowberger-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:31.31</TD><TD>+ 3.934</TD></TR><TR><TH>23</TH><TD>8</TD><TD>Lee Wallard</TD><TD>Moore-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:31.83</TD><TD>+ 3.986</TD></TR><TR><TH>24</TH><TD>55</TD><TD>Troy Ruttman</TD><TD>Lesovsky-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:32.91</TD><TD>+ 4.994</TD></TR><TR><TH>25</TH><TD>23</TD><TD>Sam Hanks</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:33.57</TD><TD>+ 5.960</TD></TR><TR><TH>26</TH><TD>15</TD><TD>Mack Hellings</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:35.32</TD><TD>+ 7.935</TD></TR><TR><TH>27</TH><TD>22</TD><TD>Jimmy Davies</TD><TD>Ewing-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:36.07</TD><TD>+ 8.910</TD></TR><TR><TH>28</TH><TD>76</TD><TD>Jim Rathmann</TD><TD>Wetteroth-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.01</TD><TD>+ 9.904</TD></TR><TR><TH>29</TH><TD>27</TD><TD>Walt Ader</TD><TD>Rae-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.05</TD><TD>+ 9.908</TD></TR><TR><TH>30</TH><TD>77</TD><TD>Jackie Holmes</TD><TD>Olson-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.57</TD><TD>+ 9.960</TD></TR><TR><TH>31</TH><TD>75</TD><TD>Gene Hartley</TD><TD>Langley-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:38.61</TD><TD>+ 10.964</TD></TR><TR><TH>32</TH><TD>61</TD><TD>Jimmy Jackson</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Cummins</TD><TD>4:38.62</TD><TD>+ 10.965</TD></TR><TR><TH>33</TH><TD>62</TD><TD>Johnny McDowell</TD><TD>Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser</TD><TD>4:37.58</TD><TD>+ 9.961</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Non-qualifiers

<TABLE class=wikitable style="FONT-SIZE: 95%"><TBODY><TR><TH>No</TH><TH>Driver</TH><TH>Constructor</TH></TR><TR><TD>9</TD><TD>Andy Linden</TD><TD>Bromme-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>9</TD><TD>Bud Rose</TD><TD>Bromme-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>10</TD><TD>Bill Vukovich</TD><TD>Maserati-Maserati</TD></TR><TR><TD>10</TD><TD>Hal Cole</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>16</TD><TD>Ted Duncan</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>19</TD><TD>Ralph Pratt</TD><TD>Bardazon-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>19</TD><TD>Kenny Eaton</TD><TD>Bardazon-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>25</TD><TD>Johnny Mauro</TD><TD>Alfa Romeo-Alfa Romeo</TD></TR><TR><TD>26</TD><TD>George Fonder</TD><TD>Deidt-Sparks</TD></TR><TR><TD>29</TD><TD>Charles Van Acker</TD><TD>Stevens-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>33</TD><TD>Joel Thorne</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Sparks</TD></TR><TR><TD>34</TD><TD>Johnny Fedricks</TD><TD>Kupiec-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>36</TD><TD>George Lynch</TD><TD>Snowberger-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>38</TD><TD>Duke Nalon</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Novi</TD></TR><TR><TD>39</TD><TD>Danny Kladis</TD><TD>Maserati-Maserati</TD></TR><TR><TD>41</TD><TD>Milt Fankhouser</TD><TD>Stevens-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>43</TD><TD>Chet Miller</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Novi</TD></TR><TR><TD>44</TD><TD>Bill Cantrell</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>47</TD><TD>Ralph Pratt</TD><TD>Gdula-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>51</TD><TD>Mark Light</TD><TD>Stevens-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>52</TD><TD>Mark Light</TD><TD>Meyer-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>52</TD><TD>Dick Frazier</TD><TD>Meyer-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>58</TD><TD>Billy Devore</TD><TD>Scopa-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>63</TD><TD>Joe James</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>63</TD><TD>Bob Gregg</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>64</TD><TD>Bob Sweikert</TD><TD>Wetteroth-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>65</TD><TD>Marvin Burke</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Duray</TD></TR><TR><TD>65</TD><TD>Norm Houser</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Duray</TD></TR><TR><TD>66</TD><TD>Cliff Griffith</TD><TD>Miller-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>74</TD><TD>Carl Forberg</TD><TD>Miller-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>78</TD><TD>Cy Marshall</TD><TD>Miller-Miller</TD></TR><TR><TD>79</TD><TD>Chuck Leighton</TD><TD>Cantarano-Wayne</TD></TR><TR><TD>82</TD><TD>Joe James</TD><TD>Weidel-Mercury</TD></TR><TR><TD>83</TD><TD>Al Miller</TD><TD>Miller-Miller</TD></TR><TR><TD>84</TD><TD>Mike Burch</TD><TD>Miller-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>85</TD><TD>Manuel Ayulo</TD><TD>Maserati-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>85</TD><TD>Jim Rigsby</TD><TD>Maserati-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>87</TD><TD>Bill Vukovich</TD><TD>Rounds Rocket-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>99</TD><TD>Kenny Eaton</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR><TR><TD>99</TD><TD>Emil Andres</TD><TD>Kurtis-Kraft-Offenhauser</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Fastest Lead Lap: Johnnie Parsons - 1:09.77


Shared drivers:
Joie Chitwood (82 laps) and Tony Bettenhausen (54 laps),
Bettenhausen retired. Points for 5th position were shared between drivers.
Henry Banks (71 laps) and Fred Agabashian (41 laps)
Bayliss Levrett (105 laps) and Bill Cantrell (3 laps)

First win for Firestone in the World Championship.

 

A funny side note:

Larry Bisceglia claimed he was the first in line for entry into the Indy 500
every year from 1950 to 1987. By 1962, he had started promoting the
streak on his truck, which was parked at the main gate

 

Thanx for posting these. Gary

 

Really cool post. Even though it happened so long ago, I had contact with several of guys on the qualifier list or their kids. And 99 attempted qualifiers....

 

LOwKAt, Thanks. Big fan of early Indy stuff. Cool to see the names of drivers and constructors I followed threw the years. Slim

 

wow - GREAT pics, thank you!