Race Name: | 38th Indianapolis 500 |
Sanction: | AAA |
Date: | May 31, 1954 |
Winner: | Bill Vukovich |
Team: | Howard B. Keck |
Mph: | 130.84mi/h |
Pole: | Jack McGrath |
Pole Speed: | 141.033mi/h |
Leader: | Bill Vukovich (90) |
Pace Car: | Dodge Royal 500 |
Pace Driver: | W. C. Newberg |
Starter: | Bill Vanderwater[1] |
Honorary: | Ralph DePalma |
Attendance: | 175,000[2] |
Previous: | 1953 |
Next: | 1955 |
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 was scheduled for four days.
= Indianapolis 500 rookie; = Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 17 | Bob Sweikert | |
4 | 1 | 34 | Troy Ruttman | 35 | Pat O'Connor | |
5 | 24 | Cal Niday | 73 | Mike Nazaruk | 15 | Johnnie Parsons |
6 | 12 | Rodger Ward | 31 | 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 | 71 | Frank Armi | |
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.
Finish | Grid | No. | Driver | Constructor | Qual | Rank | Laps | Time/Retired | Points | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 | 14 | Bill Vukovich | Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 138.47 | 14 | 200 | 3:49:17.27 | 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 | 387 213 | 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 | 187.5 62.5 | ||
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 | 59.5 12.5 5.5 8 14.5 | ||
12 | 5 | 98 | Chuck Stevenson (Walt Faulkner Laps 56-94 (Walt Faulkner Laps 122-199) | Kuzma-Offenhauser | 138.77 | 12 | 199 | -1 Lap | 21.5 28.5 | ||
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 (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[5]
Former Indianapolis 500 winner
Indianapolis 500 Rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
– Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap
Lap Leaders | ||
---|---|---|
Laps | Leader | |
1–44 | Jack McGrath | |
45–50 | Jimmy Daywalt | |
51–54 | Art Cross | |
55 | Jimmy Daywalt | |
56–59 | Art Cross | |
60 | Jimmy Daywalt | |
61 | Bill Vukovich | |
62 | Sam Hanks | |
63–88 | Jimmy Bryan | |
89–91 | Jack McGrath | |
92–129 | Bill Vukovich | |
130–149 | Jimmy Bryan | |
150–200 | Bill Vukovich |
Total laps led | ||
---|---|---|
Driver | Laps | |
Bill Vukovich | 90 | |
Jack McGrath | 47 | |
Jimmy Bryan | 46 | |
Art Cross | 8 | |
Jimmy Daywalt | 8 | |
Sam Hanks | 1 |