1949 Indianapolis 500

{{Infobox Indy500 1911to1941

| race_name = 33rd Indianapolis 500

| race_logo = Indy500winningcar1949.JPG

| sanction = AAA

| date = May 30, 1949

| winner = Bill Holland

| team = Lou Moore

| mph = {{convert|121.327|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}

| pole = Duke Nalon

| pole_speed = {{convert|132.939|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}

| leader = Bill Holland (146)

| pace_car = Oldsmobile 88

| pace_driver = Wilbur Shaw

| starter = Seth Klein{{cite book|last=Fox|first=Jack C.|title =The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994|publisher =Carl Hungness Publishing|edition=4th|date=1994|pages=22|language=en|isbn=0-915088-05-3}}

| honorary = J. Emmett McManamon

| attendance = 150,000{{cite news|title=Sizzling Pace Sets New Record; Nalon Burned in Crash|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11404814/|first=Bob|last=Stranahan|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 31, 1949|access-date=June 1, 2017}}{{Open access}}

| previous = 1948

| next = 1950

}}

The 33rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was an automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1949.

After two years of failures to his teammate, Bill Holland finally won one for himself. Giving car owner Lou Moore his third consecutive Indy victory. Mauri Rose was fired by the team after the race when he again ignored orders and tried to pass Holland, only to see his car fail with 8 laps to go.{{cite web |url=https://www.snaplap.net/driver/mauri-rose/ |title=Career Summary:Maurice 'Mauri' Rose |website=www.snaplap.net|date=20 April 2015 |access-date=June 4, 2020}}

Spider Webb suffered a broken transmission the morning of the race and failed to start. Rather than utilize an alternate starter, officials awarded Webb the 33rd finishing position.

Offenhauser-powered cars locked 28 out of the 33 starting positions, and the top 19 finishing positions.

Starting grid

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" !Row !colspan=2 width="195"\|Inside !colspan=2 width="195"\|Middle !colspan=2 width="195"\|Outside
1 \|align="center" width="20"\|54 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Duke Nalon \|align="center" width="20"\|5 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Rex Mays \|align="center" width="20"\|33 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Jack McGrath
2 \|align="center" width="20"\|7 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Bill Holland \|align="center" width="20"\|17 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Duane Carter \|align="center" width="20"\|22 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} George Connor
3 \|align="center" width="20"\|61 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Jimmy Jackson \|align="center" width="20"\|26 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} George Lynch {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|98 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Johnny Mantz
4 \|align="center" width="20"\|3 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Mauri Rose {{Color box\|gold\|W\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|14 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Hal Cole \|align="center" width="20"\|12 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Johnnie Parsons {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}}
5 \|align="center" width="20"\|2 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Myron Fohr {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|8 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Mack Hellings \|align="center" width="20"\|29 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Duke Dinsmore
6 \|align="center" width="20"\|77 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Joie Chitwood \|align="center" width="20"\|57 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Jackie Holmes {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|64 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Troy Ruttman {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}}
7 \|align="center" width="20"\|19 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Paul Russo \|align="center" width="20"\|6 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Lee Wallard \|align="center" width="20"\|68 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Jim Rathmann {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}}
8 \|align="center" width="20"\|4 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Bill Sheffler \|align="center" width="20"\|18 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Sam Hanks \|align="center" width="20"\|71 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Norm Houser {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}}
9 \|align="center" width="20"\|38 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} George Fonder {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|37 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Spider Webb \|align="center" width="20"\|10 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Charles Van Acker
10 \|align="center" width="20"\|32 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Johnny McDowell {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|69 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Bayliss Levrett {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|align="center" width="20"\|74 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Bill Cantrell
11 \|align="center" width="20"\|15 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Fred Agabashian \|align="center" width="20"\|9 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Emil Andres \|align="center" width="20"\|52 \| {{flagicon\|USA\|1912}} Manny Ayulo {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

!Row

!colspan=2 width="195"|Inside

!colspan=2 width="195"|Middle

!colspan=2 width="195"|Outside

|align="center" width="20"|54

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Duke Nalon

|align="center" width="20"|5

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Rex Mays

|align="center" width="20"|33

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack McGrath

|align="center" width="20"|7

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Holland

|align="center" width="20"|17

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Duane Carter

|align="center" width="20"|22

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Connor

|align="center" width="20"|61

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jimmy Jackson

|align="center" width="20"|26

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Lynch {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|98

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Johnny Mantz

|align="center" width="20"|3

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Mauri Rose {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|14

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Hal Cole

|align="center" width="20"|12

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Johnnie Parsons {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|2

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Myron Fohr {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|8

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Mack Hellings

|align="center" width="20"|29

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Duke Dinsmore

|align="center" width="20"|77

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Joie Chitwood

|align="center" width="20"|57

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jackie Holmes {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|64

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Troy Ruttman {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|19

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Paul Russo

|align="center" width="20"|6

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Lee Wallard

|align="center" width="20"|68

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jim Rathmann {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|4

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Sheffler

|align="center" width="20"|18

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Sam Hanks

|align="center" width="20"|71

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Norm Houser {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|38

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Fonder {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|37

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Spider Webb

|align="center" width="20"|10

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Charles Van Acker

|align="center" width="20"|32

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Johnny McDowell {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|69

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bayliss Levrett {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|74

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Cantrell

|align="center" width="20"|15

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Fred Agabashian

|align="center" width="20"|9

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Emil Andres

|align="center" width="20"|52

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Manny Ayulo {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

{{legend|orange|text=R|Indianapolis 500 rookie|border=solid 1px darkgray}}

{{legend|gold|text=W|Indianapolis 500 winner|border=solid 1px darkgray}}

=Alternates=

First alternate: Ralph Pratt {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#34)The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004

=Failed to Qualify=

Les Anderson (#74)
Henry Banks (#35)
Frank Beardsley {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
Randall Beinke {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#42)
Tony Bettenhausen (#16, #46)
Lindley Bothwell {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#66)
Frank Brisko (#48)
Walt Brown (#18)
Jim Brubaker {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#79)
Frank Burany {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#24)
Jimmy Daywalt {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#56)
Billy Devore
Ted Duncan {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#72)
Kenny Eaton {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#55)
Milt Fankhouser (#73)
Pat Flaherty {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#43)
Dick Fraizer {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#59)
Eddie Haddad {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#47)
Mel Hansen (#44)
Tommy Hinnershitz (#15, #18)
Byron Horne {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#39)
Danny Kladis (#58)
Tommy Mattson {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
Johnny Mauro (#16)
George Metzler {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#67) - Fatal accident
Chet Miller (#65)
Hal Robson (#23)
Mike Salay (#49)
Wally Stokes {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#75)
Bill Taylor {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#51)
Joel Thorne (#81)
Louis Tomei (#42)
Doc Williams (#65){{cite web|title="1949 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/194902.htm|website=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=26 June 2015}}

Box score

class="wikitable" !Finish !Start !No !Name !Chassis !Engine !Qual !Rank !Laps !Status
1 \|4 \|7 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Bill Holland \|Diedt \|Offenhauser \|128.673 \|9 \|200 \|121.327 mph
2 \|12 \|12 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Johnnie Parsons {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|132.900 \|2 \|200 \| +3:11.00
3 \|6 \|22 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} George Connor \|Lesovsky \|Offenhauser \|128.228 \|13 \|200 \| +3:34.81
4 \|13 \|2 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Myron Fohr {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Marchese \|Offenhauser \|129.776 \|3 \|200 \| +5:16.68
5 \|16 \|77 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Joie Chitwood \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|126.863 \|27 \|200 \| +5:21.00
6 \|7 \|61 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Jimmy Jackson \|Diedt \|Offenhauser \|128.023 \|15 \|200 \| +7:15.03
7 \|9 \|98 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Johnny Mantz \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|127.786 \|18 \|200 \| +8:50.04
8 \|19 \|19 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Paul Russo \|Slines \|Offenhauser \|129.487 \|5 \|200 \| +20:55.31
9 \|32 \|9 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Emil Andres (Walt Brown Laps 19–197) \|Slines \|Offenhauser \|126.042 \|31 \|197 \|Flagged
10 \|24 \|71 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Norm Houser {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Langley \|Offenhauser \|127.756 \|20 \|181 \|Flagged
11 \|21 \|68 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Jim Rathmann {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Wetteroth \|Offenhauser \|126.516 \|29 \|175 \|Flagged
12 \|18 \|64 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Troy Ruttman {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Wetteroth \|Offenhauser \|125.945 \|32 \|151 \|Flagged
13 \|10 \|3 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Mauri Rose {{Color box\|gold\|W\|border=silver}} \|Diedt \|Offenhauser \|127.759 \|19 \|192 \|Magneto strap
14 \|5 \|17 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Duane Carter \|Stevens \|Offenhauser \|128.233 \|12 \|182 \|Spun T3
15 \|15 \|29 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Duke Dinsmore \|Olson \|Offenhauser \|127.750 \|21 \|174 \|Radius rod
16 \|14 \|8 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Mack Hellings \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|128.260 \|11 \|172 \|Valve
17 \|22 \|4 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Bill Sheffler \|Bromme \|Offenhauser \|128.521 \|10 \|160 \|Rod
18 \|28 \|32 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Johnny McDowell {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Meyer \|Offenhauser \|126.139 \|30 \|142 \|Magneto
19 \|11 \|14 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Hal Cole \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|127.168 \|24 \|117 \|Rod bearing
20 \|25 \|38 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} George Fonder {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} (Mel Hansen Laps 68–116) \|Adams \|Sparks \|127.289 \|22 \|116 \|Valve
21 \|30 \|74 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Bill Cantrell \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|127.191 \|23 \|95 \|Drive shaft
22 \|17 \|57 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Jackie Holmes {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|128.087 \|14 \|65 \|Drive shaft
23 \|20 \|6 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Lee Wallard \|Maserati \|Maserati \|128.912 \|7 \|55 \|Gears
24 \|29 \|69 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Bayliss Levrett {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|129.236 \|6 \|52 \|Drain plug
25 \|2 \|5 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Rex Mays \|Kurtis Kraft \|Novi \|129.552 \|4 \|48 \|Engine
26 \|3 \|33 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Jack McGrath \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|128.884 \|8 \|39 \|Oil pump
27 \|31 \|15 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Fred Agabashian \|Maserati \|Maserati \|127.007 \|25 \|38 \|Overheating
28 \|33 \|52 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Manny Ayulo {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Bromme \|Offenhauser \|125.799 \|33 \|24 \|Rod
29 \|1 \|54 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Duke Nalon \|Kurtis Kraft \|Novi \|132.939 \|1 \|23 \|Crash T3
30 \|23 \|18 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Sam Hanks \|Kurtis Kraft \|Offenhauser \|127.809 \|17 \|20 \|Oil leak
31 \|27 \|10 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Charles Van Acker \|Stevens \|Offenhauser \|126.524 \|28 \|10 \|Crash T4
32 \|8 \|26 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} George Lynch {{Color box\|orange\|R\|border=silver}} \|Rassey \|Offenhauser \|127.823 \|16 \|1 \|Crash T1
33 \|26 \|37 \|{{Flagicon\|United States\|1912}} Spider Webb \|Bromme \|Offenhauser \|127.002 \|26 \|0 \|Transmission
colspan="11" style="text-align:center" \| {{cite web\|title=Indianapolis 500 1949 \|url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=844 \|work=Ultimate Racing History \|access-date=16 January 2012 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205202650/http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=844 \|archive-date=5 February 2013 \|url-status=live }}{{Cite web \|title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway \|url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/race-stats/race-results/1949 \|access-date=2023-09-12 \|website=www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com \|language=en}}

class="wikitable"

!Finish

!Start

!No

!Name

!Chassis

!Engine

!Qual

!Rank

!Laps

!Status

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Bill Holland

|Diedt

|Offenhauser

|128.673

|200

|121.327 mph

|12

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Johnnie Parsons {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|132.900

|200

| +3:11.00

|22

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} George Connor

|Lesovsky

|Offenhauser

|128.228

|13

|200

| +3:34.81

|13

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Myron Fohr {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Marchese

|Offenhauser

|129.776

|200

| +5:16.68

|16

|77

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Joie Chitwood

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|126.863

|27

|200

| +5:21.00

|61

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Jimmy Jackson

|Diedt

|Offenhauser

|128.023

|15

|200

| +7:15.03

|98

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Johnny Mantz

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|127.786

|18

|200

| +8:50.04

|19

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Paul Russo

|Slines

|Offenhauser

|129.487

|200

| +20:55.31

|32

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Emil Andres
(Walt Brown Laps 19–197)

|Slines

|Offenhauser

|126.042

|31

|197

|Flagged

|24

|71

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Norm Houser {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Langley

|Offenhauser

|127.756

|20

|181

|Flagged

|21

|68

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Jim Rathmann {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Wetteroth

|Offenhauser

|126.516

|29

|175

|Flagged

|18

|64

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Troy Ruttman {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Wetteroth

|Offenhauser

|125.945

|32

|151

|Flagged

|10

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Mauri Rose {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|Diedt

|Offenhauser

|127.759

|19

|192

|Magneto strap

|17

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Duane Carter

|Stevens

|Offenhauser

|128.233

|12

|182

|Spun T3

|15

|29

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Duke Dinsmore

|Olson

|Offenhauser

|127.750

|21

|174

|Radius rod

|14

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Mack Hellings

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|128.260

|11

|172

|Valve

|22

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Bill Sheffler

|Bromme

|Offenhauser

|128.521

|10

|160

|Rod

|28

|32

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Johnny McDowell {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Meyer

|Offenhauser

|126.139

|30

|142

|Magneto

|11

|14

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Hal Cole

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|127.168

|24

|117

|Rod bearing

|25

|38

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} George Fonder {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
(Mel Hansen Laps 68–116)

|Adams

|Sparks

|127.289

|22

|116

|Valve

|30

|74

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Bill Cantrell

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|127.191

|23

|95

|Drive shaft

|17

|57

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Jackie Holmes {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|128.087

|14

|65

|Drive shaft

|20

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Lee Wallard

|Maserati

|128.912

|55

|Gears

|29

|69

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Bayliss Levrett {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|129.236

|52

|Drain plug

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Rex Mays

|Kurtis Kraft

|Novi

|129.552

|48

|Engine

|33

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Jack McGrath

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|128.884

|39

|Oil pump

|31

|15

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Fred Agabashian

|Maserati

|127.007

|25

|38

|Overheating

|33

|52

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Manny Ayulo {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Bromme

|Offenhauser

|125.799

|33

|24

|Rod

|54

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Duke Nalon

|Kurtis Kraft

|Novi

|132.939

|23

|Crash T3

|23

|18

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Sam Hanks

|Kurtis Kraft

|Offenhauser

|127.809

|17

|20

|Oil leak

|27

|10

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Charles Van Acker

|Stevens

|Offenhauser

|126.524

|28

|10

|Crash T4

|26

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} George Lynch {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Rassey

|Offenhauser

|127.823

|16

|Crash T1

|26

|37

|{{Flagicon|United States|1912}} Spider Webb

|Bromme

|Offenhauser

|127.002

|26

|Transmission

colspan="11" style="text-align:center" | {{cite web|title=Indianapolis 500 1949 |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=844 |work=Ultimate Racing History |access-date=16 January 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205202650/http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=844 |archive-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway |url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/race-stats/race-results/1949 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com |language=en}}

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses{{cite web|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|url=https://www.champcarstats.com/races/194902.htm|title=International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1949}}

{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} Former Indianapolis 500 winner

{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

=Race statistics=

Laps ! Leader
class="wikitable" !colspan=2\|Lap Leaders
1–23	Duke Nalon
24–35	Rex Mays
36–54	Lee Wallard
55–200	Bill Holland

Driver ! Laps
class="wikitable" !colspan=2\|Total laps led
Bill Holland	146
Duke Nalon	23
Lee Wallard	19
Rex Mays	12

Laps* ! Reason
class="wikitable" !colspan=2\|Yellow Lights: 8 minutes, 30 seconds
2	George Lynch crash in turn 1 (<1 minute)
12–13	Charles Van Acker crash in turn 4 (1:35)
24–27	Duke Nalon crash in turn 3 (6:00)
colspan=2 align=center\|* – Approximate lap counts{{cite news\|title=Race Cashier to Greet Old Pals-Blue Crown Boys\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/145891586/\|newspaper=Indianapolis News\|first=J.E.\|last=O'Brien\|page=6\|via=Newspapers.com\|date=May 31, 1949\|accessdate=April 22, 2024}}{{Open access}}{{cite news\|title=Lou Moore Has The Know-How\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal/145891511/\|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal\|first=Walter\|last=Stewart\|page=16\|via=Newspapers.com\|date=May 31, 1949\|accessdate=April 22, 2024}}{{Open access}}

Broadcasting

=Radio=

The race was carried live on the Mutual Broadcasting System, the precursor to the IMS Radio Network. The broadcast was sponsored by Perfect Circle Piston Rings and Bill Slater served as the anchor. The broadcast featured live coverage of the start, the finish, and live updates throughout the race.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan=3\|Mutual Broadcasting System
Booth Announcers	Turn Reporters	Roving reporters
valign="top"\| Booth Announcer: Bill Slater Analyst: Gordon Graham \|valign="top"\| South turns: Sid Collins Backstretch: Gene Kelly North turns: Jim Shelton \|align="center" valign="top"\|Barry Lake

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

colspan=3|Mutual Broadcasting System

Booth Announcers

Turn Reporters

Roving reporters

valign="top"|

Booth Announcer: Bill Slater

Analyst: Gordon Graham

|valign="top"|

South turns: Sid Collins

Backstretch: Gene Kelly

North turns: Jim Shelton

|align="center" valign="top"|Barry Lake

=Television=

The race was carried live for the first time in the history of television on WFBM-TV Channel 6 of Indianapolis. The station signed on for the first time on the morning of May 30, 1949,{{Cite web |date=28 January 2025 |title=WFBM Radio & TV, Indianapolis |url=https://indianabroadcastpioneers.org/62-2/station-histories-2-2/wfbm-radio-tv-indianapolis/ |website=Indiana Broadcast Pioneers}} with a documentary about the race entitled The Crucible of Speed, then coverage of the race itself. The race broadcast used three cameras located along the front stretch. Earl Townsend, Jr. who previously worked as a radio reporter, was the first television announcer. Dick Pittenger and Paul Roberts joined Townsend along with engineer Robert Robbins. The telecast reached approximately 3,000 local households.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan=2\|WFBM-TV Television
Play-by-play	Pit reporters
valign="top"\| Announcer: Earl Townsend, Jr. Color: Dick Pittenger Color: Paul Roberts \|align="center" valign="top"\|Robert Robbins

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

colspan=2|WFBM-TV Television

Play-by-play

Pit reporters

valign="top"|

Announcer: Earl Townsend, Jr.

Color: Dick Pittenger

Color: Paul Roberts

|align="center" valign="top"|Robert Robbins

Notes

=Works cited=

1949 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, Mutual: Re-broadcast on "The All-Night Race Party" – WIBC-AM (May 28, 2005)
Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975

=References=

{{Indy 500 Walker

|Previous_race = 1948

|Previous_winner = Mauri Rose

|This_race = 1949

|This_winner = Bill Holland

|Next_race = 1950

|Next_winner = Johnnie Parsons

|Fastest_average_speed = 121.327

|Previous_fastest_average_speed = 119.814 {{nobold|mph
{{small|(1948 Indianapolis 500)}}}}

|Next_fastest_average_speed = 124.002 {{nobold|mph
{{small|(1950 Indianapolis 500)}}}}

}}

Category:Indianapolis 500 races

Indianapolis 500

1949 Indianapolis 500

Starting grid

=Alternates=

=Failed to Qualify=

Box score

=Race statistics=

Broadcasting

=Radio=

=Television=

See also

Notes

=Works cited=

=References=