1954 Indianapolis 500

Time trials was scheduled for four days.

• Saturday May 15 – Pole Day time trials
• Sunday May 16 – Second day time trials
• Saturday May 22 – Third day time trials
• Sunday May 23 – Fourth day time trials

Late in the afternoon on the final day of time trials, Bob Scott was bumped from the field. With help from his friend Bob Sweikert, Scott was able to find a new car to qualify, the number 18 owned by Ray Brady. With only minutes left in time trials, Scott went on track to qualify. His first three laps were fast enough to bump into the starting lineup. As the sun was setting low in the sky, Scott was unable to see the flag waved by the flagman, having lost track of how many laps he had run, and mistook the white flag for the checkered flag. He also saw Sweikert waving his hands over his head, thinking Sweikert was congratulating him on the completion of his run. After only three of four required laps, Scott slowed and returned to the pits, thinking his run was over.{{cite news|title=Speedway Tragedy is Not New, But Scott's Heartbreak Is|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/15022109/|first=Angelo|last=Angelopolous|newspaper=Indianapolis News|page=14|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 24, 1954|access-date=May 21, 2025}}{{Open access}} Upon his return to the pits, Scott was informed what had happened. Scott and Sweikert were left in tears over the disappointment and realization over how much money was lost by missing the race.{{cite news|title=Victory Turns Into Defeat|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/5803751/|first=Frank|last=Anderson|newspaper=Indianapolis Star|page=20|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 24, 1954|access-date=May 21, 2025}}{{Open access}} Scott died in a crash at Darlington Raceway over a month later.

{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} = Indianapolis 500 rookie; {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} = Former Indianapolis 500 winner

• First alternate: Eddie Johnson (#26)The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004 — Johnson drove relief during the race

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• Henry Banks (#26) - Retired
• Joe Barzda {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}(#54)
• Bill Boyd {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#47)
• Wally Campbell {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#66, #81) - Failed rookie test
• Bob Christie {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#66)
• George Connor (#27, #32) - Retired
• Ray Crawford {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#32) - Entry declined
• Jimmy Davies (#53)
• Billy Devore (#93)
• Duke Dinsmore (#62, #67)
• Walt Faulkner (#44, #97)
• Pat Flaherty (#39, #76, #89)
• Johnny Fedricks {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#89)
• George Fonder (#33, #36)
• Potsy Goacher {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#67)
• Cliff Griffith (#22)
• Al Herman {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#36)
• Bill Holland {{Color box|orange|W|border=silver}}#38)
• Frank Mundy {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#41)
• Duke Nalon (#8)
• Danny Oakes {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#47, #49)
• Eddie Russo {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#37)
• Eddie Sachs {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#54)
• Bob Scott (#18, #21)
• Joe Sostilio {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#45)
• Marshall Teague (#3)
• George Tichenor {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#22)
• Johnnie Tolan {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#69)
• Lee Wallard{{Color box|orange|W|border=silver}}(#99) - Retired
• Leroy Warriner (#67) - Withdrew, injured
• Chuck Weyant {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} (#52){{cite web|title=1954 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/195401.htm|website=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=26 June 2015}}

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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.

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses{{cite web|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|url=https://www.champcarstats.com/races/195401.htm|title=International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 31, 1954}}

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

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

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

{{Note|1|1}} – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

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• Pole position: Jack McGrath – 4:15.26 (4 laps)
• Pole Speed: 141.033 mph (average for 4 laps)
• Fastest Lead Lap: Jack McGrath – 1:04.04 (140.540 mph)
• Relief drivers:
• Troy Ruttman (130 laps) & Duane Carter (70) shared car no 34. Shared points for 4th position.
• Paul Russo (150) & Jerry Hoyt (50) shared car no 5.
• Art Cross (120), Jimmie Davies (30), Johnnie Parsons (22), Andy Linden (17) & Sam Hanks (11) shared car no 45.
• Chuck Stevenson (82), Walt Faulkner (117) shared car no 98.
• Duane Carter (76), Jimmy Jackson (57), Tony Bettenhausen (34) & Marshall Teague (29) shared car no 16.
• Ed Elisian (148) & Bob Scott (45) shared car no 27.
• Frank Armi (179) & George Fonder (14) shared car no 71.
• Sam Hanks (112), Jimmie Davies (36) & Jim Rathmann (43) shared car no 1.
• Rodger Ward (105) & Eddie Johnson (67) shared car no 12.
• Gene Hartley (151) & Marshall Teague (17) shared car no 31.
• Andy Linden (113) & Bob Scott (52) shared car no 74.
• Johnny Thomson (113), Andy Linden (27) & Jimmy Daywalt (25) shared car no 43.
• Jim Rathmann (95) & Pat Flaherty (15) shared car no 38.
• Spider Webb (54) & Danny Kladis (50) shared car no 65.
• Len Duncan (43) & George Fonder (58) shared car no 33.
• It was the first Indy 500 where the entire field on race day had Offenhauser engines.

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."Heroes of the 500: The 1954 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast" – WIBC, May 2014 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.{{cite news|title=Air Network To Catch Speedway Action, Color|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1954-indianapolis/125576817/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=9|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 30, 1954|accessdate=May 30, 2023}}{{Open access}}

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.

{{Infobox Grand Prix race report

| Type = F1

| Country = USA

| Grand Prix = Indianapolis 500

| GP_Suffix =

| Fulldate = {{Start date|1954|5|31}}

| Year =1954

| Race_No =2

| Season_No =9

| Previous_round =1954 Argentine Grand Prix

| Next_round =1954 Belgian Grand Prix

| Image =File:Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1909-1956.svg

| Location = Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Speedway, Indiana

| Course_mi = 2.500

| Course_km = 4.023

| Distance_laps = 200

| Distance_mi = 500.000

| Distance_km = 804.672

}}

The Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Championship of Drivers from 1950 through 1960. The race was sanctioned by AAA through 1955, and then by USAC beginning in 1956. At the time the new world championship was announced and first organized by the CSI, the United States did not yet have a Grand Prix. Indianapolis Motor Speedway vice president and general manager Theodore E. "Pop" Meyers lobbied that the Indianapolis 500 be selected as the race to represent the country and to pay points towards the world championship.{{cite episode|series=The Talk of Gasoline Alley|station=1070 WIBC-AM|airdate=May 23, 2007}}{{cite episode|series=The Talk of Gasoline Alley|station=WFNI|airdate=May 19, 2016}}

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.{{cite episode|series=The Talk of Gasoline Alley|station=WFNI|airdate=May 5, 2012}} However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.{{cite journal|last=Capps|first=Don|author2=Cameron Argetsinger|title=Where Upon Our Scribe, Sherman, & Mr. Peabody Once Again Crank Up The Way-Back Machine for 1961..|journal=AtlasF1|date=October 25, 2000|volume=6|series=Rear View Mirror|issue=43|url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/mal/mirror.html|access-date=May 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427115856/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/mal/mirror.html|archive-date=April 27, 2012|url-status=dead}} The drivers also earned separate points (on a different scale) towards the respective AAA or USAC national championships. No points, however, were awarded by the FIA towards the World Constructors Championship.

The 1954 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 9 on the 1954 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit. Race winner Bill Vukovich earned 8 points towards the World Championship. Despite not competing in any of the other World Championship events, he finished sixth in the final season standings.

• Note: Only the top five positions are included.

• Note: Only the top five positions are included.

{{Reflist | 30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120427163136/https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/ Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats] – Official Site
• [http://racing-reference.info/race/1954_Indianapolis_500/F 1954 Indianapolis 500 at RacingReference.info] (Relief driver statistics)

{{F1 race report

| Name_of_race = 1954 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich

| Year_of_race = 1954

| Previous_race_in_season = 1954 Argentine Grand Prix

| Next_race_in_season = 1954 Belgian Grand Prix

| Previous_year's_race = 1953 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich

| Next_year's_race = 1955 Indianapolis 500
Bob Sweikert

| Fastest_average_speed = 130.840

| Previous_fastest_average_speed = 128.922 {{nobold|mph
{{small|(1952 Indianapolis 500)}}}}

| Next_fastest_average_speed = 135.601 {{nobold|mph
{{small|(1957 Indianapolis 500)}}}}

}}

{{Indy 500}}

{{F1GP 50-59}}

Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

Category:Indianapolis 500 races

Indianapolis 500

Category:1954 in American motorsport