The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 25

MONDAY, MAY SO, 1955- TIFE INDIANAPOLIS STAR PAGE Vuky Proved To All He Could Win From Winning '500 Rough Chore AAA Crown, For Drivers Anywhere In Field Jack McGrath, the slender, likeable Californian, was sitting on the pcle position with a beautiful yellow racer. McGrath had qualified at a startling 141.033, the fastest any man ever had ridden over the historic Speedway track. Strung out behind him was the fastest field in Speedway history the slowest qualifier in son. Still Ruttman had such a great start on the field that Chuck Stevenson nosed him out by a scant 30 points. A car completed the grand slam in 1951 hut without the driver.

Lee Wallard won the "500" In the famous No. 99 that year, but was errl-ously burned Just a few days later. Tony Brttf then took 99 to the national championship. On the other side of the ledger, you'll find three famous national champions who were unable to win the 500-Mile Race. The immortal Ted Horn roared away with three con if 7 speed the kind neither they nor the speedway ever had seen before and Bill Vukovich was to prove a point that Wild Bill Vukovich.

at least, needed only to get into the starting field to win the 500-Mile Race. As expected, McGrath loomed Into the lead and soon Eight Rookies Chasing Award Next to winning the 500-Mile Race, the AAA Driving title is just about the biggest accomplishment in a race driver's career. Some can get one, some can get the other. But recently it's been darn near impossible for a driver to corner both the same year. All together Speedway champs have gone on to capture the AAA title 15 times.

But no one has hit the brass ring since 1939 when Wilbur Shaw ran off with racing's two most coveted prizes. Shaw turned the trick twice the other time in 1937. Louis Meyer, like Shaw a three-time Speedway winner, also used his Indianapolis points to pick off a national title on two occasions (1928 and 1933), But the story of the Championship Trail has been one of complete futility for the "BOO" champ since Shaw's sweep in 1939. Of course Bill Vukovich, winner of the last two Indianapolis runs, hasn't been competing on the championship circuit. Current National Champ is Jimmy Bryan, second-place finisher at the Speedway last year and one of the favorites to win this year's race.

Young Troy 1 Ruttman appeared on his way to the title after finishing ahead of the Indianapolis field in 1952. Troy added the points from the Raleigh (N.C.) race to his bulging total and took a substantial lead. Then Ruttman was seriously injured wanning up for a sprint race at Cedar Rapids, and was sidelined for the remainder of the racing sea secutive AAA titles (1946, 1947. 1948), but never fin-ished better than second at Indianapolis. Horn, however, was a model of consistency at the Speedway, closing in the first four nine times.

Earl Cooper took AAA honors in 1913, 1915 and 1917, but his best run at Indianapolis was second in 1924. The late Mays, a legendary racing giant, won the AAA title in 1940 and 1941 and won the Speedway pole position four times, more than any other driver. But Rex still could show only a pair of seconds (1940 and 1941) for his "500" efforts. Jimmy Daywalt, of Indianapolis, received the 1953 award for a sixth-place finish. Last year Jimmy was a contender throughout the early going, leading the pack at a record-breaking 135.739 mph after 125 miles.

But a series of mishaps forced him back and an accident finally put him out. Last year's winner, Larry Crockett, a lad with a bright future, was killed in a racing accident at Langhorne, Pa. Rookies this year are led by Eddie Russo, who qualified over 140, and Al Herman, Al Keller and Ray Crawford who averaged over 139. Others are Chuck Weyant, Johnny Boyd, Keith Andrews and Shorty Templeman. J.aiJIE!l,t'-im-' I IP jj fi ') 4 iiaaiiriiiiwiitiiti A bumper crop of eight rookies will be shooting for an award won by some right good men in the 500-Mile Race.

It's the Stark Wetzel Rookie-Of-The-Year Award presented after each race to the first-year man who is judged to have done the best driving job. The winner is selected by a panel of newspaper men. And none of the previous winners have done anything to make the judges look bad. The first winner was Art Cross, who received the honor, for his fifth-place finish in 1952. The following year Cross finished second.

He did not place In last year's rare but Is a definite contender this trip in the new Belanger Special. 1 1 1. at 2(M6. And sitting back the seventh row was an expressionless little man who shortly before had snapped at a reporter, "you don't have to start in the front row to win this race." The day was perfect and the crowd had come to see speed. They were going to get Heading for Dirt flies as Pat fights for in 'ft 'ft rrii it.iiiK.-itMiiiMini.r' iitri KEEPING TIME Bill Vuko-vich, winner of the last two 500-Mile Races, kills some time by putting a stopwatch on drivers during their practice runs.

(Star Photo) What Price Fun? Everyone enjoys the pretty balloons that are let loose just before the start of the race. They are, however, a fairly expensive bit of decoration. Last year there wras $350 worth of helium in them. And the price of helium has gone up so they'll cost more this year. For the Championship points are awarded on a sliding scale depending on finishes in AAA big-car championship races.

A first place at Indianapolis is worth 1,000 points. For a 100-miler the winner gets 200 points. In the following list of AAA champs, drivers completing: the grand slam are designated bv an asterisk. 1911 Ralph Mulford 1912 Ralph Dp Talma 1913 Earl Cooper 1914 Ralph DePalma. 19115 Earl Cooper 1916 Darlo Resta 1917 Earl Cooper 1918 Ralph Mulford 1919 Howard Wilcox 1920 'Gaston Chevrolet 1921 'Tommy Milton 1922 Jlmmy Murphy 1923 Edward Hearne 1924 Jimmy Murphy Peter DeFaolo 1928 Harry Hart 1927 Peter DePaolo 1928 Louls Meyer 1929 Louis Meyer 1930 Bill Arnold 19S1 'Louis Schneider 1932 Bob Carey 1933 "Louis Meyer 1934 'Bill Ciimmlnge 1935 Kelly Petrlllo 1936 Mauri Rose 1937 WUbur Shaw 1938 Floyd Roberta 1939 Wilbur Shaw 1940 Rex Mays 1941 Rex Mays 1942-45 No champion: World War II.

1940 Ted Horn 1947 Ted Horn 1948 Ted Horn 1949 Johnnie Parsone 1950 Henry Bank 1951 Tony Bettenhausen 1982 Chuck Stevenson 1953 Sam Hanks 1954 Jimmy Bryan 1 1 If, A i STATIONS wis smashing track records to bits. Young Jimmy Bryan, who was to have himself an eventful afternoon fell tn behind him. Back in that horrifying vortex of noise and dust a little man was moving like a Bomb. At 50 miles, McGrath was averaging a fantastic 139.860 and Vukovich had moved Into seventh position. Bryan made a pit stop and Jimmy Daywalt was chasing McGrath to a record 137.823 at the 100-mile mark.

But Vukovich now wait riding fourth. McGrath stopped for tires and fuel after the 44th lap and Daywalt took the lead. The exuberant Troy Rutt-man, driving faster than any man on the track spun on the back stretch but kept his car under control and got It back to the pits. Art Cross passed Daywalt and Vukovich, third by now, made a pit stop. The field was beginning to string out as the drivers settled down to the gruelling test.

The pace still was far faster than any in history. After 66 laps, Bryan had worked back into the lead with Daywalt second. But Vukovich was relentlessly closing the gap. He passed Daywalt on the 68th lap. Bryan stopped again and the leaders, temporarily, were shuffled.

On the 92 lap the sign went up on the board No. 14 was leading the race. Vukovich now was hard after his second straight victory. McGrath was having trouble with his car and said later he had to choose between going for first or taking it easy and finish ing. At 250 miles halfway home Vukovich was leading with McGrath second.

The average speed a heavy 133.726. Vukovich made his second, and last, pit stop after his 138th lap. And Bryan once more was In the lead. But now the race had set tled to one very clear issue, Who, if anyone, was going to beat Vukovich? Bryan was 66 seconds ahead of Vukovich when he made a third pit stop the one that proved to be THE one too many Bryan rolled back onto the track just as Vuko vich shot by, the leader again. The speed, the heat and the pressure was taking its toll and relief drivers were fran tically hopping from one car to another.

After 150 laps Vuky was riding approximately 15. sec onds ahead of Bryan and it was a two-man race after 166 laps the lead was 45 seconds, and Bryan, the shocks gone out of his car, was taking a. frightful beating in the cockpit of his little dirt track racer. At times he would roll his head from side to side as though making a supreme ef fort to stay conscious observers on the backstretch warned his crew to have a relief driver ready but the young man with the fierce competitive heart would take no relief. Now it was a one-man race.

There was speculation that Vuky might have to stop for tires. But his pit crew was fairly certain he could finish on what he had. the 181st lap, Marie Wilson, the 1954 winner- kisser, started walking toward Victory Lane. And few doubted that Vuky was going to get himself kissed again. He was nearly a lap ahead of the tired Bryan when the yellow light went on.

It rained briefly on the backstretch; Just long enough for the unfortunate Fat O'Connor, riding in the first 10, to spin out of the race. The green light went on as Vukovich went into his 187th lap and he soon had a full lap lead over Bryan with McGrath now a close third. And soon it was all over the time a new record 130.840 and in Victory Lane sat Vukovich the relentless little man who stood as new master of the mighty Speedway two victories and one near-miss in a fabulous three-year run. In the corner of a garage, Bryan, sick at heart and semi-conscious, moaned, "He beat me." A great effort was not enough. A man had driven his greatest race one of the greatest ever at the Speedway but he finished a full lap behind Vukovich.

Is it any wonder that in that strange world of racers and racing fans many are wondering, "Can anybody beat Vukovich at the Indianapolis Speedway?" No 500' Ties Thi may come under the heading of useless information, but the 500-Mile Race never has ended in a tie. tht infield car skids 1 control man who wants the thrill of a sports car without its drawbacks i jv vJv J1 CHRYSLER 300 WINS again and again and again! Chrysler has scored ten "firsts" In NASCAR Grand National Stock Car Events to dot In the 1955 model yeart 1. FIRST and Second placet National Speed Trial Championships at average speeds of 127.580 and 126.542 miles per hour. 2. FIRST and Second places at Daytona Beach; Florida, New NASCAR Record average speed 92.05 miles per hour.

Qualified for pole starting position at 130 miles per hour. 3. FIRST place at High Point, North Carolina. 4. FIRST place of Jacksonville, Florida.

5. FIRST place at Savannah, Georgia. 6. FIRST place at Montgomery, Alabama. 7.

FIRST place at langhorne, Pennsylvania. 8. FIRST place at Phoenix, Arizona. 9. FIRST and Second places at Martinsville, Virginia.

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SEI "IT'S A GREAT Better head for the basement O'CONNOR'S BAD BREAK Rain fell briefly on the back-stretch late in the race last year just long enough to cost popular young Pat O'Connor a spot in. the first 10. O'Connor was well up among the leaders when he hit a spot made slick by rain and skidded out of the race. Photographer Don Partain snapped sequence of O'Connor's dramatic and successful effort to save himself end the automobile. AND COUNTRY MOTORS, Inc.

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