A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
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| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | USAC | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1960 | ||||
| Winner | Jim Rathmann | ||||
| Winning team | Ken-Paul | ||||
| Average speed | 138.767 mph (223.324 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Eddie Sachs | ||||
| Pole speed | 146.592 mph (235.917 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Jim Rathmann (100) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| Pace car | Oldsmobile | ||||
| Pace car driver | Sam Hanks | ||||
| Starter | Bill Vanderwater[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 200,000[2] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 44th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Monday, May 30, 1960. The event was race 2 of 12 of the 1960 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 3 of 10 in the 1960 World Championship of Drivers. It would be the final time World Championship points would be awarded at the Indy 500.
Often regarded as the greatest two-man duel in Indianapolis 500 history, the 1960 race saw a then-record 29 lead changes (a record that stood until 2012). Jim Rathmann and Rodger Ward battled out nearly the entire second half. Rathmann took the lead for good on lap 197 after Ward was forced to slow down with a worn out tire.[3] Rathmann's margin of victory of 12.75 seconds was the second-closest finish in Indy history at the time.
The inaugural 500 Festival Open Invitation was held at the Speedway Golf Course in the four days leading up to the race.
Time trials
Time trials was scheduled for four days, but the third day was rained out.
- Saturday May 14 – Pole Day time trials
- Eddie Sachs set a track record of 146.592 mph to win the pole position.
- Sunday May 15 – Second day time trials
- Saturday May 21 – Third day time trials
- The third day of time trials was rained out.
- Sunday May 22 – Fourth day time trials
- Jim Hurtubise nearly broke the elusive and much-anticipated 150 mph barrier. Hurtubise's four-lap qualifying average of 149.056 mph featured a new one-lap record of 149.601 mph (on lap 3), to establish himself as the fastest qualifier in the field.[4]
After Carburetion tests, Dempsey Wilson replaced Jimmy Daywalt as the driver for the #23 entry, and the car was moved to the rear of the starting grid.[5]
Starting grid
| Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 |  Eddie Sachs
|
4 | Jim Rathmann
|
1 | Rodger Ward W
|
| 2 | 97 | Dick Rathmann
|
9 | Len Sutton
|
28 | Troy Ruttman W
|
| 3 | 22 | Eddie Johnson
|
7 | Don Branson
|
65 | Chuck Stevenson
|
| 4 | 10 | Jimmy Bryan W
|
73 | Don Freeland
|
98 | Lloyd Ruby R
|
| 5 | 8 | Johnny Boyd
|
38 | Bob Christie
|
32 | Wayne Weiler R
|
| 6 | 5 | A. J. Foyt
|
3 | Johnny Thomson
|
2 | Tony Bettenhausen
|
| 7 | 26 | Shorty Templeman
|
37 | Gene Force
|
14 | Bobby Grim
|
| 8 | 27 | Red Amick
|
55 | Jim Hurtubise R
|
48 | Gene Hartley
|
| 9 | 44 | Bob Veith
|
99 | Paul Goldsmith
|
17 | Duane Carter
|
| 10 | 18 | Bud Tingelstad R
|
46 | Eddie Russo
|
76 | Al Herman
|
| 11 | 39 | Bill Homeier
|
16 | Jim McWithey
|
23 | Dempsey Wilson
|
Alternates
- First alternate: Chuck Rodee R (#89)[6]
Failed to qualify
- Chuck Arnold (#21)
- Foster Campbell R (#62) – Entry declined, not enough experience
- Bill Cheesbourg (#45)
- Bob Cleberg R (#61)
- Leon Clum R (#95) – Entry declined, not enough experience
- Russ Congdon R (#79)
- Jimmy Daywalt (#23) – Raced by Dempsey Wilson
- Duke Dinsmore (#95)
- Lee Drollinger R (#58)
- Jack Ensley R (#17)
- Cotton Farmer R (#31, #69)
- Cliff Griffith (#29)
- Norm Hall R (#31, #39, #92)
- Chuck Hulse R (#43, #69)
- Eddie Jackson R (#62) – Entry declined, not enough experience
- Bruce Jacobi R (#95) – Entry declined, not enough experience
- Al Keller (#35, #57)
- Mike Magill (#77)
- Jim Packard R (#71)
- Marvin Pifer R (#87)
- Ebb Rose R (#41)
- Jack Rounds R (#52)
- Paul Russo (#31, #47, #49)
- Gig Stephens R (#21)
- Johnnie Tolan (#24)
- Jack Turner (#25, #31)
- Bob Wente R (#95) – Did not finish rookie test
- Chuck Weyant (#87, #88)[7]
Race recap
First half
The race started out with four contenders in the first half. Rodger Ward took the lead on lap 1 from the outside of the front row. Ward led the first lap. But polesitter Eddie Sachs took the lead on lap 2. Two laps later, Ward was back in front, and the record-setting number of lead changes was already under way. Troy Ruttman and Jim Rathmann also took turns at the front.
The first caution came out on lap 47 when Duane Carter spun in turn 3. He did not hit the wall, and came to a rest in the infield grass. Carter was able to continue. Moments later, Don Branson came into the pits, but came in too hot. He lost control and did a half spin, tagging the pit wall. The crew jumped out the way, and no one was injured. The damage was minimal, and Branson was able to continue.
On lap 66, Jim McWithey came into the pits without any brakes. He brushed the inside pit wall trying to slow the car down, but failed to stop. He continued through the pit lane and finally came to rest in the infield grass in turn 1. On lap 88 Eddie Russo hit the wall exiting turn two, and slid down the backstretch. Russo was taken to the hospital for a scalp wound and a concussion. During the yellow for Russo's crash, Wayne Weiler brushed the wall in turn two. His car suffered suspension damage, and he dropped out after 103 laps.
The green came back out on lap 100, but almost immediately, the yellow light was back on. Chuck Stevenson spun in the south short-chute exiting the pits. Stevenson was able to continue in the race. It was the fourth and final yellow light period of the afternoon. The green came back out for good on lap 110.
Rodger Ward had stalled his engine twice during his first pit stop, losing considerable ground. After getting back on the track, he started charging to catch up to the front of the field.[8] Shortly after the halfway point, Eddie Sachs and Troy Ruttman would both drop out of the race, ultimately leaving Rathmann and Ward to battle it out in front.
Second half
On about lap 124, Tony Bettenhausen came in for a routine pit stop. He complained of a smoking engine, but returned to the track. One lap later, he was back in the pits with a fire and a blown engine. Bettenhausen was unhurt, but hoisted himself out of the cockpit as it was coasting to stop in the pits to avoid getting burned. Safety crew extinguished the fire and no one was injured.
In the second half, Rodger Ward had caught up to Jim Rathmann, with Johnny Thomson close behind in third. Rathmann and Ward swapped the lead several times, meanwhile Ward was hoping that the pace would slow down, in order to save his tires to the end. After stalling in the pits earlier, the hard charge Ward made to get back to the front was a concern. He feared that that he had worn out his tires prematurely. Ward was aware of Rathmann's tendencies as a driver, and allowed Rathmann to pass him for the lead. Rathmann had a reputation for charging hard to take the lead, but once he was in the lead, he would often back the pace down.[8] Ward's prediction came true, but it was at the expense of losing ground to third place. Johnny Thomson was now catching up. Thomson's day was not without incident, however. He blew a right right rear tire around lap 145; but it occurred as he was already pulling into his pit stall for a routine pit stop.
Ward and Rathmann came in for their final scheduled pit stops on lap 148. Ward's crew had him out first, with Rathmann right behind.
With 48 laps to go, three cars were on the lead lap. Rathmann now led Ward, and Thomson was just ten second behind in third place. With Thomson closing in on the leaders, Ward and Rathmann started charging again, racing each other hard, swapping the lead several times between themselves. Thomson narrowed the deficit to about 8 seconds, but on lap 172 his engine started losing power. He slowed and wound up nursing his car to a 5th-place finish.
Inside ten laps to go, Rodger Ward seemed to have the faster car, and he took the lead on lap 194. He was less than six laps from victory. A few laps later though, Ward observed the cords in his right front tire showing, and he backed off the pace. Jim Rathmann took the lead for good on lap 197, and pulled away for victory. Due to Ward's experience as a tire tester, he was able to nurse his car to the finish line without pitting to change the bad tire. He finished second place, about 12 seconds behind Rathmann.[3] Despite winning twice (1959 and 1962), Rodger Ward often considered this race his personal best.[8]
Paul Goldsmith charged from 26th starting position to finish 3rd, holding off 4th place Don Branson by about a car length.