 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | USAC | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1958 | ||||
| Winner | Jimmy Bryan | ||||
| Winning team | George Salih | ||||
| Average speed | 133.791 mph (215.316 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Dick Rathmann | ||||
| Pole speed | 145.974 mph (234.922 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Jimmy Bryan (139) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| Pace car | Pontiac Bonneville | ||||
| Pace car driver | Sam Hanks | ||||
| Starter | Bill Vanderwater[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 175,000[2] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 42nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1958. The event was part of the 1958 USAC National Championship Trail, and was also race 4 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers.
The race is best known for a massive first-lap, 15-car pileup that resulted in the death of fan-favorite driver Pat O'Connor.
Jimmy Bryan was the race winner. This marked the first time that one car would carry two drivers to separate wins at the race, in back-to-back years, with Sam Hanks winning the previous year's race in the same car.
The race featured young rookie A. J. Foyt's debut at Indy. On lap 148, he spun in an oil slick, blew out the tires, and dropped out of the race.
Juan Manuel Fangio arrived at Indy under much fanfare as he attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 and score points towards the World Championship. He practiced early in the month, but withdrew when he could not get up to speed.
- ^ Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
- ^ Cadou Jr., Jep (May 31, 1958). "National Champ Noses Out Amick; Boyd Finishes 3d". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
