1959 Indianapolis 500

43rd Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyUSAC
DateMay 30, 1959
WinnerRodger Ward
Winning teamLeader Cards
Average speed135.857 mph (218.641 km/h)
Pole positionJohnny Thomson
Pole speed145.908 mph (234.816 km/h)
Most laps ledRodger Ward (130)
Pre-race ceremonies
Pace carBuick Electra 225
Pace car driverSam Hanks
StarterBill Vanderwater[1]
Estimated attendance180,000[2]
Chronology
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1958 1960

The 43rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1959 World Championship of Drivers.

Rodger Ward earned the first of two career Indy 500 victories. A record sixteen cars completed the full 500 miles.

All cars were required to have roll bars for the first time.[3]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Stranahan, Bob (May 31, 1959). "Good Race Day Time Had By All". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 3, 2010. WFNI.