1960 Indianapolis 500

44th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyUSAC
DateMay 30, 1960
WinnerJim Rathmann
Winning teamKen-Paul
Average speed138.767 mph (223.324 km/h)
Pole positionEddie Sachs
Pole speed146.592 mph (235.917 km/h)
Most laps ledJim Rathmann (100)
Pre-race ceremonies
Pace carOldsmobile
Pace car driverSam Hanks
StarterBill Vanderwater[1]
Estimated attendance200,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1959 1961

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.

  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. ^ Cadou Jr., Jep (May 31, 1960). "Wheel-To-Wheel Battle Feature Of Fastest 500". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley1070-AM WIBC, May 21, 2007