1962 Indianapolis 500

46th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyUSAC
Season1962 USAC season
DateMay 30, 1962
WinnerRodger Ward
Winning teamLeader Cards
Average speed140.293 mph (225.780 km/h)
Pole positionParnelli Jones
Pole speed150.370 mph (241.997 km/h)
Fastest qualifierParnelli Jones
Rookie of the YearJim McElreath
Most laps ledParnelli Jones (120)
Pre-race ceremonies
National anthemPurdue Band
"Back Home Again in Indiana"C. David Cochard
Starting commandTony Hulman
Pace carStudebaker Lark Daytona Convertible
Pace car driverSam Hanks
StarterPat Vidan[1]
Honorary refereeRobert A. Stranahan, Jr.[1]
Estimated attendance230,000[2]
TV in the United States
NetworkN/A
AnnouncersN/A
Nielsen ratingsN/A / N/A
Chronology
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1961 1963

The 46th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Wednesday, May 30, 1962.

A historic pole day saw Parnelli Jones break the 150 mph (240 km/h) barrier in qualifying. Rodger Ward and Len Sutton finished 1st-2nd for Leader Cards Racing.

The 1962 Indy 500 marked the final 500 wherein the entire 33-car field consisted of U.S.-born participants. It was also the first race held with the track surface paved entirely in asphalt, with just the ceremonial single yard of bricks exposed at the start/finish line.[citation needed]

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ Campbell, Don G. (May 31, 1962). "500 Crowd is Star Of Own Show". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon