|| *Comments on the 1950 Indianapolis 500:* View the most recent comment <#18> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. Pacer posted: 09.09.2009 - 11:41 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) First time the Indy 500 counted as part of the World Championship The pace car for this Indy 500 was a Mercury 2. Aldo posted: 10.01.2009 - 5:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did not qualify: 29 Chas Van Acker 25 Johnny Mauro 47 Ralph Pratt 19 Kenny Eaton 16 Ted Whiteaway 16 Hal Cole 10 Bill Vukovich 9 Mauri Rose 9 Andy Linden 85 Manuel Ayulo 79 Chuck Leighton 66 Cliff Griffith 82 Joe James 33 Joel Thorne 34 Johnny Fedricks 74 Carl Forberg 65 Norm Houser 65 Marvin Burke 64 Bob Sweikert 63 Bob Gregg 58 Billy Garrett 52 Dick Frazier 52 Mark Light 43 Chet Miller 41 Milt Fankhouser 39 Danny Kladis 38 Duk Nalon 36 George Lynch 26 George Fonder 3. Aldo posted: 10.01.2009 - 5:33 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Better list for drivers that didn't qualify: nq 9 Andy LINDEN Bromme Offenhauser nq 9 Bud ROSE Bromme Offenhauser nq 10 Bill VUKOVICH Maserati Maserati nq 10 Hal COLE Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser Accident nq 16 Ted DUNCAN Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser nq 19 Ralph PRATT Bardazon Offenhauser nq 19 Kenny EATON Bardazon Offenhauser nq 25 Johnny MAURO Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo nq 26 George FONDER Deidt Sparks nq 29 Charles Van ACKER Stevens Offenhauser nq 33 Joel THORNE Kurtis Kraft Sparks nq 34 Johnny FEDRICKS Kupiec Offenhauser nq 36 George LYNCH Snowberger Offenhauser nq 38 Duke NALON Kurtis Kraft Novi nq 39 Danny KLADIS Maserati Maserati nq 41 Milt FANKHAUSER Stevens Offenhauser nq 43 Chet MILLER Kurtis Kraft Novi nq 44 Bill CANTRELL Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser nq 47 Ralph PRATT Gdula Offenhauser nq 51 Mark LIGHT Stevens Offenhauser nq 52 Mark LIGHT Meyer Offenhauser nq 52 Dick FRAIZER Meyer Offenhauser nq 58 Billy DeVORE Scopa Offenhauser nq 63 Joe JAMES Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser nq 63 Bob GREGG Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser nq 64 Bob SWEIKERT Wetteroth Offenhauser nq 65 Marvin BURKE Kurtis Kraft Duray nq 65 Norm HOUSER Kurtis Kraft Duray nq 66 Cliff GRIFFITH Miller Offenhauser nq 74 Carl FORBERG Miller Offenhauser nq 78 Cy MARSHALL R Miller R Miller nq 79 Chuck LEIGHTON Cantarano Wayne nq 82 Joe JAMES Weidel Mercury nq 83 Al MILLER Miller Miller nq 84 Mike BURCH Maserati Maserati nq 85 Jim RIGSBY Maserati Offenhauser nq 85 Manuel AYULO Maserati Offenhauser nq 87 Bill VUKOVICH Rounds Rocket Offenhauser nq 99 Emil ANDRES Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser nq 99 Kenny EATON Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser 4. RaceFanX posted: 12.17.2009 - 12:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) First F1 race with an American driver in the field. This was the F1 debut for all 33 drivers in the field. Johnnie Parsons' only Indy 500 and F1 victory. The people at Indianapolis then mispelled his name as "Johnny" on the Borg-Warner Race shortened to 138 laps due to rain Firestone Tire's first F1 victory 5. Anonymous posted: 02.26.2010 - 2:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What bugs me is that nobody of the Formula One regulars never drove the 500, that is why it was deleted from the schedule. Find me a better reference. 6. martin-n-rusty posted: 03.09.2010 - 4:38 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) At the time, the Indy 500 was a huge open wheel race, and having a huge open wheel race like that on the schedule made sense. However, for the 10 years the Indy 500 was on the schedule, no F1 regular bothered to make the trip over (not to mention Indy had different rules for its cars, something that most teams did not want to bother with). 7. RaceFanX posted: 03.29.2010 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not totally true, in 1952 Ferrari came over and fielded a car for Alberto Ascari. He qualified mid-pack but went out early and finished 31st. Parsons' win is the first in F1 for an American 8. Ultimate Twang posted: 03.31.2011 - 9:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I also believe that a time or two, Juan Manuel Fangio ran practice laps, but never qualified. Not sure what year. 9. 44andJoe posted: 12.15.2012 - 10:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did Not Qualify: Bill Cantrell Kenny Eaton #82 Joe James (Bob Estes Weidel/Mercury) Mark Light Bill Vukovich #47 Ralph Pratt (Gdula/Offy) #58 Billy Devore (Scopa/Offy) Emil Andres Hal Cole Manny Ayulo Ted Duncan Kenny Eaton #74 Carl Forberg (Jewell Miller/Offy) Dick Fraizer #26 George Fonder (Ray Brady Deidt/Sparks) #41 Milk Frankhauser (Karl Hall Stevens/Offy) #34 Johnny Fedricks (Kupiec Offy) Bob Gregg #66 Cliff Griffith (Sarafoff Miller/Offy) Joe James #39 Danny Kladis (Federal Engineering Maserati/Maserati) #9 Andy Linden (Bromme/Offy) #79 Chuck Leighton (Cantarano Wayne) #67 George Lynch (Auto Shippers Snowberger/Offy) #83 Al Miller (Trainor Auto Parts Miller/Miller) #43 Chet Miller (Novi Mobil Kurtis/Novi) #78 Cy Marshall (Vulcan Tool Miller/Miller) #25 Johnny Mauro (Alfa Romeo/Alfa Romeo) #38 Duke Nalon (Novi Mobil Kurtis/Novi) #29 Charles Van Acker (Redmer Stevens/Offy) Ralph Pratt #33 Joel Thorne (Thorne Engineering Kurtis/Sparks) Jim Rigsby #64 Bob Sweikert (Carter Wetteroth/Offy) 10. Pierre Le Mans posted: 10.22.2013 - 10:47 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) I'm sorry for my poor English but I hope you will understand me well. In fact, the Indy 500 was added to Formula 1 World Championship because all other races took place in Europe. To call it "World", organisation had to find an other race in another continent. As in winter 1949 it was to late to do a new grand prix, organisation decided to add an existing one and if possible a famous one. The 3 most popular events in 1949 were Le Mans 24 hours, Indy 500 and Monaco Grand Prix. Formula One organisation add the Monaco Grand Prix in the championship with regular Formula One and the Indy 500 which bring a famous race with the advantage to not occure in Europe. During the 1950's, a few formula 1 drivers raced the Indy 500 because qualifying session took place during Formula 1 Grand Prix in Europe. Drivers were not able to participate qualifying Indy 500 and race European GP the same day ! Indy 500 was deleted when Formula 1 became as famous as the Indy 500 and when at least 1 grand prix in a year occured in another continent than Europe. Argentinian GP was added to Formula 1 World Championship in 1953 and USA GP with Formula 1 in 1959. In 1961, the USA GP was the only one non-european race in Formula One World Championship. 11. David posted: 11.14.2013 - 1:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Bettenhausen relieved Joie Chitwood during the race, though I don't know when. By F1 rule, they shared points for the fifth-place finish equallly. 12. Anonymous posted: 11.27.2014 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Marvin Burke (yes, the NASCAR driver) DNQ'd for this race in the #65 Ross Page sponsored, Dury SC powered Kurtis 13. Schroeder51 posted: 03.13.2015 - 11:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First Indy 500 starts for Cecil Green, Walt Faulkner, Pat Flaherty, Gene Hartley, Jimmy Davies, Jerry Hoyt, Bill Schindler, and Dick Rathmann. Only Indy 500 start for Walt Ader. Last Indy 500 starts for Joie Chitwood, Myron Fohr, Jackie Holmes, Bayliss Leverett, and Jimmy Jackson. 14. Schroeder51 posted: 03.14.2015 - 6:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Add to DNQS: Bud Rose, #9 Bromme, Bromme/Offy (Passed rookie test) Johnny Fredricks, #34 Kupiec, X/Offy (Did not qualify) Nino Farina, #46 Officine Alfieri Maserati, Maserati/Maserati (Did not appear) Piero Taruffi, #46 Officine Alfieri Maserati, Maserati/Maserati (Did not appear) Franco Rol, #48 Officine Alfieri Maserati, Maserati/Maserati (Did not appear) Potsy Goacher, #63 Esmeralda, Kurtis 2000/Offy (Passed rookie test) Norm Houser, #65 Offenhouser/Ross Page, Kurtis/Duray SC (Did not qualify) Ben Zukor, #76 Pioneer Auto, Wtteroth/Offy (Entry declined; failed physical) Mike Burch, #84 George Hoster, Inc., Miller/Ford (Driver declined) Billy Earl, #84 George Hoster, Inc., Miller/Ford (Did not drive) Johnny Mantz, #98 Grant Piston Ring, Kurtis 2000/Offy (Driven by Walt Faulkner) Joe Adas, X/X, X/X (Did not appear) Carl Scarborough, X/X, X/X (Passed rookie test) Some DNQ numbers... Andy Linden, #9 Bromme, Bromme/Offy Bill Vukovich, #10 I. R. C., Maserati/Maserati SC (Did not qualify) Hal Cole, #16 Tuffy's Offy, Kurtis 2000/Offy Ted Duncan, #16 Tuffy's Offy, Kurtis 2000/Offy Kenny Eaton, #19 Lutes Truck Parts, Bardazon/Offy Ralph Pratt, #19 Lutes Truck Parts, Bardazon/Offy Johnny Mauro, #25 Alfa Romeo, Alfa Romeo/Alfa Romeo SC Bill Cantrell, #44 Bowes Seal Fast, Kurtis/Offy SC Ralph Pratt, #47 Gdula, Gdula/Offy Mark Light, #51 Glessner, Stevens/Offy Dick Frazier, #52 Iddings, Meyer/Offy Mark Light, #52 Iddings, Meyer/Offy Bob Gregg, #63 Esmeralda, Kurtis 2000/Offy Joe James, #63 Esmeralda, Kurtis 2000/Offy Chuck Leighton, #79 Cantarano, X/Wayne Manny Ayulo, #85 Coast Grain, Maserati/Offy Jim Rigsby, #85 Coast Grain, Maserati/Offy Bill Vukovich, #87 R. E. C., Rounds RE/Offy Emil Andres, #99 Belanger, Kurtis/Offy SC Kenny Eaton, #99 Belanger, Kurtis/Offy SC 15. Schroeder51 posted: 03.14.2015 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also, "Milk Frankhauser" in the DNQs is actually Milt Fankhauser. 16. Aldo posted: 05.30.2017 - 3:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think this was the first Indy 500 to be called officially "Indianapolis 500" and not "International 500" nor "Liberty 500". 17. Canadianfan posted: 12.08.2018 - 12:51 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) The race was carried live for the second year in a row on local television on WFBM-TV channel 6 of Indianapolis. Earl Townsend, Jr. was the announcer, along with Dick Pittenger and Paul Roberts. After the race, Speedway management disallowed WFBM from broadcasting the race live again, feeling that gate attendance had been negatively affected. It wasn't until 1961 that ABC's Wide World of Sports would show highlights of the time trials and a few minutes of film clips of the race. 18. MSportRev posted: 03.22.2020 - 9:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) WDs: Giuseppe Farina Franco Rol Both drivers were entered but neither showed up to the track. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: