Rathmann Captures Record‑Breaking Indianapolis 500 After Fierce Duel With Ward
Lead Changes 29 Times; Tire Wear Forces Ward to Ease Off in Final Laps
INDIANAPOLIS, May 30 — Jim Rathmann, long familiar with second place at the Speedway, finally claimed the top step Monday afternoon, outlasting defending champion Rodger Ward in one of the most intense and fastest Indianapolis 500‑mile races ever run. Rathmann’s margin was 12.67 seconds, but the contest was far closer than the clock suggests.
The 31‑year‑old Floridian, three times a runner‑up, averaged 138.767 mph, shattering Ward’s year‑old record by nearly three miles per hour. A crowd estimated at more than 200,000 watched the pair trade the lead repeatedly — 29 times, a new race record — before Rathmann secured the advantage for good on lap 197.
Ward Forced to Slow With Worn Tire
Ward, driving the Leader Card Special, explained afterward that his right‑front tire had worn down to the cord.
“I figured I’d better settle for second money,” he said. “If I kept pushing, I might have gone right through the tire.”
Ward’s pace had been quicker during the stretches he led, but a costly first pit stop — in which he stalled the engine and lost nearly a minute — left him playing catch‑up. His total pit time was 1:37.6, compared with Rathmann’s 1:16.
Rathmann’s Car Holds Together
Rathmann’s Ken-Paul Special, owned by Texans Kenny Rich and Paul Lacey, required only a single “safety lap” on worn tires at the finish. Mechanics later said his right‑rear tire had only one lap of wear remaining.
The blue machine, decorated with an oil derrick and cowboy hat, ran steadily throughout the afternoon under the direction of chief mechanic Takeo “Chickie” Hirashima, a former riding mechanic from earlier Speedway eras.
Rathmann completed the 500 miles in 3:36:11.36.
Mishaps and Close Calls
Only one driver suffered serious injury. Eddie Russo of Kansas City crashed on lap 88 and was taken to Methodist Hospital in critical condition with internal and head injuries.
Several other incidents ended more safely:
- Tony Bettenhausen steered his flaming car into the pits on lap 127, standing in the cockpit as fire trailed behind him.
- Don Branson spun into the pit wall on lap 47, damaging his car’s tail and injuring a nearby mechanic, but continued racing.
- Johnny Thomson sliced a tire entering the pits on lap 156 but kept control.
The yellow light was displayed for 29 minutes, 7 seconds.
Goldsmith Takes Third After Late Pass
Behind the two leaders, Paul Goldsmith overtook Branson on the final lap to finish third. The top ten:
- Jim Rathmann
- Rodger Ward
- Paul Goldsmith
- Don Branson
- Eddie Johnson
- Johnny Thomson
- Lloyd Ruby
- Bob Veith
- Bud Tingelstad
- Bob Christie
All of the first seven finishers broke Ward’s previous race record.
Lead Swaps Highlight Race
Ward led early from his outside front‑row position before Eddie Sachs briefly took command. Troy Ruttman also held the lead before pitting on lap 24.
Rathmann first moved in front on lap 25, and from lap 96 onward he and Ward exchanged the lead 15 times in the final 78 laps. Both made their final pit stops on lap 148, with Ward emerging slightly ahead before tire wear forced him to ease off.
Purse and Honors
Rathmann is expected to earn approximately $110,000 from a purse estimated at $350,000, to be awarded at tonight’s victory dinner at the Murat Temple.
Courtesy of The Indianapolis Star May 31, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Youtube Videos of Race Highlights: Video 1, Video 2, Video 3
Rathmann Recounts Grueling Duel as Tire Wear Nearly Costs Him 500 Victory
Ward’s Pace Forces Flat‑Out Drive; Winning Crew Says Only “Two Laps Left” on Rear Tire
INDIANAPOLIS, May 30 — Jim Rathmann, still streaked with grease and disbelief, emerged from his Ken‑Paul Special on Monday looking more like a man who had survived an ordeal than one who had just won the Indianapolis 500. And in many ways, he had.
Rathmann’s narrow triumph over defending champion Rodger Ward capped what many longtime observers immediately called the most intense and sustained duel in Speedway history. The pair traded the lead repeatedly over the final 100 laps, running at speeds that pushed both nerves and equipment to the breaking point.
When Rathmann finally pulled into Victory Lane, his first question was simple:
“What happened to Ward?”
Ward’s Speed Keeps Pressure Constant
Ward had shadowed Rathmann for most of the afternoon, passing and repassing with a car that appeared stronger in the straightaways. Rathmann admitted he feared a familiar outcome — another runner‑up finish after placing second in 1952, 1957, and 1959.
“He had more steam than I did,” Rathmann said. “He could get me coming out of the turns. I ran flat out the whole race, but he could take me anytime he wanted.”
Ward later revealed that his right‑front tire had worn down to the cord, forcing him to ease off in the closing laps. Rathmann suspected as much.
“I knew he must be getting low on rubber,” he said. “I was worried about the same thing myself.”
Crew Says Tire Was Nearly Gone
Chief mechanic Takeo ‘Chickie’ Hirashima, a veteran of the riding‑mechanic era, confirmed the danger.
“Maybe two more laps — no more,” Hirashima said. “Our right‑rear tire was almost gone.”
The usually reserved Hirashima was jubilant in the garage afterward, praising the crew’s work during the race’s high‑pressure pit stops.
“Be sure and get in a word for this crew,” he said. “They did a hell of a job.”
Rathmann Finally Enjoys the Winner’s Ride
Rathmann, long a sentimental favorite among Speedway fans, took a moment to enjoy the traditional post‑race lap in the pace car. Spotting his wife Kay resting her feet on the seat, he grinned and said:
“Get your feet off the seats of my car.”
It was a light moment after nearly four hours of tension.
A Duel for the Ages
The Rathmann‑Ward battle dominated the final half of the race, with both drivers running at speeds approaching 145 mph in the closing laps. Their wheel‑to‑wheel contest produced one of the most memorable finishes in the event’s 44‑year history.
Rathmann’s victory, after years of near‑misses, capped a day of remarkable driving, mechanical strain, and unrelenting pace — a race that will be remembered as much for the duel as for the winner.
Courtesy of The Indianapolis Star May 31, 1960 via Newspapers.com