1962 Indianapolis 500 Film

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This is the 46th Indianapolis 500, from May 30, 1962.

As documented in this episode of "Indy 500: The Classics" from SpeedVision, the forerunner to the current SPEED channel, 1962 was a milestone year at Indy. After the previous year's Indianapolis 500, the track was resurfaced, partially due to the crash that killed Tony Betternhausen, Sr. the previous year. As a result, speeds climbed, bringing the real possibility that the sought after 150 MPH barrier would finally be broken.

Several drivers took their shot, but it would be Parnelli Jones, driving J.C. Agajanian's #98 car, that would be fastest all month. Parnelli had gotten on the tire testing program the year before and discovered a unique driving style for the track that nobody else caught onto for a couple of years where he would intentionally slide the car through the turns, and when he got on the gas, the taller, thinner tires would actually propel him off the turn, which made for faster speeds, thus giving him a big advantage on everyone else.

When qualifications came around, Parnelli was in his own league. While nobody else could top 150 MPH on any of their qualifying laps, Parnelli topped it on each of his, and when the race began, he did not lose his edge, despite four early caution periods, the most serious of which was for a four-car crash at the head of the main straightaway. It seemed that the only thing that could slow Parnelli were pit stops and possible mechanical failure, and on lap 76, that mechanical failure came when he lost his brakes.

That gave veteran Rodger Ward the opening he needed, as he took full advantage, taking the lead from a fading Jones and dominating the rest of the race, becoming the first Indianapolis 500 winner to average more than 140 MPH for the distance. Leader Card teammate Len Suton finished second, making Leader Card Racers only the second team to finish 1-2 at Indy. The only previous team to acomplish this feat was Lou Moore's team, which finished 1-2 with Mauri Rose and Bill Holland in both 1947 and '48. It wouldn't be until 1997 that this would happen again.

By the way, Parnelli's brake troubles would eventually drop him to seventh place behind Eddie Sachs (who started 27th), Don Davis, Bobby Marshman (who shared Indy's Rookie of the Year honors with Parnelli in 1961), and Jim McElreath, who won Rookie of the Year at Indy in 1962.

All credits go to SPEED (SpeedVision, the forerunner to the current SPEED channel, originally aired this presentation), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USAC, and Championship Racefilms.

If there are any others who I'm forgetting, please let me know so I can add them to the list of those to credit.