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Home / Seasons / 1959 F1 World Championship Season / 1959 Indianapolis 500

1959 Indianapolis 500

DateSaturday, 30 May 1959
Winner
  • USA flag lazyload Rodger Ward
  • USA flag lazyload Watson-Offenhauser
Pole position
  • USA flag lazyload Johnny Thomson
  • USA flag lazyload Lesovsky-Offenhauser
Fastest lap
  • USA flag lazyload Johnny Thomson
  • USA flag lazyload Lesovsky-Offenhauser
CircuitIndianapolis, 200 laps
Round2 of 9
Race numbers77th World Championship race
More 1959 season
More Indianapolis 500

Race result

PosDriverConstructorLapsTimePoints
1+5USA flag lazyload Rodger WardWatson-Offenhauser2003hr 40m 49.200s8
2+1USA flag lazyload Jim RathmannWatson-Offenhauser200+23.277s6
3-2USA flag lazyload Johnny ThomsonLesovsky-Offenhauser200 5 FL
4+11USA flag lazyload Tony BettenhausenEpperly-Offenhauser200 3
5+11USA flag lazyload Paul GoldsmithEpperly-Offenhauser200 2
6+5USA flag lazyload Johnny BoydEpperly-Offenhauser200  
7+5USA flag lazyload Duane CarterKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser200  
8 USA flag lazyload Eddie JohnsonKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser200  
9+18USA flag lazyload Paul RussoKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser200  
10+7USA flag lazyload AJ FoytKuzma-Offenhauser200  
11-2USA flag lazyload Gene HartleyKuzma-Offenhauser200  
12-5USA flag lazyload Bob VeithMoore-Offenhauser200  
13+10USA flag lazyload Al HermanDunn-Offenhauser200  
14-1USA flag lazyload Jimmy DaywaltKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser200  
15+6USA flag lazyload Chuck ArnoldKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser200  
16+17USA flag lazyload Jim McWitheyKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser200  
17-15USA flag lazyload Eddie SachsKuzma-Offenhauser182DNF 
18+10USA flag lazyload Al KellerKuzma-Offenhauser163DNF 
19-1USA flag lazyload Pat FlahertyWatson-Offenhauser162DNF 
20-16USA flag lazyload Dick RathmannWatson-Offenhauser150DNF 
21+9USA flag lazyload Bill CheesbourgKuzma-Offenhauser147DNF 
22+3USA flag lazyload Don FreelandKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser136DNF 
23+9USA flag lazyload Ray CrawfordElder-Offenhauser115DNF 
24-14USA flag lazyload Don BransonPhillips-Offenhauser112DNF 
25-1USA flag lazyload Bob ChristieKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser109DNF 
26-21USA flag lazyload Bobby GrimKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser85DNF 
27-13USA flag lazyload Jack TurnerChristensen-Offenhauser47DNF 
28+1USA flag lazyload Chuck WeyantKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser45DNF 
29-10USA flag lazyload Jud LarsonKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser45DNF 
30+1USA flag lazyload Mike MagillSutton-Offenhauser45DNF 
31-5USA flag lazyload Red AmickKurtis Kraft-Offenhauser45DNF 
32-10USA flag lazyload Len SuttonLesovsky-Offenhauser34DNF 
33-13USA flag lazyload Jimmy BryanEpperly-Offenhauser1DNF 

Championship standings

How the championship standings stood post-1959 Indianapolis 500.

Driver

PosDriverPoints
1Australia flag lazyload Jack Brabham9
2USA flag lazyload Rodger Ward8
3United Kingdom flag lazyload Tony Brooks6
=USA flag lazyload Jim Rathmann6
5USA flag lazyload Johnny Thomson5
6France flag lazyload Maurice Trintignant4
7USA flag lazyload Phil Hill3
=USA flag lazyload Tony Bettenhausen3
9New Zealand flag lazyload Bruce McLaren2
=USA flag lazyload Paul Goldsmith2

Constructor

PosConstructorPoints
1United Kingdom flag lazyload Cooper-Climax8
2Italy flag lazyload Ferrari6

Statistics & milestones

Race debut
Red Amick, Chuck Arnold (only start), Don Branson, Bobby Grim, Jim McWithey
Christensen, Elder (only start), Sutton (only start)
Last start
Bill Cheesbourg, Ray Crawford, Jimmy Daywalt, Pat Flaherty, Al Keller, Jud Larson, Mike Magill, Paul Russo, Jack Turner, Chuck Weyant
Dunn, Moore
Wins
1st and only for Rodger Ward (22nd different winner, 9th American driver)
2nd for Watson (first since 1956)
Race 1-2
1st for Watson (7th different constructor to finish 1-2)
Podiums
3rd for Jim Rathmann (first for Watson), 1st for Rodger Ward (62nd different podium finisher, 26th American driver), 1st and only for Johnny Thomson (63rd different podium finisher, 27th American driver)
2nd & 3rd for Watson (first since 1956)
1st and only for Lesovsky (18th different podium finisher)
Poles
1st and only for Johnny Thomson (19th different polesitter, 10th American driver)
1st and only for Lesovsky (11th different polesitter)
Fastest laps
1st and only for Johnny Thomson (25th different fastest lap setter, 9th American driver)
1st and only for Lesovsky (11th different fastest lap setter)
Front row starts
2nd for Eddie Sachs (last for Kuzma), 2nd for Jim Rathmann (first for Watson), 1st and only for Johnny Thomson (45th different front row starter, 22nd American driver)
Points finishes
4th and last for Tony Bettenhausen, 1st for Rodger Ward & Paul Goldsmith (99th & 100th different point scorers, 35th & 36th American drivers)

See also

  • Indianapolis 500
  • Indianapolis circuit
  • 1959 World Championship season

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