Evening star., 1954-05-30
; Former Winners,
4Ex-U. 5. Champions
Among 33 Starters
BY the Assoeioted Press

BY the Assoeiotsd Press
INDIANAPOLIS, May o.
Three former winners and fouE
former AAA National racing
champions (Johnnie Parsons Is
both) will chase a driver who has
never won either title in the 38th
annual 500-mile auto race Mon
day at indianapolis Motor Speed
way.
Jack McGrath, a lean and de-
termined professional with the
fastest car in the field, will start
in the pole position from which
Bill Vukovich ran off with last
years race.
The 34-year-old Los Angeles
veteran has missed in six pre-
vious attempts to win top money
In the Indianapolis pot, expected
to exceed $250,000 this year. He
has been an early leader twice,
but he was slowed once by leg
cramp and once. by q slipping
clutch.
He established himself as the
man to beat this year by setting
q 10-mile qualifying record of
141.033 miles an hour in a new
Kurtis-Kraft racer owned by j.
B. Hinkle of Wichita. Kans. He
finished fifth last year and was
one Of only SIX drivers who didn't
call for relief in the intense heat.
10 Drivers Favor McGrath.
A poll of q drivers showed 10
believed McGrath would win.
The drivers made Vukovich
second choice, although the fierce
little competitor from Fresno,
Calf, will have to start in 10Th
place because of a late quail
flying run.
Pari-mutuel betting is illegal
in Indiana and there are no Of
ficial odds. If there were a tote
board beside the old pagoda. the
Bardahl team entry of Ed Walsh
Jr. Of st. Louis probably would
carry the shortest odds.
The Bardahl Specials. only
three-car entry to qualify, will
be driven by Sam Hanks, Bur-
bank, Calf, 1853 AAA National
champion; Jim Rathmann, Mi
ami, second in the 1852 Indian
apolis race, and Art Cross. La
Porte. Ind. second last year.
Former National champs in the
lineup besides Hanks and Par
sons are Chuck Stevenson, Gar
den Grove. Calf. and Tony Bet
tenhausen, Tinley Park, Ill.
Troy Ruttman of Salem. Ind,
youngest driver ever to win the
500. is still the youngest in the
field two years later. He is "a.
four months younger than Jimmy
Reece of Oklahoma City.
Ruttman's Record in Jeopardy.
Ruttman's race record of 1882
miles an hour is almost certain
to be rubbed out unless wrecks
or showers slow the pace. The
80 cars averaged 1858 in the
time trials.
The Speedway never discloses
its ticket sales but the crowd in
recent years has been estimated
at 100000 and more. The guar
anteed purse of $4,000, swelled
by $35, 900 in special cash prizes
from accessory firms, will be in
creased according to the gate.
Last year the total payoff was
$246,300, of which Vukovich and
his car owner received 1894
Cloudy. warm and windy
weather has been forecast for
the race, which will not be tele-
Vised but will be broadcast over
210 stations from 10:45 am. to
3:15 pm. Central Daylight Time.
Starting time for the race is II
am.
Marie Wilson, movie and TV
star. will wind up the four-hour |
contest by giving the winner the
traditional kiss and the Borg
Warner trophy.
Between those traditional GER
emonies, Americas most danger
Gus sporting event will be run
inside a concrete retaining wall
which doesn't give an inch when
q $35, 900 racer smacks it. Forty
four persons have died at the
2l2 mile track since the pre-
500 speed program of 1909.