1959 Indianapolis 500
The 43rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1959 World Championship of Drivers. Rodger Ward earned the first of two career Indy 500 victories. A record sixteen cars completed the full 500 miles. All cars were required to have roll bars for the first time. Practice and time trials. Two drivers, Jerry Unser and Bob Cortner, were killed in separate crashes during the month. On May 2 , Unser lost control in Turn Four, spun, and flipped down the main stretch. The car caught fire and Unser suffered significant burns; he died from complications of his burns on May 17. On May 19, rookie Cortner crashed in turn three after being pushed by a wind gust. He was killed instantly of head injuries. On the morning of pole day, Tony Bettenhausen suffered a bad crash during a practice run. His car hit the outside wall and flipped over the inside guardrail. Bettenhausen escaped the crash with only minor injuries, and would qualify on the second weekend of time  trials. After three years of retirement, Duane Carter returned to the cockpit, and qualified for his ninth Indianapolis 500 start. Time trials were scheduled for four days: Broadcasting. Radio. The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. Fred Agabashian joined the crew for the first time as "driver expert." The broadcast reached 385 affiliates, including Fairbanks, Alaska.