1959 Indianapolis 500: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Rodger Ward claimed his first Indianapolis 500 victory in 1959, bringing the Leader Card Watson home ahead of Jim Rathmann and Johnny Thomson. The championship-counting race produced a record sixteen finishers over the full distance, but the month was overshadowed by fatal practice accidents involving Jerry Unser and Bob Cortner.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Johnny Thomson	Lesovsky
Pole speed	145.908 mph (234.816 km/h)
Fastest lap	Johnny Thomson	Lesovsky
Fastest-lap time	1:01.890 on lap 64
First	Rodger Ward	Watson
Second	Jim Rathmann	Watson
Third	Johnny Thomson	Lesovsky

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
May 1959; individual session dates vary	May practice	Start time unconfirmed
16 May 1959	Pole Day time trials	Start time unconfirmed
17 May 1959	Second-day time trials	Start time unconfirmed
23 May 1959	Third-day time trials	Start time unconfirmed
24 May 1959	Final-day time trials	Start time unconfirmed
30 May 1959	Race	Start time unconfirmed

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Jack Brabham arrived at round 2 leading the 1959 F1 World Championship on 9 points, with Tony Brooks on 6.

Race entries

Indianapolis retained its own USAC machinery and regulations, with no regular Grand Prix competitors crossing over immediately before the Dutch round. Defending winner Jimmy Bryan returned in the car that had won the previous two editions, and Duane Carter came back after three years away. Roll bars were compulsory for every car for the first time.

May practice

Preparation extended across the month rather than a conventional Grand Prix weekend. Unser crashed and suffered severe burns during early running, while Tony Bettenhausen survived a major accident on the morning of Pole Day. These incidents made the demands of building speed and finding a reliable race set-up painfully clear. The available account does not provide a complete daily practice classification.

Pole Day time trials

Johnny Thomson secured pole with a four-lap average of 145.908 mph. His run also included a new one-lap qualifying record, establishing an imposing target for the opposition. The grid followed Indianapolis’s qualifying-day priority, so a later qualifier could not simply move ahead of the first day’s successful runners by recording a faster average.

Second-day time trials

The qualifying programme continued as teams sought places in the thirty-three-car field. This was also the day Unser died from the complications of his earlier injuries, casting a shadow over the meeting. The surviving summary confirms the session date but does not give a separate complete day-by-day classification; the final grid and recorded averages are preserved below.

Third-day time trials

Bettenhausen recovered from his Pole Day accident to qualify during the second weekend. The field continued taking shape after another tragic setback in practice: rookie Cortner had suffered a fatal accident earlier in the week. For teams still seeking a place, the closing trials offered little margin for either mechanical trouble or an unsuccessful run.

Final-day time trials

The final qualifying day completed the selection of the thirty-three starters. Rex Easton was left as first alternate, while several experienced names failed to secure a place. Carter’s return resulted in his ninth Indianapolis start. The final grid is listed by its actual starting order, rather than resorted by average speed.

Qualifying Classification

Indianapolis used four-lap speed trials and qualifying-day priority under USAC rules. The averages below reproduce the rounded box-score figures; Thomson’s precise pole average was 145.908 mph. WDC points in the race table are distinct from USAC championship points.

Grid	No.	Driver	Car	Four-lap average (mph)
1	3	Johnny Thomson	Lesovsky	145.90
2	44	Eddie Sachs	Kuzma	145.42
3	16	Jim Rathmann	Watson	144.43
4	73	Dick Rathmann	Watson	144.24
5	48	Bobby Grim	Kurtis Kraft	144.22
6	5	Rodger Ward	Watson	144.03
7	74	Bob Veith	Moore	144.02
8	19	Eddie Johnson	Kurtis Kraft	144.00
9	88	Gene Hartley	Kuzma	143.57
10	9	Don Branson	Phillips	143.31
11	33	Johnny Boyd	Epperly	142.81
12	37	Duane Carter	Kurtis Kraft	142.79
13	66	Jimmy Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	144.68
14	24	Jack Turner	Christensen	143.47
15	1	Tony Bettenhausen	Epperly	142.72
16	99	Paul Goldsmith	Epperly	142.67
17	10	A. J. Foyt	Kuzma	142.64
18	64	Pat Flaherty	Watson	142.39
19	7	Jud Larson	Kurtis Kraft	142.29
20	6	Jimmy Bryan	Salih	142.11
21	71	Chuck Arnold	Kurtis Kraft	142.11
22	8	Len Sutton	Lesovsky	142.10
23	89	Al Herman	Dunn	141.93
24	65	Bob Christie	Kurtis Kraft	143.24
25	15	Don Freeland	Kurtis Kraft	143.05
26	87	Red Amick	Kurtis Kraft	142.92
27	45	Paul Russo	Kurtis Kraft	142.38
28	57	Al Keller	Kuzma	142.05
29	47	Chuck Weyant	Kurtis Kraft	141.95
30	53	Bill Cheesbourg	Kuzma	141.78
31	77	Mike Magill	Sutton	141.48
32	49	Ray Crawford	Elder	141.34
33	58	Jim McWithey	Kurtis Kraft	141.21

Non-qualifying entries and alternates

This list includes unsuccessful entries, withdrawals and alternates; some drivers later qualified another car or drove relief. R denotes a rookie and W a previous Indianapolis winner.

Entry and recorded outcome
First alternate: Rex Easton R (#39, #45)
Russ Congdon R (#72) – Did not finish rookie test
Bob Cortner R (#51) – Fatal accident
Chuck Daigh R (#98)
Jimmy Davies (#53)
Don Edmunds (#54, #57, #76)
Jack Ensley R (#92)
Gene Force (#55, #78)
Andy Furci R (#91)
Elmer George (#21)
Bill Homeier (#42, #62)
Van Johnson R (#76, #91)
Johnny Kay R (#17) – Did not finish rookie test
Ralph Ligouri R (#12, #41)
Johnny Moorhouse R (#91)
Earl Motter R (#21)
Jim Packard R (#55)
Johnnie Parsons W (#45)
Chuck Rodee R (#82)
Eddie Russo (#1, #78, #93, #98)
Bob Schroeder R (#78)
Shorty Templeman (#69, #76)
Johnnie Tolan (#43)
Jerry Unser (#57) – Fatal accident
Wayne Weiler R (#39) – Entry declined, failed physical
Dempsey Wilson (#34, #82)

What happened in the 1959 Indianapolis 500?

Thomson, Ward, Jim Rathmann and Pat Flaherty all took turns at the front during the opening phase. Bryan’s defence ended almost immediately with clutch failure, and Bobby Grim later retired after magneto trouble. Grim also dislocated his arm while signalling his loss of power, adding to an already painful afternoon.

Ward’s challenge gathered strength as the race progressed. He led 130 laps in total and combined his pace with efficient pit work, keeping the Leader Card entry in control through the decisive stages. Flaherty’s race ended in an accident, while Rathmann remained Ward’s closest challenger.

Ward completed the 500 miles ahead of Rathmann, with pole-sitter Thomson third and credited with the fastest-lap point. Bettenhausen recovered from his difficult qualifying month to finish fourth, followed by Paul Goldsmith. Sixteen cars covered the full distance, but the celebrations came at the end of a month marked by the loss of two drivers.

After the race, Jack Brabham headed the drivers’ standings with 9 points, followed by Rodger Ward on 8.

1959 Indianapolis 500 race results

The 1959 Indianapolis 500 was held on 30 May 1959.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	5	Rodger Ward	Watson	200	3:40:49.20	8
2	16	Jim Rathmann	Watson	200	+23.28	6
3	3	Johnny Thomson	Lesovsky	200	+50.64	5
4	1	Tony Bettenhausen	Epperly	200	+1:47.09	3
5	99	Paul Goldsmith	Epperly	200	+2:06.44	2
6	33	Johnny Boyd	Epperly	200	+3:16.98	0
7	37	Duane Carter	Kurtis Kraft	200	+4:09.92	0
8	19	Eddie Johnson	Kurtis Kraft	200	+4:10.53	0
9	45	Paul Russo	Kurtis Kraft	200	+4:11.04	0
10	10	A. J. Foyt	Kuzma	200	+4:14.48	0
11	88	Gene Hartley	Kuzma	200	+5:42.48	0
12	74	Bob Veith	Moore	200	+6:09.73	0
13	89	Al Herman	Dunn	200	+6:40.40	0
14	66	Jimmy Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	200	+6:41.54	0
15	71	Chuck Arnold	Kurtis Kraft	200	+8:19.86	0
16	58	Jim McWithey	Kurtis Kraft	200	+11:41.69	0
17	44	Eddie Sachs	Kuzma	182	Spun off	0
18	57	Al Keller	Kuzma	163	Engine	0
19	64	Pat Flaherty	Watson	162	Accident	0
20	73	Dick Rathmann	Watson	150	Fire	0
21	53	Bill Cheesbourg	Kuzma	147	Magneto	0
22	15	Don Freeland	Kurtis Kraft	136	Magneto	0
23	49	Ray Crawford	Elder	115	Accident	0
24	9	Don Branson	Phillips	112	Suspension	0
25	65	Bob Christie	Kurtis Kraft	109	Engine	0
26	48	Bobby Grim	Kurtis Kraft	85	Magneto	0
27	24	Jack Turner	Christensen	47	Fuel leak	0
28	47	Chuck Weyant	Kurtis Kraft	45	Accident	0
29	7	Jud Larson	Kurtis Kraft	45	Accident	0
30	77	Mike Magill	Sutton	45	Accident	0
31	87	Red Amick	Kurtis Kraft	45	Accident	0
32	8	Len Sutton	Lesovsky	34	Accident	0
33	6	Jimmy Bryan	Salih	1	Engine	0

1959 Indianapolis 500 Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	3	Johnny Thomson	Lesovsky	64	1:01.890

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. One championship point was awarded for fastest lap, divided equally when shared.

1959 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1959 Indianapolis 500.

1959 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Jack Brabham	Australian	Cooper	9
2	Rodger Ward	American	Watson	8
3	Tony Brooks	British	Ferrari	6
4	Jim Rathmann	American	Watson	6
5	Johnny Thomson	American	Lesovsky	5
6	Maurice Trintignant	French	Cooper	4
7	Phil Hill	American	Ferrari	3
8	Tony Bettenhausen	American	Epperly	3
9	Bruce McLaren	New Zealander	Cooper	2
10	Paul Goldsmith	American	Epperly	2
—	Roy Salvadori	British	Cooper	0
—	Johnny Boyd	American	Epperly	0
—	Duane Carter	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Eddie Johnson	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Paul Russo	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Anthony Foyt	American	Kuzma	0
—	Gene Hartley	American	Kuzma	0
—	Bob Veith	American	Moore	0
—	Al Herman	American	Dunn	0
—	Jimmy Daywalt	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Chuck Arnold	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Jim McWithey	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Stirling Moss	British	Cooper	0
—	Ron Flockhart	British	BRM	0
—	Harry Schell	American	BRM	0
—	Jo Bonnier	Swedish	BRM	0
—	Jean Behra	French	Ferrari	0
—	Graham Hill	British	Team Lotus	0
—	Masten Gregory	American	Cooper	0
—	Wolfgang von Trips	German	Porsche	0
—	Cliff Allison	British	Ferrari	0
—	Bruce Halford	British	Team Lotus	0
—	Eddie Sachs	American	Kuzma	0
—	Al Keller	American	Kuzma	0
—	Pat Flaherty	American	Watson	0
—	Dick Rathmann	American	Watson	0
—	Bill Cheesbourg	American	Kuzma	0
—	Don Freeland	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Ray Crawford	American	Elder	0
—	Don Branson	American	Phillips	0
—	Bob Christie	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Bobby Grim	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Jack Turner	American	Christensen	0
—	Chuck Weyant	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Jud Larson	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Mike Magill	American	Sutton	0
—	Red Amick	American	Kurtis Kraft	0
—	Len Sutton	American	Lesovsky	0
—	Jimmy Bryan	American	Epperly	0

1959 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Cooper – Climax	8
2	Ferrari	6
—	Cooper – Maserati	0
—	BRM	0
—	Team Lotus	0
—	Porsche	0

Drivers counted their best 5 results. The first five places earned 8–6–4–3–2 points, with one further point for fastest lap, shared equally when necessary. Shared drives earned no championship points. Constructors also retained their best 5 results, scoring through only their highest-placed eligible car, without fastest-lap points. Indianapolis counted for drivers only.

1959 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1959 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	10 May
2	1959 Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana	30 May
3	1959 Dutch Grand Prix	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort	31 May
4	1959 French Grand Prix	Reims-Gueux, Reims	5 July
5	1959 British Grand Prix	Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, Liverpool	18 July
6	1959 German Grand Prix	AVUS, Berlin	2 August
7	1959 Portuguese Grand Prix	Monsanto Park Circuit, Lisbon	23 August
8	1959 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	13 September
9	1959 United States Grand Prix	Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida	12 December