1959 Indianapolis 500

1959 Round 2 · Indianapolis · 1959-05-30

Rate this race

Laps: 200
Distance: 804.672 km
Circuit Type: RACE
Direction: Clockwise

Circuit Details

Course Length	4.023 km
Turns	4
Qualifying Format	FOUR_LAPS

Race Results

Column abbreviations (9)

Pos = Finish position# = Car numberGrid = Starting grid+/- = Positions gainedTime/Gap = Finishing time or gap to winnerStatus = Retirement / penaltyPts = PointsPits = Pit stopsBadges = FL / DotD / GS / Pole / Shared

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Grid	+/-	Laps	Time/Gap	Status	Pts	Pits	Badges
1	5	Rodger Morris Ward	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	6	+5	200	3:40:49.200	—	8	—	—
2	16	Royal Richard Rathmann	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	3	+1	200	+23.277	—	6	—	—
3	3	John Ashley Thomson	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	1	-2	200	+50.640	—	5	—	FLPole
4	1	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	15	+11	200	+1:47.090	—	3	—	—
5	99	Paul Goldsmith	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	16	+11	200	+2:06.439	—	2	—	—
6	33	Johnny Boyd	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	11	+5	200	+3:16.979	—	—	—	—
7	37	Duane Claude Carter	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	12	+5	200	+4:09.920	—	—	—	—
8	19	Eddie Johnson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	8	0	200	+4:10.530	—	—	—	—
9	45	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	27	+18	200	+4:11.040	—	—	—	—
10	10	Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr.	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	17	+7	200	+4:14.479	—	—	—	—
11	88	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	9	-2	200	+5:42.479	—	—	—	—
12	74	Robert James Veith	Moore	Offenhauser	Firestone	7	-5	200	+6:09.729	—	—	—	—
13	89	Homer Gerald Herman	Dunn	Offenhauser	Firestone	23	+10	200	+6:40.399	—	—	—	—
14	66	James Edward Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	13	-1	200	+6:41.540	—	—	—	—
15	71	Charles Russell Arnold	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	21	+6	200	+8:19.859	—	—	—	—
16	58	James Robert McWithey	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	33	+17	200	+11:41.689	—	—	—	—
17	44	Edward Julius Sachs, Jr.	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	2	-15	182	—	Spun off	—	—	—
18	57	Alvah August Keller	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	28	+10	163	—	Engine	—	—	—
19	64	George Francis Flaherty	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	18	-1	162	—	Accident	—	—	—
20	73	James Merwin Rathmann	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	4	-16	150	—	Fire	—	—	—
21	53	William Bernard Cheesbourg	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	30	+9	147	—	Magneto	—	—	—
22	15	Don Freeland	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	25	+3	136	—	Magneto	—	—	—
23	49	Ray Crawford	Elder	Offenhauser	Firestone	32	+9	115	—	Accident	—	—	—
24	9	Donald Laverne Branson	Phillips	Offenhauser	Firestone	10	-14	112	—	Suspension	—	—	—
25	65	Bob Christie	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	24	-1	109	—	Engine	—	—	—
26	48	Robert Harold Grim	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	5	-21	85	—	Magneto	—	—	—
27	24	John Ellsworth Turner Jr.	Christensen	Offenhauser	Firestone	14	-13	47	—	Fuel leak	—	—	—
28	47	Chuck Weyant	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	29	+1	45	—	Accident	—	—	—
29	7	Eugene Wesley Larson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	19	-10	45	—	Accident	—	—	—
30	77	Charles Edward Magill	Sutton	Offenhauser	Firestone	31	+1	45	—	Accident	—	—	—
31	87	Richard Amick	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	26	-5	45	—	Accident	—	—	—
32	8	Len Sutton	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	22	-10	34	—	Accident	—	—	—
33	6	James Ernest Bryan	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	20	-13	1	—	Engine	—	—	—

Starting Grid

Column abbreviations (4)

Pos = Grid position# = Car numberQuali = Qualifying positionPenalty = Grid penalty

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Quali	Penalty	Time
1	3	John Ashley Thomson	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	1	—	4:06.730
2	44	Edward Julius Sachs, Jr.	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	2	—	4:07.550
3	16	Royal Richard Rathmann	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	3	—	4:09.250
4	73	James Merwin Rathmann	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	4	—	4:09.570
5	48	Robert Harold Grim	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	5	—	4:09.610
6	5	Rodger Morris Ward	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	6	—	4:09.940
7	74	Robert James Veith	Moore	Offenhauser	Firestone	7	—	4:09.960
8	19	Eddie Johnson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	8	—	4:10.000
9	88	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	9	—	4:10.740
10	9	Donald Laverne Branson	Phillips	Offenhauser	Firestone	10	—	4:11.200
11	33	Johnny Boyd	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	11	—	4:12.080
12	37	Duane Claude Carter	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	12	—	4:12.110
13	66	James Edward Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	13	—	4:08.820
14	24	John Ellsworth Turner Jr.	Christensen	Offenhauser	Firestone	14	—	4:10.910
15	1	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	15	—	4:12.240
16	99	Paul Goldsmith	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	16	—	4:12.330
17	10	Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr.	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	17	—	4:12.370
18	64	George Francis Flaherty	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	18	—	4:12.810
19	7	Eugene Wesley Larson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	19	—	4:12.990
20	6	James Ernest Bryan	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	20	—	4:13.310
21	71	Charles Russell Arnold	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	21	—	4:13.310
22	8	Len Sutton	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	22	—	4:13.330
23	89	Homer Gerald Herman	Dunn	Offenhauser	Firestone	23	—	4:13.630
24	65	Bob Christie	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	24	—	4:11.320
25	15	Don Freeland	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	25	—	4:11.650
26	87	Richard Amick	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	26	—	4:11.880
27	45	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	27	—	4:12.840
28	57	Alvah August Keller	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	28	—	4:13.420
29	47	Chuck Weyant	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	29	—	4:13.610
30	53	William Bernard Cheesbourg	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	30	—	4:13.900
31	77	Charles Edward Magill	Sutton	Offenhauser	Firestone	31	—	4:14.450
32	49	Ray Crawford	Elder	Offenhauser	Firestone	32	—	4:14.690
33	58	James Robert McWithey	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	33	—	4:14.930

Qualifying

Column abbreviations (6)

Pos = Qualifying position# = Car numberQ1 = Qualifying 1 best timeQ2 = Qualifying 2 best timeQ3 = Qualifying 3 best timeGap = Gap to pole

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Q1	Q2	Q3	Gap	Laps
1	3	John Ashley Thomson	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—
2	44	Edward Julius Sachs, Jr.	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+0.820	—
3	16	Royal Richard Rathmann	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.520	—
4	73	James Merwin Rathmann	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.840	—
5	48	Robert Harold Grim	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.880	—
6	5	Rodger Morris Ward	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+3.210	—
7	74	Robert James Veith	Moore	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+3.230	—
8	19	Eddie Johnson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+3.270	—
9	88	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.010	—
10	9	Donald Laverne Branson	Phillips	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.470	—
11	33	Johnny Boyd	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.350	—
12	37	Duane Claude Carter	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.380	—
13	66	James Edward Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.090	—
14	24	John Ellsworth Turner Jr.	Christensen	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.180	—
15	1	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.510	—
16	99	Paul Goldsmith	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.600	—
17	10	Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr.	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.640	—
18	64	George Francis Flaherty	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.080	—
19	7	Eugene Wesley Larson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.260	—
20	6	James Ernest Bryan	Epperly	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.580	—
21	71	Charles Russell Arnold	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.580	—
22	8	Len Sutton	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.600	—
23	89	Homer Gerald Herman	Dunn	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.900	—
24	65	Bob Christie	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.590	—
25	15	Don Freeland	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.920	—
26	87	Richard Amick	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.150	—
27	45	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.110	—
28	57	Alvah August Keller	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.690	—
29	47	Chuck Weyant	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.880	—
30	53	William Bernard Cheesbourg	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+7.170	—
31	77	Charles Edward Magill	Sutton	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+7.720	—
32	49	Ray Crawford	Elder	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+7.960	—
33	58	James Robert McWithey	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+8.200	—

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Lap	Time	Gap
1	3	John Ashley Thomson	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	64	1:01.890	—

Drivers' Championship after Race

Column abbreviations (2)

+/- = Positions gained in standingsChamp = Championship won

Pos ↑	Driver	Pts	+/-	Champ
1	Sir John Arthur Brabham	9	0	—
2	Rodger Morris Ward	8	+4	—
3	Charles Anthony Standish Brooks	6	-1	—
4	Royal Richard Rathmann	6	+3	—
5	John Ashley Thomson	5	+1	—
6	Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant	4	-3	—
7	Philip Toll Hill, Jr.	3	-3	—
8	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	3	-1	—
9	Bruce Leslie McLaren	2	-4	—
10	Paul Goldsmith	2	-3	—

Constructors' Championship after Race

Column abbreviations (2)

+/- = Positions gained in standingsChamp = Championship won

Pos ↑	Constructor	Engine	Pts	+/-	Champ
1	Cooper	Climax	8	0	—
2	Ferrari	Ferrari	6	0	—

Frequently asked questions

Who won the 1959 Indianapolis 500 1959?

Rodger Ward won the 1959 Indianapolis 500 1959 for Watson.

Who took pole position for the 1959 Indianapolis 500 1959?

Johnny Thomson started the 1959 Indianapolis 500 1959 from pole position.

Where was the 1959 Indianapolis 500 1959 held?

The 1959 Indianapolis 500 1959 was held at Indianapolis on May 30, 1959.