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1 Ruttman Sets New Speedway Mark Averages 128.922 In 500-Mile Race Vukovich Crashes Into Wall Twenty Miles From Finish After Setting Early Pace By ED SAIITSBURY United Press Sports Writer. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., May 30. Troy Ruttman, the youngest and biggest driver in the field, rode a cream and red Thunderbolt to racings fastest and richest victory today, a record-smashing triumph in the annual 500-mile Memorial Day race. 1 His win, though, bore the mark of luck. A mishap sent Bill Vukovich of Fresno, Calif., into the wall with only 20 miles to go after he had led the field for 151 of its 200 laps. It was possible to credit partial respon- , sibility for the smashup to Ruttman, who never gave ground and who. came on to win despite a fire wriich enveloped his car on one of his pit stops. He sat in the cockpit through the flames and came out of the inferno to triumph. As he returned to the track he put such terrific pressure on the front-runner, trailing him by less than 30 seconds at speeds exceeding 130 miles per hour for each tour of the two and one-half mile track, that it was likely his pushing helped cause Vukovich to lose control of his car. Vukovich Climbs to Safety And when Vukovich climbed safely from his wrecked car and jumped over the outside wall on the northeast turn to escape any chance of being hit by the onrushing horde of 20 cars still in the race, Ruttman came on with undiminished speed. He completed the grueling chase in three hours, 52 minutes and 41.88 seconds, the second time the race has been run under four hours. His average speed was 128.922 miles per hour. This eclipsed the old record of 126.244 miles per hour, established by Lee Wallard when he won a year ago. It was a terrific battle of speed all the way between the 22-year-old winner, who was driving in the event for the fourth time, and the 33-year-old Vukovich, who made his second start in the race. Both smashed past the field in a hurry and Vukovich went into first place alter six laps. But five laps later Ruttman moved ariead for one lap and then Vukovich went in front again. Never did Vukovich pull more than one lap ahead of Ruttman, of Lynwood, Calif., a 245-pounder, over six feet tall and father of three children. When he had to stop for , gas and tires after 60 laps the winner went in front for 23 laps before he too needed fuel and a tire change. Vukovich then held the lead until 135 laps when he stopped again for gas and tires and Ruttman was in front. But after 148 laps Ruttman came in for his fuel and tires, and his fire developed and Vukovich was ahead until his accident. Jim Rathman, Chicago, finished second, also breaking Wallards record, with an average speed of -126.723. Third went to Sam Hanks, Compton, Calif., at 125.580, and fourth to Duane Carter, Culver City, Calif., at 125.259. Fifth was Art Cross, Morris town, N. J., with a speed of 124.292. There was one other mishap. Alberto Ascari, European racing champion from Milan, Italy, spun into the infield on his 41st lap when the hub of his right rear wheel collapsed. But he too escaped uninjured and the car suffered only minor damage. Vukovichs car, too, was damaged only slightly. Chet Miller, in a Novi Special rated with its twin as the most powerful in the race with 550 horsepower, lasted only 41 laps before fuel pump trouble put him on the sidelines. Miller was only one of the vehicles which dropped out. After 300 miles only 23 of the starters were still running. Among those sidelined was Duke Nalon in the other Novi, Freddie Agabashian in the Cummins "Diesel which also set a new qualifying record this year, and the European champion, Alberto Ascari. Ascari went out when, the hub of his right rear wheel collapsed on the northwest turn and he spun around into the infield where the car stopped on the grass. Ascari stepped out unhurt.
