United States GP 1952

United States GP, 1952

Indianapolis remained part of the World Championship and in 1952 Ferrari decided to send over Alberto Ascari to take part in the American classic. The Ferrari was not very competitive and Ascari qualified 19th, lapping at 134mph. Fastest qualifier was Fred Agabashian at 138mph. At the start, however, Jack McGrath took the lead but after just a handful of laps Bill Vukovich had moved to the front in his Fuel Injection Special. By one-third distance Vukovich was half a minute ahead and he remained the dominant player until the 191st lap when his steering failed and he crashed heavily into the wall, luckily avoiding injury. This gave victory to Troy Ruttman in his Agajanian Special who had been 20secs behind when Vukovich crashed.

Ascari climbed up to eighth before retiring with a wheel failure after 40 laps.

POSNODRIVERENTRANTLAPSTIME/RETIREMENTQUAL POS
98 Troy Ruttman Kuzma-Offenhauser  200 3h52m41.880s  
59 J Rathmann Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 3000 200 3h56m44.209s  10 
18 S Hanks Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 3000 200  
D Carter Lesovsky-Offenhauser  200  
33 A Cross Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 200  20 
77 J Bryan Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 3000 200  21 
37 J Reece Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 200  23 
54 G Connor Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 3000 200  14 
22 C Griffith Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 2000 200  
10 J Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser  200  31 
11 J McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 3000 200  
12 29 J Rigsby Watson-Offenhauser  200  26 
13 14 John James Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 200  16 
14 B Schindler Stevens-Offenhauser  200  15 
15 65 G Fonder Sherman-Offenhauser  197  13 
16 81 E Johnson Trevis-Offenhauser  193  24 
17r 26 B Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500A 191 Accident 
18 16 C Stevenson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 187  11 
19 H Banks Lesovsky-Offenhauser  184  12 
20 M Ayulo Lesovsky-Offenhauser  184  28 
21 31 J McDowell Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser  182  33 
22r 48 S Webb Bromme-Offenhauser  162 Mechanical 29 
23r 34 Rodger Ward Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 130 Engine 22 
24r 27 T Bettenhausen Deidt-Offenhauser  93 Starter 30 
25r 36 D Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi  84 Supercharger 
26r 73 B Sweikert Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 2000 77 Differential 32 
27r 28 F Agabashian Kurtis Kraft-Cummmins  71 Supercharger 
28r 67 G Hartley Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 65 Exhaust 18 
29r 93 B Scott Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 2000 49 Drive Shaft 25 
30r 21 C Miller Kurtis Kraft-Novi  41 Supercharger 27 
31r 12 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 375 40 Spin 19 
32r 55 B Ball Stevens-Offenhauser  34 Gearbox 17 
33r A Linden Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 4000 20 Oil Pump