1954 INDIANAPOLIS 500 MILE RACE BILL VUKOVICH ART CROSS JACK MCGRATH 64694

This film - presented by Dodge, the official pace car of the 1954 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race - gives viewers a chance a to experience the sights and sounds of the 1954 race featuring the country’s top drivers, which was won by Bill Vukovich. The event was part of the 1954 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers. The film opens with footage of the 1954 Dodge pace car as it drives by the grandstands, and various other cars speeding around the track. Jack McGrath positions his no. 2 car for qualifiers (01:21); he races on the track and smashes the qualifications record (02:00). Other drivers then qualify for the Indianapolis 500, including Jimmy Daywalt (02:35) and Duane Carter (02:52). Mechanics review the engines of their cars (03:57). The film then takes viewers on a tour of a roadster that is taken apart to show the various components of the car (04:30), before cutting back to footage of drivers trying to qualify for the race. Bill Vukovich, winner of last year’s Indy 500, sits in his red no. 51 (05:48) while other drivers relax, waiting for their turn (06:41). Frank Armi drives around a corner and spins out (06:58). The red Dodge emergency fire truck goes out to make sure a driver and car that spun out are ok (08:05). No. 45 with Art Cross at the wheel takes off (09:05) as his mechanic nervously paces. The qualifying drivers celebrate with their teams. Crowds leave the stands after the conclusion of the qualifiers (10:19). Engines are examined and approved by AAA Officials, and Jack McGrath receives a trophy from the Mechanics Dinner (11:05). Fans enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere the night before the race (11:24). When race day arrives, the gates open and fans flood into the park, setting up stands and camps. At Control Point (12:50), officials check the state of the track. An aerial shot of the speedway shows the size (13:06). Cars and crews move onto the track (13:27) and begin prepping with last-minute pitstops. The Purdue University marching band marches down the track (13:58). Marie Wilson, who’ll kiss the winner, rides in the pace car (14:54). The Dodge pace car rolls out and the drivers follow (15:28), heading down the straight-away into the first turn. The race begins as the pace car pulls off the track (16:48). Cars speed around turns, with McGrath taking the lead. Footage of the race shows various drivers pushing each other, to the amusement of the fans who pack the stands. McGrath pulls into the pitstop (19:06) and his crew changes tires and refuels the car. Troy Ruttman spins out on the third turn (20:15), and he is forced to head in. Sam Hanks is in the lead as he makes his first pitstop (21:00). There is a number of shots of the race crews doing their jobs during pitstops. McGrath and Vukovich battle for first place (22:35), but McGrath stalls after his second pitstop (23:21), falling farther behind Vukovich. Troy Ruttman is sidelined but talks excitedly about his spinout (24:18) at a speed of over 130 mph. Pat O’Connor spins out (26:52); another car spins out near the pitstop. Marie Wilson and the trophy make their way to Victory Lane (27:36). The checkered flag waves, signaling Bill Vukovich as the winner (28:04). Mechanics celebrate as Vukovich pulls off the track, where he collects his kiss from Marie Wilson and holds up a newspaper proclaiming his victory (29:20).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@thomasholden3820]

Vuky was and still is the best! The roadster era at Indy was also the greatest period in racing. Absolutely classic in every way. Wish it was still that way. I grew up with this in Indiana in the 50s and cherish every moment of it. Great film and wonderful time capsule.

[@plantfeeder6677]

This man, the pride of Fresno, California, could have easily won the 500 4 straight times. In 1952 he was leading by a huge margin when his steering failed 9 laps from the finish and of coarse his fatal accident in 1955 while leading. He still remains the only man to lead the most number of laps in three consecutive races there. This man was the OG Shooting Star. They ought to make a movie about his life. RIP Bill Vukovich

[@altfactor]

If Bill Vukovich Sr. had survived and won the 1955 Indianapolis "500", he, and not A.J. Foyt would today be considered the greatest race car driver who ever lived.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@altfactor No doubt !!

[@markmontieth8815]

I found a manuscript of a biography of Vukovich written in the 1950s. For some reason it was never published. I am editing it and will publish it for release in the spring. It will be called Vukovich: The Man Who Wouldn’t Lift. Author is Angelo Angelopolous.

[@harrellkerkhoff8054]

That's right. There was no pit wall. Safety always took a back seat in those days. Many of these drivers never made it out of the decade. Great film.

[@TNLable]

As FIA considered Indy 500 from 1950-1960 as an F1 race, this is technically a full highlights of a Formula 1 race. Hopefully F1 channel won't block it for copyright

[@plantfeeder6677]

He entered a total of 6 World Championship events, starting in 5 with one pole position, two wins, three most laps led and fastest laps scoring 19 points and finishing 7th in 1953 and 6th in 1954 for the F-1 world's driving title.

[@donlove3741]

Dream on.. So if they considered Canada Mexico ........ Who cares what they considered...

[@shawnbeck2303]

The track was paved with bricks still! Seat belts added for safety. But no roll bars? No wonder the driver died all the time. Really great film! I love the Speedway. The history can only rival the Churchill Downhill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Shawn

[@kennethwhite3812]

Vukie the Legend was the best at Indy bar none

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Or the Milwaukee Mile

[@noviranger88]

Maybe Daytona

[@healthyone100]

@@kennethwhite3812 Rick Mears is right up there!

[@muffs55mercury61]

Roll bars were not mandated until 1959.

[@thetreblerebel]

That Bardhal team car is awesome

[@badgumby9544]

Back when the 500 was actually The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Hasn't been for quite some time now.

[@healthyone100]

i think there was a time when they called it "The Greatest Spectacle in Sports"!

[@BrentTnerb2217]

Amazing there used to be 100,000 fans for qualifying.

[@healthyone100]

backin the 70's there were 200,000 for qualifying!

[@snotnosewilly99]

Bryan, # 9, had a broken rear spring and shock which resulted in him being beaten to near death. When he stopped in the pits after the race, he passed out. Bryan had to spend several days in the hospital after the race to recover.

[@mikegibson6013]

Ironic trivia. Vukovich drove he Dean Van Lines #9 the next weekend at Milwaukee while Jimmy was still healing.

[@mickmccrory8534]

If you were there, watching that race @ 138mph, it would be just as exciting as 230mph like now. If you were to get in one of those "slow old cars", & hit the gas, it would scare the heck out of you.

[@johnhenryclark911]

1954 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Won 🏁🏎️🥛🏆 By Bill Vukovick Who Stared In 19th Place.😎 The Pole Sitter Jack McGrath Would Finsh In 3rd Place. 1 Minute 19.73 Seconds Behind Billy Vukovich. Billy Vukovick Won 🏆🏎️🥛🏆In 3 Hours 49 Minutes And 17.27 Seconds!🏁🏎️🥛🏆🏆 It Was Billy Vukovich's 2nd Straight Victory At Indianapolis.🏆🏆😎 I Am Typing This At 10:52 a.m. , Monday Morning 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , May 13 , 2024.😎😎🤓🙂☺️

[@muffs55mercury61]

I have no doubt Vuky would have won in 1955 if not for the fatal crash and assuming his car would have no problems. Love how the stands are so simple back then. Roll bars were not mandated until 1959. With the driver's head a foot or so above the cockpit they didn't have much of a chance in a rollover. Of those who finished in the top 10, four were dead by the end of calendar year, 1955, two being killed at Langhorne, PA where Jimmy Bryan also died (in 1960)

[@jcarby86]

140mph in a bathtub is freakin fast

[@larrymickey3419]

You would think someone would have thought to put a small roll bar higher than the driver's head instead of using his head with the bicycle helmet .

[@thevmanvj]

The survival rate for drivers in that period of time, was 1 in 3. That’s right. A 1 in 3 chance you would survive...a 2 of 3 chance of not making it until the end of your career. These guys would be losing friends on the average of once a month.

[@fiddlerpin]

You had to have brass balls to be a driver during that time.

[@JumboFig24]

I think there was a stat somewhere where it said 11 of the 35 drivers that drove in the 1951 Indy 500 died within the next four years and almost all of them were automobile accident related

[@harrellkerkhoff8054]

@@JumboFig24 17 of the 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 were killed in racing accidents - over half the field.

[@gat1240]

Formula 1 drivers (Jackie Stewart for one) in the 1970s boycotted for more safety, they were crashing and dying and no one organizing the events seemed to care.. The organizers were either too cheap or actually thought that was part of the game- like bull fights, someone has to die. To change things would be "bad optics" in today's parlance. Win (or die) on Sunday, sell on Monday. The manufacturers of normal production cars for the public fought seat belts and every other safety measure including the ones that protect people not even driving (air pollution still from vehicles still no 1 cause of pollution). Death and pollution no longer desired features to advertise.

[@smedleybutler8787]

If vuky died it wasn't going to be his fault.

[@steven2212]

Your head is the roll bar.

[@charlespomroy231]

What were the older cars that look like dirt cars called

[@tagnut1952]

You mean "Roadsters"? I believe that's what you're referring to.

[@charlespomroy231]

@@tagnut1952 Thanks for the response, but what I was thinking was before the roadster Era. They sat higher & were also higher behind the drivers head.

[@healthyone100]

Notice not many overweight people back in the 50's look at us now, factory farming took over america in the 60's money became more important then our health "You reap what you Sow"

[@muffs55mercury61]

Sad but very true !!

[@healthyone100]

@@muffs55mercury61 When the first MacDonalds opened up the flood gates of fast food started and we've been sick ever since!

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@healthyone100 I never set foot in a McDonalds until 1981 when I was 25 and to this day their menu was never on my favorites list. But you're right the obesity and upset stomach trains started with them.