Lucy Foyt, A. J. Foyt, and Diane Hunt, in victory lane with Borg-Warner trophy, 1961 - Ralph J. Satterlee Collection
Indianapolis,
Ind. (May 24, 1962) - The Golden Anniversary 500-Mile Race is one that will be
remembered for a long time when fans talk of the great races of other years.
Only
twice in the 45-race history of the event in 1912 and 1960 has the outcome been
decided at a later point than in the 1961 classic. A Hollywood
script writer couldn't have done a better job than Lady Fate did in preparing
the story of A. J. Foyt’s record-breaking triumph.
Consider
the hero Foyt.
Seldom
has a reigning national champion been given so little consideration as a
possible winner than was given Foyt.
Many
people looked on the handsome Texan’s title as sort of a fluke - won on the
strength of a terrific streak of hot driving and an equally terrific streak of
bad luck on the part of the “real” driving champion, 1959 500-winner and
national champ Rodger Ward.
When
possible winners of the Golden Anniversary “500” were mentioned, Ward’s name came
up most often. Well it should have…
After
all, hadn’t Ward been cheated out of the honor of being the first two-time
winner since Bill Vuckovich in 1960 by a bad pit stop and a frayed tire that
made it imperative for him to relinquish a small, but commanding lead with just
two laps to go?
What’s
more, Ward had a new roadster out of the garage of the acknowledged king of the
Brickyard, A. J. Watson. And the master himself was the chief mechanic on the
car. If ever there was a likely “500” winner, Rodger Ward was it.
But
for those who didn’t think Ward could win there were plenty of other possible
winners. The defending champion, Jim Rathmann, two-time pole winner Eddie
Sachs, the great rookie Parnelli Jones and the world driving champion Jack
Brabham all got more consideration than did Foyt.
But
when all was said and done on May 30, who was in Victory Lane drinking milk and accepting
the Borg-Warner Trophy? A. J. Foyt.
But
A. J.’s win was not without its tribulations. Each of the aforementioned
pretenders to the Speedway
crown (except Brabham in his outclassed Cooper-Climax) made a run at the
$400,000 pot of gold. And so did the 1952 Speedway
winner Troy Ruttman and qualification record holder Jim Hurtibise.
As a
matter of fact they made such a run at the crown that Foyt didn’t get into the
lead until the 76th lap. After getting in front, Foyt’s job was far from
finished. He was to lose the lead on seven more occasions before he took over
for good on the 198th lap.
A. J.
appeared to have the race in the bag when he relinquished the lead to Ward to
make his third and supposedly final pit stop on the 161st lap. Sachs, his
principal challenger by this point, had already made his final stop, but Foyt
had time to get back on the track before Eddie could move ahead of him. And
Ward, nursing a sickly engine, had his third stop ahead of him and would lose
the lead -back to Foyt when he pitted for the final time.
So it
was with victory in sight that A. J. pulled to a halt in pits. When he pulled
away 20 seconds later that victory was for all practical purposes down the
drain.
A
fueling valve had failed during the stop and Foyt hadn’t received a drop of
fuel. What his pit crew found out immediately, A. J. learned 25 minutes later
when he had to stop a fourth time on the 184th lap for more fuel.
Sachs
zoomed into the lead and into what appeared to be a sure bet trip to Victory Lane. Barring
a miracle, he was a winner and Foyt a runner-up.
That
miracle came on the 198th lap when Sachs had to come in change a threadbare
right rear tire. Trying to slow down and save his tires, Eddie changed his
driving style with the result being just the opposite of what he had hoped for.
As
Sachs’ crew pounded the wing nut into place on the new tire, Foyt flew by and
three laps later took starter Bill Vanderwater’s checkered flag. A little more
than eight seconds later Sachs took the checkered flag for second. Ward, who
fell a lap behind the leaders after his final stop, finished third, with Shorty
Templeman fourth and Al Keller fifth.
The
remainder of the top 10 included Chuck Stevenson in sixth, rookie Bobby
Marshman in seventh, Lloyd Ruby in eighth, Brabham in ninth and another rookie,
Norm Hall in tenth.
Foyt’s
speed for the race was a record-breaking 139.130 miles per hour - eclipsing the
old mark of 138.767 set in 1960 by Jim Rathmann.
Earlier
in race, the huge throng, estimated at over 200,000 people, was given a
chilling thrill when a spectacular five-car accident on the main straight away
eliminated Don Davis, A. J. Shepherd, Roger McCluskey, Bill Cheesbourg and Jack
Turner. Although Turner flipped and the others were bounced around rather
badly, none of the drivers ware hurt.
Foyt’s
share of the record $400,000 prize money was $117,975.
Not
bad for a “cheese champ.”
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