1960 Indianapolis 500
The 44th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Monday, May 30, 1960. The event was race 2 of 12 of the 1960 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 3 of 10 in the 1960 World Championship of Drivers. It would be the final time World Championship points would be awarded at the Indy 500.
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | USAC | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1960 | ||||
| Winner | Jim Rathmann | ||||
| Winning team | Ken-Paul | ||||
| Average speed | 138.767 mph (223.324 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Eddie Sachs | ||||
| Pole speed | 146.592 mph (235.917 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Jim Rathmann (100) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| Pace car | Oldsmobile | ||||
| Pace car driver | Sam Hanks | ||||
| Starter | Bill Vanderwater | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 200,000 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
Often regarded as the greatest two-man duel in Indianapolis 500 history, the 1960 race saw a then-record 29 lead changes (a record that stood until 2012). Jim Rathmann and Rodger Ward battled out nearly the entire second half. Rathmann took the lead for good on lap 197 after Ward was forced to slow down with a worn out tire. Rathmann's margin of victory of 12.75 seconds was the second-closest finish in Indy history at the time.
The inaugural 500 Festival Open Invitation was held at the Speedway Golf Course in the four days leading up to the race.