1962 Indianapolis 500

46th Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body	USAC
Season	1962 USAC season
Date	May 30, 1962
Winner	Rodger Ward
Winning team	Leader Cards
Average speed	140.293 mph (225.780 km/h)
Pole position	Parnelli Jones
Pole speed	150.370 mph (241.997 km/h)
Fastest qualifier	Parnelli Jones
Rookie of the Year	Jim McElreath
Most laps led	Parnelli Jones (120)
Pre-race ceremonies
National anthem	Purdue Band
Back Home Again in Indiana	C. David Cochard
Starting Command	Tony Hulman
Pace car	Studebaker Lark Daytona Convertible
Pace car driver	Sam Hanks
Honorary starter	N/A
Attendance	300,000 (estimated)
TV in the United States
Network	N/A
Announcers	N/A
Nielsen Ratings	N/A / N/A
Chronology
Previous	Next
1961	1963

The 46th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1962.

A historic pole day as Parnelli Jones breaks the 150 mph (240 km/h) barrier in qualifying. Rodger Ward and Len Sutton finish 1st-2nd for Leader Cards Racing.

Time trials

Time trials was scheduled for four days.

• Saturday May 12 - Pole Day time trials
  • Len Sutton was the first driver to make an assault on the track record. His fourth lap of 149.900 mph was a new one-lap track record.
  • Parnelli Jones becomes the first driver to break the 150 mph barrier. His first lap was run at 150.729 mph, a new all-time one-lap track record. All four of his laps were over 150 mph, and his four-lap average came in at 150.370 mph. Jones was rewarded by having 150 silver dollars poured into his helmet.
• Sunday May 13 - Second day time trials
• Saturday May 19 - Third day time trials
• Sunday May 20 - Fourth day time trials

Box score

Finish	Start	No	Name	Qual	Rank	Laps	Led	Status
1	2	3	Rodger Ward	149.371	2	200	66	Running
2	4	7	Len Sutton	149.328	4	200	9	Running
3	27	2	Eddie Sachs	146.431	27	200	0	Running
4	12	27	Don Davis	147.209	12	200	0	Running
5	3	54	Bobby Marshman	149.347	3	200	0	Running
6	7	15	Jim McElreath	149.025	7	200	0	Running
7	1	98	Parnelli Jones	150.370	1	200	120	Running
8	24	12	Lloyd Ruby	146.520	24	200	0	Running
9	23	44	Jim Rathmann	146.610	21	200	0	Running
10	28	38	Johnny Boyd	147.047	14	200	0	Running
11	6	4	Shorty Templeman	149.050	6	200	0	Running
12	11	14	Don Branson	147.312	11	200	0	Running
13	29	91	Jim Hurtubise	146.963	17	200	0	Running
14	32	86	Ebb Rose	146.336	30	200	0	Running
15	10	5	Bud Tingelstad	147.753	10	200	0	Running
16	9	17	Roger McCluskey	147.759	9	168	3	Spun T2
17	17	21	Elmer George	146.092	33	146	0	Engine
18	30	26	Troy Ruttman	146.765	19	140	0	Piston
19	15	18	Bobby Grim	146.604	22	96	0	Oil Leak
20	8	34	Dan Gurney	147.886	8	92	0	Rear End
21	16	19	Chuck Hulse	146.377	28	91	0	Fuel Pump
22	33	79	Jimmy Daywalt	146.318	31	74	0	Transmission
23	5	1	A.J. Foyt	149.074	5	69	2	Lost wheel
24	13	9	Dick Rathmann	147.161	13	51	0	Magneto
25	18	32	Eddie Johnson	146.592	23	38	0	Magneto
26	26	53	Paul Goldsmith	146.437	26	26	0	Magneto
27	20	88	Gene Hartley	146.969	15	23	0	Steering
28	14	62	Paul Russo	146.687	20	20	0	Piston
29	25	45	Jack Turner	146.496	25	17	0	Crash FS
30	31	29	Bob Christie	146.341	29	17	0	Crash FS
31	22	83	Allen Crowe	146.831	18	17	0	Crash FS
32	21	67	Chuck Rodee	146.969	16	17	0	Crash FS
33	19	96	Bob Veith	146.157	32	12	0	Engine

Gallery

• 

  1962 winning car (Ward)

• 

  1962 pole position winning car (Jones)

Notes

References

Works cited

• Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats - Official Site