Lee Wallard wins the 1951 Indianapolis 500

Currently, in my life I lost a good friend. Currently, in the IndyCar world there is a huge scandal about Team Penske illegally using push to pass. All of this makes it the perfect time for a little escape to look back at the 1951 Indianapolis 500 and learn more about Lee Wallard. I could use the distraction, how about you?

Even among Indy 500 fans, Lee Wallard is not a name you often hear. I wonder what is the first thing that comes to mind as you hear his name. For me, I wouldn’t even be able to say for sure that he was a 500 winner. So let’s dive in and learn more about Lee Wallard.

There were 12 rookies in the 1951 race, 4 of them finished in the top 10.

Lee Wallard is the driver known for discovering “the groove” at the speedway. Wallard was the first ever to complete the race in under 4 hours, he was a popular winner and was dubbed by the press “The Cinderella Man” ( I have heard the term, Cinderella Man, but would not have been able to tell you who that was). I’m already learning a lot.

Tony Bettenhausen was driving for Murrell Belanger. Bettenhausen wanted to drive for the Meyer and Drake team on the dirt tracks but wished to drive for Lou Moore at Indianapolis. Bettenhausen suggested Lee Wallard for the car in 1951- bet he has regretted that over the years. Bettenhausen’s car spun out late in the race so he definitely made a bad decision.

Lee Wallard was born in Schenectady, New York in 1935. He started his racing career at dirt tracks. His first championship event was in 1941.

At age 40, Wallard won the Indianapolis 500 in a car that Bettenhausen decided not to drive, Bettenhausen opted for the newer front-wheeled drive cars. Walllard led 159 of the 200 laps. Wallard took the checkered flag a full three minutes before second place Mike Nazaruk finished. Only eight cars finished the race, Mauri Rose was among those who retired early.

While Wallard led 159 laps, the race win was not easy. The car bumped around tremendously due to the right rear shock mounting breaking during the race. Next, the exhaust pipe broke and eventually even the brakes gave out with about 12 laps to go. Wallard pushed on though, his discomfort was made even greater from the race suit he wore. It was not mandatory to wear a flame retardant suit but Wallard chose to wear one. However, the process for making a flame retardant suit was to mix boric acid, borax and water and soak the suits in the solution. The pounding he took in the car, especially over the bricks, coupled with the choice to not wear an undershirt proved to be a bad combination. Wallard suffered severe skin chaffing and after the award ceremony he was treated in the infield hospital. While there he also learned that he lost approximately 15 pounds since breakfast.

Four days after the race Wallard was severely burned in a racing accident in Pennsylvania. Wallard required 27 skin grafts. He attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 again in 1954 but was unable to compete due to loss of muscle tissue from his burns, making it impossible for him to handle the car.

Wallard retired and moved to Florida. He died of a heart attack in 1963.

Addition notes from the 1951 Indianapolis 500-

– It was Bill Vukovich’s rookie year. He finished 29th.

– Actress, Loretta Young, gave Wallard the celebratory kiss.

– Duke Nalon won the pole in a Novi.

In the modern day IndyCar world we learned today that David Malukas was released from his contract with the Arrow McLaren team. Malukas was injured in a biking accident and has been unable to drive. Since no date is given for his recovery the team decided to release David. I hate this news as David is one of my favorite drivers. I was looking forward to seeing how he did on the Arrow team. Such a disappointment. I hope he has a complete recovery and is picked up by a team so he can prove what a skilled driver he is.

Johnnie Parsons wins 1950 Indy 500

Johnnie Parsons was born in Los Angeles, California on July 4, 1918. His parents were both in show business and by age three Johnnie was part of the family act. However, after his parents divorced he went to live with his uncle, Jack Bridges. Bridges owned a garage where Parsons met several racers, including Frank Lockhart and Ralph DePalma. Parsons learned to work on cars and hoped to one day become a racer.

Parsons had a very successful career racing midgets. In 1942, he won the United Midget Association (UMA) championship, winning 18 races that season. The season was interrupted by WWII. During the war, Parsons worked for the Douglas Aircraft Company. Post war he returned to racing and began competing in AAA sanctioned events, winning the AAA Midwest Midget championship in 1948. This success earned him an opportunity to race in Championship car events.

Parsons first Indianapolis 500 was in 1949. He was runner up to Bill Holland and went on to win the championship that season. In 1950, Parsons would start the Indianapolis 500 in the middle of the second row. It was rumored that Parsons had a cracked engine block and that the engine would not make the full race and that the only reason Parsons was able to win was because the race was called due to rain on lap 138 (345 miles). Supposedly, he raced hard to try and lead as many laps as possible before the engine gave out but then received a lucky break when the race was called. This was deemed untrue, the crack was not significant and did not affect the engine performance. The car would be used the following year by Mike Nazaruk with the crack still not being replaced. Nazaruk qualified 7th and finished 2nd in 1951. Parsons Indy 500 win was the second race to be shortened due to rain, the 1926 race was won by Frank Lockhart on lap 160.

In Victory Lane, Parsons would receive his congratulatory kiss from Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck and Clark Gable were at the race to film scenes for their upcoming movie To Please a Lady. Bill Holland finished second for his third time (1947,48,50) and Mauri Rose, driving for Howard Keck, finished third. Rookies included Pat Flaherty (who we will discuss in a couple weeks) and Bill Vukovich attempted and failed to make the race.

Johnnie Parsons has another “claim to fame” among Indy 500 interesting facts. He is the only driver to have his name misspelled on the Borg Warner Trophy. It is spelled Johnny Parsons on the trophy. In 1991 there was a restoration project on the trophy and correcting the error was proposed. The decision was to leave it as is, it had become part of the lore surrounding the Borg Warner Trophy.

Parsons married his first wife, Arza, in 1942, they had two children. Their son, Johnnie Parsons Jr became a race car driver. Parsons and Arza divorced in 1947. Arza married Duane Carter, they had a son named Duane Carter Jr but he went by Pancho Carter and also went on to become a race car driver.

Parsons would continue racing in the Indianapolis 500 through 1958. In 1957 he failed to qualify but Dick Rathman had been mugged the day before the race and Parsons was called in as the replacement driver. He finished 16th that year.

Johnnie Parsons died of a heart attack on September 8, 1984.

If anyone has information on how I can watch To Please a Lady please let me know.

Bill Holland wins Indy 500

As I start this post on Bill Holland I feel I’ve already learned a fair amount about him from my previous posts. Holland was the fastest qualifier in 1947 and runner up in both 1947 and 1948. He was a teammate of Mauri Rose, driving the Blue Crown Spark Plug Special for Lou Moore. I’ve been looking forward to learning his story and his 500 win.

When you think of the Indianapolis 500 in the 1940’s and 50’s one of the first names that comes to mind is Bill Vukovich. I look forward to doing my post on Vukovich in a couple weeks but I think Bill Holland should also be a name that quickly comes to mind as someone who dominated during that time too. Holland was runner up in 1947, 1948 and 1950. He won the race in 1949. In this era car problems would usually catch up with you eventually. I think it is impressive that Holland had such a streak of high finishes. Of course we know that at the Indianapolis 500 first place is all that really matters. Holland was furious when he allowed Mauri Rose to pass for the win in 1947, thinking that Rose had been down a lap. I’m sure second place again in 1948 had a sting to it. 1949 was the year Bill Holland got his win.

Bill Holland was born in 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His dad was a professional baseball player. Bill was an excellent skater and tried out for the 1932 Olympics. Holland won his first car race in 1938 in Mineola, New York. In 1947 he was a rookie at Indianapolis. Holland was the fastest qualifier in ‘47 but was not the pole winner. He finished second in the race to Mauri Rose after some confusion as to which lap Rose was on. Holland believed that Rose was a full lap behind and allowed Rose to pass and even waved at him as he did. As stated, Holland finished second behind Rose again in 1948, although this time without controversy.

In 1949, Holland was again driving for Lou Moore in the Blue Crown Spark Plug Special. Duke Nalon started from the pole and Holland started in fourth position. Nalon dominated the first 25 laps but a rear axle broke and the right rear tire came off. Nalon hit the wall and his car erupted in fire. The car slide backwards several yards with a line of fuel and flames coming from the car. It was all caught on camera. Nalon climbed out from the car but suffered from burns, he would return to racing the following year.

Rex Mays took over the lead but briefly until his engine failed and Lee Wallard took over the lead. It was not to last long though, Wallard pulled out on lap 55 with gear problems. Bill Holland became the race leader.

Late in the race irony struck when Holland was leading and Mauri Rose was running second, about 45 seconds behind Holland. The EZY sign came out as it did in the 1947 race. Holland listened but was more protective of his position than he had been in the 1947 race. Rose continued to push hard. With less that 8 laps to go, Rose had an electrical failure and pulled to the infield grass. Rose would finish 13th. Owner, Lou Moore, was furious that Rose did not listen and slow down. Moore was adamant that Rose would not have had the failure had he slowed down. Rose was furious that the car could not be pushed hard for 8 more laps. A shouting match ensued and the two split ways. Holland led for 146 laps and won the race. In Victory Lane, Holland shook actor Clark Gable’s hand and received a kiss from actress Linda Darnell.

“After finishing second the last two years, I didn’t think I was ever meant to win at Indy. I’ll never forget this moment.” – Bill Holland

Holland was again runner up in 1950. In 1951 Bill Holland was suspended from racing for a year for racing in a NASCAR charity event in Florida. At the time the American Automobile Association (AAA) had strict rules against racing in any other form. He argued against the ruling and was suspended for a second year. He returned to the Indianapolis 500 in 1953 and finished in 15th position.

After racing, Holland and his wife, Myra, ran several skating rinks. In November, 1983 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and died on May 20, 1984. He was 76 years old.

Next week we will look at the 1950 race and winner Johnnie Parsons. Thank you for reading. I hope you are enjoying this series on the 1946-1956 winners.

Mauri Rose 1947 & 1948

Mauri Rose won his first Indianapolis 500 in 1941, he was a co winner with Floyd Davis and that has its own story but todays blog will focus on his back to back wins in 1947 and 1948. Mauri Rose was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 26, 1906. Rose first drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1933. He started in 42nd position and finished in 35th. The following year the cars would be limited to 33 and it has remained that way ever since.

Mauri qualified in 3rd position for the 1947 race. Ted Horn won the pole and Bill Holland, Mauri’s teammate, was the fastest qualifier but started in 8th position. Holland led most of the race. Team owner Lou Moore had the team put out signs saying EZY to both Holland and Rose. Holland followed the sign but Rose continued to push. When Rose passed Holland on lap 193 Holland believed that Rose was only unlapping himself. Holland was unaware that Rose was passing for the lead and Holland even waved at Rose as he passed. Post race Holland was furious when he realized that Rose and won and wanted to know why he hadn’t been told that Rose was also on the lead lap. While some believed that team owner, Lou Moore, and veteran driver Rose were teaming up against the rookie it has been denied by both Moore and Rose. Rose even said that is would be foolish for Moore to do that because Holland was signed to receive 30% of the total purse while Rose received 40%.

Mauri Rose was greeting in Victory Lane by movie star, Carole Landis, who had been flown in as a guest of Borg Warner. For several more years leading ladies would serve as guests of Borg Warner in Victory Lane.

The 32nd running of the Indianapolis 500 took place in 1948. Rex Mays won the pole position. Bill Holland started 2nd and Mauri Rose started 3rd with the Blue Crown Specials driven by Rose and Holland, running 5mph faster than the previous year. Sid Collins joined WIBC as a turn reporter on the south end of the track.

Duke Nalon was having a good race and looked to be on his way to Victory Lane but the crew failed to fill his tank and he ran out of gas with about 30 miles left in the race. He pulled into the pits. Rose went on to win his third race. He did it at a record breaking 119.814 and only made one pit stop. Bill Holland was again runner up.

In Victory Lane, Rose apologized to actress Barbara Briton as he refused to receive the congratulatory kiss from her until he could kiss his fiancé, Mary Ruth Wentworth.

I have found several interesting things to note on Rose’s career. Rose (with few exceptions) only raced in the Indianapolis 500. He would take his lunch break from the nearby Allison Engine Company and practice on the track before returning to work. Rose raced in the Indianapolis 500 15 times. He won three. After a crash in the 1951 race he retired from racing and was hired by General Motors. At GM, Rose played a critical role in the development of the first production Corvette. Thanks to Rose’s role the car was a successful racecar.

With all those accomplishments on his resume Rose considers his greatest achievement to be designing and developing hand controls so that those with limited use of their legs may be able to drive. Both of Rose’s children were disabled by polio so it is understandable why he deems this his greatest achievement.

Rose was the third three time winner of the 500 joining Louis Meyer and Wilber Shaw. He was the second back to back winner, joining Wilbur Shaw.

Mauri Rose was given the honor of driving the pace car in 1967. He died on New Year’s Day 1981. He was 74.