United States GP 1958

United States GP, 1958

There was some excitement when Juan-Manuel Fangio took part in initial practice for the 500 but the five-time World Champion decided not to try qualifying as his car was too slow and unreliable. As a result it was, as usual, an all-American affair with Dick Rathmann emerging fastest in his McNamara Special with Ed Elisian and Jimmy Reece sharing the front row for the Memorial Day classic.

The field made it through the first two turns without drama but in Turn Three Elisian lost control and went into the wall, taking Rathmann with him. Reece spun and was hit by Bob Veith and Pat O'Connor, the latter's car flipped and the driver suffered fatal injuries. Further back Jerry Unser went over the wall as car after car was involved in the crash. He suffered a dislocated shoulder but was otherwise unhurt. The race was eventually restarted and was won by Jimmy Bryan in a Belond AP Special.

POSNODRIVERENTRANTLAPSTIME/RETIREMENTQUAL POS
J Bryan Epperly-Offenhauser  200 3h44m13.800s  
99 G Amick Epperly-Offenhauser  200 3h44m41.429s  25 
J Boyd Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G 200  
33 T Bettenhausen Epperly-Offenhauser  200  
J Rathmann Epperly-Offenhauser  200  20 
16 J Reece Watson-Offenhauser  200  
26 D Freeland Phillips-Offenhauser  200  13 
44 J Larson Watson-Offenhauser  200  19 
61 E Johnson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G 200  26 
10 54 B Cheesbourg Kurtis Kraft-Novi  200  33 
11 52 A Keller Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G-2 200  21 
12 45 J Parsons Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser  200  
13 19 J Tolan Kuzma-Offenhauser  200  30 
14r 65 B Christie Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500C 189 Spin 17 
15r 59 D Wilson Kuzma-Offenhauser  151 Refuelling Fire 32 
16r 29 A J Foyt Kuzma-Offenhauser  148 Spin 12 
17r 77 M Magill Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G 136 Red Flagged 31 
18r 15 P Russo Kurtis Kraft-Novi  122 Throttle 14 
19r 83 S Templeman Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500D 116 Brakes 23 
20r Rodger Ward Lesovsky-Offenhauser  93 Magneto 11 
21r 43 B Garrett Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G 80 Engine 15 
22r 88 E Sachs Kuzma-Offenhauser  68 Mechanical 18 
23r J Thomson Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser  52 Steering 22 
24r 89 C Weyant Dunn-Offenhauser  38 Brakes Locked/accident 29 
25r 25 J Turner Lesovsky-Offenhauser  21 Fuel Pump 10 
26r 14 B Veith Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G Accident 
27r 97 D Rathmann Watson-Offenhauser  Accident 
28r E Elisian Watson-Offenhauser  Accident 
29r P O'Connor Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G Fatal Accident 
30r 31 P Goldsmith Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G Accident 16 
31r 92 J Unser Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G Accident 24 
32r 68 L Sutton Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 500G Accident 27 
33r 57 A Bisch Kuzma-Offenhauser  Accident 28