Round 2 · 1959
Indianapolis 500
WinnerWARWatson · from P6
PoleTHS
Fastest lap1:01.890Thomson · L64
Biggest gain+18Russo P27→P9
Retirements17of 33 starters
Classification
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | +/− | Laps | Time / Status | Pits | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodger Ward WAR | Watson | 6 | +5 | 200 | 3:40:49.200 | — | 8 |
| 2 | Jim Rathmann RAT | Watson | 3 | +1 | 200 | +23.280 | — | 6 |
| 3 | Johnny Thomson THS | Lesovsky | 1 | -2 | 200 | +50.640 FL | — | 5 |
| 4 | Epperly | 15 | +11 | 200 | +1:47.090 | — | 3 | |
| 5 | Paul Goldsmith GOL | Epperly | 16 | +11 | 200 | +2:06.440 | — | 2 |
| 6 | Johnny Boyd BOY | Epperly | 11 | +5 | 200 | +3:16.980 | — | |
| 7 | Duane Carter Sr. CAT | Kurtis Kraft | 12 | +5 | 200 | +4:09.920 | — | |
| 8 | Eddie Johnson JOH | Kurtis Kraft | 8 | 0 | 200 | +4:10.530 | — | |
| 9 | Paul Russo RUS | Kurtis Kraft | 27 | +18 | 200 | +4:11.040 | — | |
| 10 | A.J. Foyt FOY | Kuzma | 17 | +7 | 200 | +4:14.480 | — | |
| 11 | Gene Hartley HAE | Kuzma | 9 | -2 | 200 | +5:42.480 | — | |
| 12 | Bob Veith VEI | Moore | 7 | -5 | 200 | +6:09.730 | — | |
| 13 | Al Herman HER | Dunn | 23 | +10 | 200 | +6:40.400 | — | |
| 14 | Jimmy Daywalt DAY | Kurtis Kraft | 13 | -1 | 200 | +6:41.540 | — | |
| 15 | Chuck Arnold ARN | Kurtis Kraft | 21 | +6 | 200 | +8:19.860 | — | |
| 16 | Jim McWithey MCW | Kurtis Kraft | 33 | +17 | 200 | +11:41.690 | — | |
| — | Al Keller KEL | Kuzma | 28 | 163 | DNF · L163 | — | ||
| — | Mike Magill MGI | Sutton | 31 | 45 | DNF · L45 | — | ||
| — | Bill Cheesbourg CHU | Kuzma | 30 | 147 | DNF · L147 | — | ||
| — | Pat Flaherty FLA | Watson | 18 | 162 | DNF · L162 | — | ||
| — | Dick Rathmann RAM | Watson | 4 | 150 | DNF · L150 | — | ||
| — | Len Sutton SUO | Lesovsky | 22 | 34 | DNF · L34 | — | ||
| — | Don Branson BNS | Phillips | 10 | 112 | DNF · L112 | — | ||
| — | Jimmy Bryan BRY | Salih | 20 | 1 | DNF · L1 | — | ||
| — | Don Freeland FRL | Kurtis Kraft | 25 | 136 | DNF · L136 | — | ||
| — | Ray Crawford CRF | Elder | 32 | 115 | DNF · L115 | — | ||
| — | Chuck Weyant WEY | Kurtis Kraft | 29 | 45 | DNF · L45 | — | ||
| — | Jack Turner TUJ | Christensen | 14 | 47 | DNF · L47 | — | ||
| — | Bob Christie CHR | Kurtis Kraft | 24 | 109 | DNF · L109 | — | ||
| — | Eddie Sachs SAC | Kuzma | 2 | 182 | DNF · L182 | — | ||
| — | Jud Larson LAR | Kurtis Kraft | 19 | 45 | DNF · L45 | — | ||
| — | Bobby Grim GRI | Kurtis Kraft | 5 | 85 | DNF · L85 | — | ||
| — | Red Amick AMI | Kurtis Kraft | 26 | 45 | DNF · L45 | — |
Session schedule
Grand PrixFinal
Recent winners at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Circuit DNA| Season | Event | Winner | Team | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Indianapolis 500 | Jimmy Bryan BRY | Salih | 7 |
| 1957 | Indianapolis 500 | Sam Hanks HAN | Salih | 13 |
| 1956 | Indianapolis 500 | Pat Flaherty FLA | Watson | 1 |
| 1955 | Indianapolis 500 | Bob Sweikert SWE | Kurtis Kraft | 14 |
| 1954 | Indianapolis 500 | — | — | |
| 1953 | Indianapolis 500 | Bill Vukovich VUK | Kurtis Kraft | 1 |
| 1952 | Indianapolis 500 | Troy Ruttman RUT | Kuzma | 7 |
| 1951 | Indianapolis 500 | Lee Wallard WAA | Kurtis Kraft | 2 |