1957 Indianapolis 500
The 41st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1957. The event was part of the 1957 USAC National Championship Trail and it was race 3 of 8 in the 1957 World Championship of Drivers.

Sam Hanks won the Indianapolis 500 in his thirteenth attempt (the most such by any 500 winner). He retired from competition at Indy in victory lane. Contrary to popular belief, Hanks did not completely retire from racing until the end of the year. He skipped the Race of Two Worlds when his entrant withdrew, but competed in USAC Stock Car events later in the year, winning the event at Trenton, and finished third in points championships for 1957.

Hanks received a record $103,844 purse, the first driver to win a $100,000 single-race payday. The total race purse was also a record, over $300,000 for the first time.

Hanks won the race in George Salih's "Lay-down Offy". The Offenhauser engine was mounted on its side and shifted off-center. This was done in order to lower the center of gravity, reduce frontal area, and counterbalance the body roll in the turns. The car that Hanks drove for the win in 1957 would win back-to-back Indy 500s, with Jimmy Bryan piloting the very same chassis to victory again in 1958.

Track improvements
For 1957, the Speedway introduced a new state-of-the-art pit lane and brand new Master Control Tower to house broadcasting as well as timing and scoring. For the first time, the pit area was separated from the mainstretch by an inside wall. The pit lane was paved in concrete (the mainstretch remained brick), while a grass strip went the length of the pit road to accommodate pit crew sign board men. Flagging duties would be done from a station on the grass strip at the start/finish line, and eventually a small wooden platform would be constructed for the flagman to stand atop. USAC officials also stationed themselves on the new grass parapet.

For the 1957 race, the field lined up in the pit area single-file, rather than the traditional eleven rows of three on the racing surface. On the pace lap, the field assembled into position, and was aligned for the green flag. By 1957, the field was now being taken around for two warm-up laps (one "parade" lap, and one "pace" lap), an increase over the single lap used previously. This single-file grid practice would eventually lead to confusion, and was utilized for only two years.

Practice and time trials
Time trials was scheduled for four days, but the second day was rained out. Rain affected practice days as well.

Giuseppe Farina was the only European driver on the entry list for the race, however, he did not attempt to qualify. Farina had difficulty getting his car up to speed, and had experienced handling problems. On May 15, his teammate Keith Andrews stepped into his car for a test run, but crashed. Down the frontstretch, Andrews began to slide, and when he attempted to correct, the car backed into the inside wall separating the pit area. Andrews was crushed to death between the cowl and the fuel tank, but no fire broke out. Farina withdrew after Andrews was killed, with no backup car to use.

Saturday May 18 – Pole Day time trials

Pat O'Connor qualified for the pole position. Showers delayed qualifying for nearly four hours, and at other points during the afternoon. A total of only nine cars completed runs.

O'Connor's speed of 143.948 mph was not a track record. Troy Ruttman was on the track, and after a lap of over 144 mph, rain forced him to abort the attempt. He was able to get back out to the track, but had to settle for a speed of only 142.772 mph.

The first rookie to make the field was Elmer George, the husband of Mari Hulman George, and son-in-law of Speedway president Tony Hulman.

Sunday May 19 – Second day time trials

The second day scheduled for qualifying was rained out.

Saturday May 25 – Third day time trials

Paul Russo (144.817 mph) was the fastest driver of the day, in one of the Novi Specials. Russo was the fastest qualifier in the field, as his speed was faster than the pole position time from the previous weekend.

Sunday May 26 – Fourth day time trials

Rain and winds plagued the final day of time trials. Twenty three cars entered the day looking to fill the final 11 positions. A total of 43 attempts were made, with 9 cars bumped.

Tony Bettenhausen (142.439 mph) was the fastest driver of the day, driving one of the 500 hp Novi Specials. 
Bill Cheesbourg needed two cars to make the field. His first attempt was too slow. But late in the day, he got in Cliff Griffith's car, and at a speed of 141.565 mph, bumped Johnnie Parsons from the lineup.

Qualifying results
Grid
RowInsideMiddleOutside112 Pat O'ConnorSumar SpecialChapman RootKurtis 500G, Offenhauser88 Eddie Sachs Peter Schmidt SpecialPeter SchmidtKuzma, Offenhauser52Troy Ruttman John Zink SpecialJohn ZinkWatson, Offenhauser214 Fred AgabashianBowes Seal Fast SpecialGeorge BignottiKurtis 500G, Offenhauser6 Johnny BoydBowes Seal Fast SpecialGeorge BignottiKurtis 500G, Offenhauser5Jimmy ReeceHoyt Machine SpecialFred SommerKurtis 500C, Offenhauser383 Ed ElisianMcNamara SpecialLee ElkinsKurtis 500C, Offenhauser16 Al KellerBardahl/Clancy SpecialPat ClancyKurtis 500G, Offenhauser23 Elmer George Travelon Trailer SpecialErnest RuizKurtis 500B, Offenhauser454Paul RussoNovi Auto Air Conditioner SpecialNovi Racing CorpKurtis 500F, Novi SC10 Johnny ThomsonD-A Lubricant SpecialRacing AssociatesKuzma, Offenhauser73 Andy LindenMcNamara/Veedol SpecialLee ElkinsKurtis 500G, Offenhauser59 Sam HanksBelond Exhaust SpecialGeorge SalihSalih, Offenhauser22 Gene HartleyMassaglia Hotels SpecialHart FullertonLesovsky, Offenhauser1 Jimmy BryanDean Van Lines SpecialAl DeanKuzma R, Offenhauser67 Bob VeithBob Estes SpecialBob EstesPhillips, Offenhauser18 Johnnie Parsons Sumar SpecialChapman RootKurtis 500G, Offenhauser77 Mike Magill Dayton Steel Foundry SpecialGeorge WaltherKurtis 500G, Offenhauser719 Jack TurnerBardahl SpecialPat ClancyKurtis 500G, Offenhauser43 Eddie JohnsonChapman SpecialHarry Allen ChapmanKurtis 500G, Offenhauser3 Don FreelandAnsted RotaryAnsted-Thompson RacingKurtis 500D, Offenhauser827 Tony BettenhausenNovi Auto Air Conditioner Special	Novi Racing Corp.Kurtis 500F, Novi SC31 Bill Cheesbourg Schildmeier Seal Line SpecialJ.S. DonaldsonKurtis 500G, Offenhauser8 Rodger WardWolcott Fuel Injection	SpecialRoger WolcottLesovsky, Offenhauser SC982 Chuck WeyantCentral Excavating SpecialPete SalemiKurtis 500C, Offenhauser55 Eddie RussoSclavi & Amos SpecialFred SclaviKurtis 500C, Offenhauser92 Don Edmunds McKay SpecialRoy McKayKurtis 500G, Offenhauser1048 Marshall TeagueSumar SpecialChapman RootKurtis 500C, Offenhauser57 Jimmy DaywaltHelse SpecialH.H. JohnsonKurtis 500C, Offenhauser89 Al HermanDunn Engineering SpecialHarry DunnDunn, Offenhauser1128 Johnnie TolanGreenman-Casale SpecialLysle GreenmanKuzma, Offenhauser26 Jim RathmannChiropractic SpecialLindsey HopkinsEpperly, Offenhauser95 Bob ChristieJones & Maley SpecialJones & MaleyKurtis 500C, OffenhauserSources:

First alternate
 #33 - Billy GarrettFederal Engineering SpecialKurtis 500E, OffenhauserThe Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004

Failed to Qualify
 #4 - George Amick Federal Engineering SpecialSnowberger, OffenhauserToo slow #62 - Keith AndrewsFarina SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserFatal accident #82 - Johnny Baldwin Central Excavating SpecialKurtis 500C, OffenhauserDid not qualify #45 - Bill CheesbourgLas Vegas Club SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserToo slow, Qualified #31	 #15 - Tony Bonadies Ray Brady SpecialKurtis 500C, OffenhauserPractice accident #81 - Tony Bonadies Central Excavating SpecialKuzma D, OffenhauserToo slow #59 - Bud Clemons Chiropractic SpecialShilala OffenhauserToo slow #49 - Ray CrawfordMeguiar Mirror Glaze SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserToo slow #32 - Jimmy DaviesAnderson SpecialKurtis 500D, OffenhauserToo slow #62 - Giuseppe Farina Farina SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserCrashed by K. Andrews #71 - Johnny Fedricks Gdula SpecialKurtis 500C, OffenhauserDid not qualify #64 - Gene ForceShannon Brothers SpecialWatts, OffenhauserToo slow #58 - Andy Furci Ray Brady SpecialSchroder D, OffenhauserDid not qualify #31 - Cliff GriffithSeal Line SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserDid not qualify #43 - Van Johnson Chapman SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserDid not qualify #72 - Danny KladisMorgan Engineering SpecialMaserati, Maserati SCToo slow #84 - Danny KladisSafety Auto Glass SpecialMercedes, JaguarToo slow #25 - Jud Larson John Zink SPecialWatson, OffenhauserToo slow #34 - Jim McWithey Federal Engineering SpecialKurtis 500D, OffenhauserQualifying accident #32 - Cal NidayTrio Brass Foundry SpecialKurtis 500D, OffenhauserDid not qualify #98 - Johnnie Parsons Agajanian SpecialKuzma, OffenhauserToo slow #92 - Leroy Warriner McKay SpecialKurtis 500G, OffenhauserDid not qualify #42 - Dempsey Wilson Martin SpecialCurtis, OffenhauserToo slow
 = Indianapolis 500 rookie = Former Indianapolis 500 winner

Race summary

First half
On the backstretch during the pace lap, Elmer George hit the back of Eddie Russo's car, putting both cars out of the race before the start. Only 31 cars took the green flag.

Polesitter Pat O'Connor took the lead at the start and led the first four laps. Troy Ruttman led laps 5–6. O'Connor re-took the lead for laps 7–9, but Ruttman led laps 10–11, until blowing the engine. Paul Russo took the lead on lap 12, and in the first twelve laps there had already been four lead changes between three drivers.

Second half
Sam Hanks took the lead for the final time on lap 135.

Race results
Box score
 Pos Grid No Driver Chassis Engine Laps Led Time/Status F1Points USACPoints 1 13 9  Sam Hanks Salih Offenhauser 200 136 3:41:14.25 8 1000 2 32 26  Jim Rathmann Epperly Offenhauser 200 24 +21.46 7 800 3 15 1  Jimmy Bryan Kuzma R Offenhauser 200 0 +2:13.97 4 700 4 10 54  Paul Russo Kurtis 500F Novi SC 200 24 +2:56.86 3 600 5 12 73  Andy Linden Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 200 0 +3:14.27 2 500 6 5 6  Johnny Boyd Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 200 0 +4:35.27  400 7 28 48  Marshall Teague Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 200 0 +4:45.58  300 8 1 12  Pat O'Connor Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 200 7 +5:33.15  250 9 16 7  Bob Veith Phillips Offenhauser 200 0 +6:17.11  200 10 14 22  Gene Hartley Lesovsky Offenhauser 200 0 +7:10.12 150 11 19 19  Jack Turner Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 200 0 +7:56.07 100 12 11 10  Johnny Thomson Kuzma Offenhauser 199 5 +1 Lap 50 13 33 95  Bob Christie Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 197 0 +3 Laps  14 25 82  Chuck Weyant Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 196 0 +4 Laps  15 22 27  Tony Bettenhausen Kurtis 500F Novi SC 195 0 +5 Laps  16 17 18  Johnnie Parsons  Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 195 0 +5 Laps  17 21 3  Don Freeland Kurtis 500D Offenhauser 192 0 +8 Laps  18 6 5  Jimmy Reece Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 182 0 Throttle  19 27 92  Don Edmunds  Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 170 0 Spun Off  20 31 28  Johnnie Tolan Kuzma Offenhauser 138 0 Clutch  21 30 89  Al Herman Dunn Offenhauser 111 0 Accident  22 4 14  Fred Agabashian Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 107 0 Fuel Leak  23 2 88  Eddie Sachs  Kuzma Offenhauser 105 0 Fuel Leak  24 18 77  Mike Magill  Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 101 0 Accident  25 20 43  Eddie Johnson Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 93 0 Wheel Bearing  26 23 31  Bill Cheesbourg  Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 81 0 Fuel Leak  27 8 16  Al Keller Kurtis 500G Offenhauser 75 0 Accident  28 29 57  Jimmy Daywalt Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 53 0 Accident  29 7 83  Ed Elisian Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 51 0 Timing gear  30 24 8  Rodger Ward Lesovsky Offenhauser SC 27 0 Supercharger  31 3 52  Troy Ruttman  Watson Offenhauser 13 4 Oil leak  32 26 55  Eddie Russo Kurtis 500C Offenhauser 0 0 Accident  33 9 23  Elmer George  Kurtis 500B Offenhauser 0 0 Accident Sources:
Notes
 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap.
 = Indianapolis 500 rookie
 = Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 Race notes 
 Fastest Lead Lap: Jim Rathmann – 1:02.75
 Sam Hanks was the only driver in the field using the British made Lodge Spark Plugs. The other 32 drivers all had the American Champion brand installed.Champion's Champions at 100 Miles an Hour 
Dick Rathmann qualified, but was mugged the night before the race. He was replaced in the car by Johnnie Parsons.
First Indianapolis 500 starts for Eddie Sachs, Mike Magill, Bill Cheesbourg, and Elmer George.
Only Indianapolis 500 start for Don Edmunds.
Last Indianapolis 500 starts for Sam Hanks, Andy Linden, Marshall Teague, and Fred Agabashian.

Broadcasting

Radio
The race was carried live on the IMS Radio Network. Sid Collins served as chief announcer. The broadcast was carried by 302 affiliates, including Latin America. It reached 46 states and DC. The broadcast came on-air at 10:45 a.m. local time, fifteen minutes prior to the start of the race. For the fifth years, the network featured announcers from the five major radio stations in Indianapolis (WISH, WIRE, WIBC, WFBM, and WISH). For 1957, the crew was expanded to eleven, with three new remote reporting locations. For the first time, there would be a reporter in each of the four turns, and a third pit reporter was added to help cover the recently lengthened pit lane. In addition, the booth announcers moved into the newly-constructed Master Control Tower along the frontstretch.

Charlie Brockman conducted the winner's interview in victory lane.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network Booth AnnouncersTurn ReportersPit reportersChief Announcer: Sid Collins
Driver Expert/garages: Floyd Davis
Statistician: Charlie BrockmanTurn 1: Bill Frosch   
Turn 2: Bob Rhodes   
Backstretch: Bernie Herman
Turn 3: Robin Bright
Turn 4: Jim SheltonLuke WaltonGreg SmithGordon GrahamCharlie Brockman (victory lane) 

 Championship standings after the race 
World Drivers' Championship standings
 Pos Driver Points 10px 1  Juan Manuel Fangio 17 10px 28 2  Sam Hanks 8 10px 27 3  Jim Rathmann 7 10px 2 4  Jean Behra  6 10px 2 5  Tony Brooks 6Source:
Note: Only the top five positions are included.

USAC National Championship Trail standings
RankDriverPointsDifference1 Sam Hanks  1000  Leader2 Jim Rathmann  800  -2003 Jimmy Bryan  700  -3004 Paul Russo  600  -4005 Andy Linden  500  -5006 Johnny Boyd  400  -6007 Marshall Teague  300  -7008 Pat O'Connor  250  -7509 Bob Veith  200  -80010 Gene Hartley  150  -85011 Jack Turner  100  -90012 Johnny Thomson  50  -950Source:

 Gallery 

References

External links
Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site
Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
500 Miles to Glory: Mercury LP record, 1957

Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
Category:Indianapolis 500 races
Indianapolis 500
Category:1957 in American motorsport


how many laps did offenhauser run in the 200cc race