WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Back to the Brickyard: 1958

Episode Date: January 8, 2025

The story of the 1958 Indy 500.

Welcome to Back to the Brickyard, your spot for Indianapolis 500 history here at Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm Christian Papu. The 1958 Indy 500 featured one of the most dramatic starts in race history with a horrific first-lap crash. Dick Rathman won the pole with a four-lap average of 145.974 miles per hour, being joined on the front row by Edelisen and Jimmy Reese. Due to confusion, the initial start of the race was waived off. off. On the second try, the green flag waved and the drivers began to battle on the first lap. On the backstretch of lap one, Elysian overtook Rathman and immediately lost control, spinning out and collecting 15 cars, including four of the top five starters.

Rathman became the first indie pole sitter to fail to complete the first lap. He has since been joined by Roberto Guerrero in 1992 and Scott Sharp in 2001. Jimmy Bryan, who started 7th, came around to lead the first lap. After a lengthy cleanup period, the race was resumed with Brian and the lead. The lead shuffled around in the first half between Brian, Tony Bentenhausen and George Amick. Brian took the lead for good on lap 126 and led to the checker. In the aftermath of the disastrous start to the 1958 Indy 500, new safety measures were instituted. Cars would no longer line up single file before the second.

start of the race. Also, starting in 1959, roll bars were required for all vehicles, representing an early move to improving the safety features of Indycars. You have been listening to Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm Christian Papillon, and I'll catch you the next time we go back to the brickyard.