WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Back to the Brickyard: Episode 3

Episode Date: February 15, 2024

In this episode, we go back to the 1960 Indianapolis 500 and revisit one of the most iconic duels between Rodger Ward and Jim Rathmann.

Welcome to Back to the Brickyard, your spot for Indianapolis 500 history here at Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm Christian Papi. The 1960 Indy 500 featured one of the most iconic duels in race history between Roger Ward and Jim Rathman and their equally matched roadsters built by A.J. Watson. In qualifying, Jim Herdeby's broke the Speedway track record with a four-lab average of 149.056 miles per hour. However, because of the fact that he qualified, on the last day, he was forced to start 23rd, and Eddie Sacks took the pole with an average speed nearly three miles per hour slower than that of Hurtabees. The front row consisted of Sacks,

Rathman, and Ward. During the first half of the race, Sacks, Rathman, and 1952 winner Troy Rutman swapped the lead. The forward combined to lead all but 10 of the first 100 laps. Ward stalled in the pits during his first stop and charged hard to get back to the front, taking the lead again on lap 123. Due to mechanical failures for both Sacks and Rutman, the second half of the race was a Ward versus Rathman duel, and the two drivers swapped the lead 14 times. Ward took the lead on lap 194, but excessive tire wear forced him to slow. Rathman passed him on lap 197 and led to the finish, while Ward held on to second. Although Ward won the Indianapolis 500 twice, he considered this one to be the best of his career. Spectators did not know what at

the time, but the 1960 Indy 500 marked what would be the beginning of the end of the beloved front-engine roadster, as it was the last year that no rear-engine car was in the field of 33. Big changes were coming to the Speedway, and the decade that followed would change the look of the race forever. 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.