Published evidence
1956 Indianapolis 500
A historical profile with source-linked evidence. Further research is in progress.
THE HISTORICAL RECORD
Profile & context
Event date: 30 May 1956
- Name
- 1956 Indianapolis 500
PROVENANCE
Sources behind this page
F1DB
v2026.17.0 · races/51
Original reference ↗Historical source & scope
F1DB v2026.17.0 · CC BY 4.0. Normalisation, links and calculations by MotorPedia. Original source observations retained.
Source-reported facts are not independent historical confirmation. Missing times and points remain unknown; source-rounded points retain their published precision. Constructor, entrant and team identities are kept distinct.
Recorded qualifying format: FOUR_LAPS
Grand Prix context
1956 Indianapolis 500 · Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Technical formula: US national regulations. World Championship membership is separate from technical regulations.
1956 Formula 1 World Championship · round 3
Race classification
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pat Flaherty | Watson | 3:53:28.840 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 8 |
| 2 | Sam Hanks | Kurtis Kraft | 3:53:49.290 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 6 |
| 3 | Don Freeland | Phillips | 3:54:59.070 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 4 |
| 4 | Johnnie Parsons | Kuzma | 3:56:54.530 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 3 |
| 5 | Dick Rathmann | Kurtis Kraft | 3:57:50.650 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 2 |
| 6 | Bob Sweikert | Kuzma | 3:59:03.890 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 7 | Bob Veith | Kurtis Kraft | 3:59:54.470 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 8 | Rodger Ward | Kurtis Kraft | 4:00:1.150 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 9 | Jimmy Reece | Lesovsky | 4:00:7.150 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 10 | Cliff Griffith | Stevens | Time not recorded · 199 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 11 | Gene Hartley | Kuzma | Time not recorded · 196 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 12 | Fred Agabashian | Kurtis Kraft | Time not recorded · 196 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 13 | Bob Christie | Kurtis Kraft | Time not recorded · 196 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 14 | Al Keller | Kurtis Kraft | Time not recorded · 195 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 15 | Eddie Johnson | Kuzma | Time not recorded · 195 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 16 | Billy Garrett | Kuzma | Time not recorded · 194 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 17 | Duke Dinsmore | Kurtis Kraft | Time not recorded · 191 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 18 | Pat O'Connor | Kurtis Kraft | Magneto · Time not recorded · 187 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 19 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | Time not recorded · 185 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 20 | Jim Rathmann | Kurtis Kraft | Engine · Time not recorded · 175 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 21 | Johnnie Tolan | Kurtis Kraft | Engine · Time not recorded · 173 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 22 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 160 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 23 | Ed Elisian | Kurtis Kraft | Brakes · Time not recorded · 160 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 23 | Eddie Russo | Kurtis Kraft | Shared drive · Time not recorded · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 24 | Jimmy Daywalt | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 134 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 25 | Jack Turner | Kurtis Kraft | Engine · Time not recorded · 131 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 26 | Keith Andrews | Kurtis Kraft | Transmission · Time not recorded · 94 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 27 | Andy Linden | Kurtis Kraft | Oil leak · Time not recorded · 90 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 28 | Al Herman | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 74 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 29 | Ray Crawford | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 49 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 30 | Johnny Boyd | Kurtis Kraft | Oil leak · Time not recorded · 35 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 31 | Troy Ruttman | Kurtis Kraft | Spun off · Time not recorded · 22 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 32 | Johnny Thomson | Kuzma | Spun off · Time not recorded · 22 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 33 | Paul Russo | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 21 laps · novi | 1 |
Qualifying
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pat Flaherty | Watson | 4:07.260 · offenhauser | |
| 2 | Jim Rathmann | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.070 · offenhauser | |
| 3 | Pat O'Connor | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.310 · offenhauser | |
| 4 | Dick Rathmann | Kurtis Kraft | 4:09.180 · offenhauser | |
| 5 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.960 · offenhauser | |
| 6 | Johnnie Parsons | Kuzma | 4:09.750 · offenhauser | |
| 7 | Fred Agabashian | Kurtis Kraft | 4:09.880 · offenhauser | |
| 8 | Paul Russo | Kurtis Kraft | 4:10.790 · novi | |
| 9 | Andy Linden | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.650 · offenhauser | |
| 10 | Bob Sweikert | Kuzma | 4:11.690 · offenhauser | |
| 11 | Troy Ruttman | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.660 · offenhauser | |
| 12 | Johnny Boyd | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.920 · offenhauser | |
| 13 | Sam Hanks | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.430 · offenhauser | |
| 14 | Ed Elisian | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.630 · offenhauser | |
| 15 | Rodger Ward | Kurtis Kraft | 4:15.010 · offenhauser | |
| 16 | Jimmy Daywalt | Kurtis Kraft | 4:15.360 · offenhauser | |
| 17 | Ray Crawford | Kurtis Kraft | 4:15.530 · offenhauser | |
| 18 | Johnny Thomson | Kuzma | 4:07.340 · offenhauser | |
| 19 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | 4:10.450 · offenhauser | |
| 20 | Keith Andrews | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.790 · offenhauser | |
| 21 | Jimmy Reece | Lesovsky | 4:11.950 · offenhauser | |
| 22 | Gene Hartley | Kuzma | 4:12.020 · offenhauser | |
| 23 | Bob Veith | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.570 · offenhauser | |
| 24 | Jack Turner | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.820 · offenhauser | |
| 25 | Bob Christie | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.100 · offenhauser | |
| 26 | Don Freeland | Phillips | 4:14.060 · offenhauser | |
| 27 | Al Herman | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.220 · offenhauser | |
| 28 | Al Keller | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.970 · offenhauser | |
| 29 | Billy Garrett | Kuzma | 4:16.120 · offenhauser | |
| 30 | Cliff Griffith | Stevens | 4:14.470 · offenhauser | |
| 31 | Johnnie Tolan | Kurtis Kraft | 4:17.030 · offenhauser | |
| 32 | Eddie Johnson | Kuzma | 4:18.820 · offenhauser | |
| 33 | Duke Dinsmore | Kurtis Kraft | 4:19.870 · offenhauser |
Starting grid
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pat Flaherty | Watson | 4:07.260 · offenhauser | |
| 2 | Jim Rathmann | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.070 · offenhauser | |
| 3 | Pat O'Connor | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.310 · offenhauser | |
| 4 | Dick Rathmann | Kurtis Kraft | 4:09.180 · offenhauser | |
| 5 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.960 · offenhauser | |
| 6 | Johnnie Parsons | Kuzma | 4:09.750 · offenhauser | |
| 7 | Fred Agabashian | Kurtis Kraft | 4:09.880 · offenhauser | |
| 8 | Paul Russo | Kurtis Kraft | 4:10.790 · novi | |
| 9 | Andy Linden | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.650 · offenhauser | |
| 10 | Bob Sweikert | Kuzma | 4:11.690 · offenhauser | |
| 11 | Troy Ruttman | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.660 · offenhauser | |
| 12 | Johnny Boyd | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.920 · offenhauser | |
| 13 | Sam Hanks | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.430 · offenhauser | |
| 14 | Ed Elisian | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.630 · offenhauser | |
| 15 | Rodger Ward | Kurtis Kraft | 4:15.010 · offenhauser | |
| 16 | Jimmy Daywalt | Kurtis Kraft | 4:15.360 · offenhauser | |
| 17 | Ray Crawford | Kurtis Kraft | 4:15.530 · offenhauser | |
| 18 | Johnny Thomson | Kuzma | 4:07.340 · offenhauser | |
| 19 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | 4:10.450 · offenhauser | |
| 20 | Keith Andrews | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.790 · offenhauser | |
| 21 | Jimmy Reece | Lesovsky | 4:11.950 · offenhauser | |
| 22 | Gene Hartley | Kuzma | 4:12.020 · offenhauser | |
| 23 | Bob Veith | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.570 · offenhauser | |
| 24 | Jack Turner | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.820 · offenhauser | |
| 25 | Bob Christie | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.100 · offenhauser | |
| 26 | Don Freeland | Phillips | 4:14.060 · offenhauser | |
| 27 | Al Herman | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.220 · offenhauser | |
| 28 | Al Keller | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.970 · offenhauser | |
| 29 | Billy Garrett | Kuzma | 4:16.120 · offenhauser | |
| 30 | Cliff Griffith | Stevens | 4:14.470 · offenhauser | |
| 31 | Johnnie Tolan | Kurtis Kraft | 4:17.030 · offenhauser | |
| 32 | Eddie Johnson | Kuzma | 4:18.820 · offenhauser | |
| 33 | Duke Dinsmore | Kurtis Kraft | 4:19.870 · offenhauser |
Championship progression
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jean Behra | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 10 |
| 2 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 9 |
| 3 | Stirling Moss | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 8 |
| 3 | Pat Flaherty | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 8 |
| 5 | Sam Hanks | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 6 |
| 6 | Luigi Musso | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 4 |
| 7 | Mike Hawthorn | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 4 |
| 7 | Don Freeland | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 4 |
| 9 | Peter Collins | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 3 |
| 10 | Johnnie Parsons | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 3 |
| 11 | Olivier Gendebien | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 2 |
| 11 | Hermano da Silva Ramos | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 2 |
| 11 | Dick Rathmann | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 2 |
| 14 | Chico Landi | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 1.5 |
| 14 | Gerino Gerini | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 1.5 |
| 14 | Eugenio Castellotti | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 1.5 |
| 17 | Paul Russo | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 1 |