Published evidence
1959 Indianapolis 500 · qualifying
A historical profile with source-linked evidence. Further research is in progress.
THE HISTORICAL RECORD
Profile & context
- Name
- 1959 Indianapolis 500 · qualifying
PROVENANCE
Sources behind this page
F1DB
v2026.17.0 · session/77-qualifying
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.
Grand Prix context
1959 Indianapolis 500 · Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Technical formula: US national regulations. World Championship membership is separate from technical regulations.
1959 Formula 1 World Championship · round 2
Race classification
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodger Ward | Watson | 3:40:49.200 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 8 |
| 2 | Jim Rathmann | Watson | 3:41:12.477 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 6 |
| 3 | Johnny Thomson | Lesovsky | 3:41:39.840 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 5 |
| 4 | Tony Bettenhausen | Epperly | 3:42:36.290 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 3 |
| 5 | Paul Goldsmith | Epperly | 3:42:55.639 · 200 laps · offenhauser | 2 |
| 6 | Johnny Boyd | Epperly | 3:44:06.179 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 7 | Duane Carter | Kurtis Kraft | 3:44:59.120 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 8 | Eddie Johnson | Kurtis Kraft | 3:44:59.730 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 9 | Paul Russo | Kurtis Kraft | 3:45:00.240 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 10 | Anthony Joseph Foyt | Kuzma | 3:45:03.679 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 11 | Gene Hartley | Kuzma | 3:46:31.679 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 12 | Bob Veith | Moore | 3:46:58.929 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 13 | Al Herman | Dunn | 3:47:29.599 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 14 | Jimmy Daywalt | Kurtis Kraft | 3:47:30.740 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 15 | Chuck Arnold | Kurtis Kraft | 3:49:09.059 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 16 | Jim McWithey | Kurtis Kraft | 3:52:30.889 · 200 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 17 | Eddie Sachs | Kuzma | Spun off · Time not recorded · 182 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 18 | Al Keller | Kuzma | Engine · Time not recorded · 163 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 19 | Pat Flaherty | Watson | Accident · Time not recorded · 162 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 20 | Dick Rathmann | Watson | Fire · Time not recorded · 150 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 21 | Bill Cheesbourg | Kuzma | Magneto · Time not recorded · 147 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 22 | Don Freeland | Kurtis Kraft | Magneto · Time not recorded · 136 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 23 | Ray Crawford | Elder | Accident · Time not recorded · 115 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 24 | Don Branson | Phillips | Suspension · Time not recorded · 112 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 25 | Bob Christie | Kurtis Kraft | Engine · Time not recorded · 109 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 26 | Bobby Grim | Kurtis Kraft | Magneto · Time not recorded · 85 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 27 | Jack Turner | Christensen | Fuel leak · Time not recorded · 47 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 28 | Chuck Weyant | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 45 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 29 | Jud Larson | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 45 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 30 | Mike Magill | Sutton | Accident · Time not recorded · 45 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 31 | Red Amick | Kurtis Kraft | Accident · Time not recorded · 45 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 32 | Len Sutton | Lesovsky | Accident · Time not recorded · 34 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
| 33 | Jimmy Bryan | Epperly | Engine · Time not recorded · 1 laps · offenhauser | Unknown / not applicable |
Qualifying
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnny Thomson | Lesovsky | 4:06.730 · offenhauser | |
| 2 | Eddie Sachs | Kuzma | 4:07.550 · offenhauser | |
| 3 | Jim Rathmann | Watson | 4:09.250 · offenhauser | |
| 4 | Dick Rathmann | Watson | 4:09.570 · offenhauser | |
| 5 | Bobby Grim | Kurtis Kraft | 4:09.610 · offenhauser | |
| 6 | Rodger Ward | Watson | 4:09.940 · offenhauser | |
| 7 | Bob Veith | Moore | 4:09.960 · offenhauser | |
| 8 | Eddie Johnson | Kurtis Kraft | 4:10.000 · offenhauser | |
| 9 | Gene Hartley | Kuzma | 4:10.740 · offenhauser | |
| 10 | Don Branson | Phillips | 4:11.200 · offenhauser | |
| 11 | Johnny Boyd | Epperly | 4:12.080 · offenhauser | |
| 12 | Duane Carter | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.110 · offenhauser | |
| 13 | Jimmy Daywalt | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.820 · offenhauser | |
| 14 | Jack Turner | Christensen | 4:10.910 · offenhauser | |
| 15 | Tony Bettenhausen | Epperly | 4:12.240 · offenhauser | |
| 16 | Paul Goldsmith | Epperly | 4:12.330 · offenhauser | |
| 17 | Anthony Joseph Foyt | Kuzma | 4:12.370 · offenhauser | |
| 18 | Pat Flaherty | Watson | 4:12.810 · offenhauser | |
| 19 | Jud Larson | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.990 · offenhauser | |
| 20 | Jimmy Bryan | Epperly | 4:13.310 · offenhauser | |
| 21 | Chuck Arnold | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.310 · offenhauser | |
| 22 | Len Sutton | Lesovsky | 4:13.330 · offenhauser | |
| 23 | Al Herman | Dunn | 4:13.630 · offenhauser | |
| 24 | Bob Christie | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.320 · offenhauser | |
| 25 | Don Freeland | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.650 · offenhauser | |
| 26 | Red Amick | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.880 · offenhauser | |
| 27 | Paul Russo | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.840 · offenhauser | |
| 28 | Al Keller | Kuzma | 4:13.420 · offenhauser | |
| 29 | Chuck Weyant | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.610 · offenhauser | |
| 30 | Bill Cheesbourg | Kuzma | 4:13.900 · offenhauser | |
| 31 | Mike Magill | Sutton | 4:14.450 · offenhauser | |
| 32 | Ray Crawford | Elder | 4:14.690 · offenhauser | |
| 33 | Jim McWithey | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.930 · offenhauser |
Starting grid
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnny Thomson | Lesovsky | 4:06.730 · offenhauser | |
| 2 | Eddie Sachs | Kuzma | 4:07.550 · offenhauser | |
| 3 | Jim Rathmann | Watson | 4:09.250 · offenhauser | |
| 4 | Dick Rathmann | Watson | 4:09.570 · offenhauser | |
| 5 | Bobby Grim | Kurtis Kraft | 4:09.610 · offenhauser | |
| 6 | Rodger Ward | Watson | 4:09.940 · offenhauser | |
| 7 | Bob Veith | Moore | 4:09.960 · offenhauser | |
| 8 | Eddie Johnson | Kurtis Kraft | 4:10.000 · offenhauser | |
| 9 | Gene Hartley | Kuzma | 4:10.740 · offenhauser | |
| 10 | Don Branson | Phillips | 4:11.200 · offenhauser | |
| 11 | Johnny Boyd | Epperly | 4:12.080 · offenhauser | |
| 12 | Duane Carter | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.110 · offenhauser | |
| 13 | Jimmy Daywalt | Kurtis Kraft | 4:08.820 · offenhauser | |
| 14 | Jack Turner | Christensen | 4:10.910 · offenhauser | |
| 15 | Tony Bettenhausen | Epperly | 4:12.240 · offenhauser | |
| 16 | Paul Goldsmith | Epperly | 4:12.330 · offenhauser | |
| 17 | Anthony Joseph Foyt | Kuzma | 4:12.370 · offenhauser | |
| 18 | Pat Flaherty | Watson | 4:12.810 · offenhauser | |
| 19 | Jud Larson | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.990 · offenhauser | |
| 20 | Jimmy Bryan | Epperly | 4:13.310 · offenhauser | |
| 21 | Chuck Arnold | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.310 · offenhauser | |
| 22 | Len Sutton | Lesovsky | 4:13.330 · offenhauser | |
| 23 | Al Herman | Dunn | 4:13.630 · offenhauser | |
| 24 | Bob Christie | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.320 · offenhauser | |
| 25 | Don Freeland | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.650 · offenhauser | |
| 26 | Red Amick | Kurtis Kraft | 4:11.880 · offenhauser | |
| 27 | Paul Russo | Kurtis Kraft | 4:12.840 · offenhauser | |
| 28 | Al Keller | Kuzma | 4:13.420 · offenhauser | |
| 29 | Chuck Weyant | Kurtis Kraft | 4:13.610 · offenhauser | |
| 30 | Bill Cheesbourg | Kuzma | 4:13.900 · offenhauser | |
| 31 | Mike Magill | Sutton | 4:14.450 · offenhauser | |
| 32 | Ray Crawford | Elder | 4:14.690 · offenhauser | |
| 33 | Jim McWithey | Kurtis Kraft | 4:14.930 · offenhauser |
Championship progression
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Recorded details | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Brabham | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 9 |
| 2 | Rodger Ward | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 8 |
| 3 | Tony Brooks | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 6 |
| 3 | Jim Rathmann | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 6 |
| 5 | Johnny Thomson | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 5 |
| 6 | Maurice Trintignant | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 4 |
| 7 | Phil Hill | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 3 |
| 7 | Tony Bettenhausen | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 3 |
| 9 | Bruce McLaren | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 2 |
| 9 | Paul Goldsmith | Not applicable / not recorded | Time not recorded | 2 |