- 1956 Indianapolis 500
Infobox Indy500
race_name = XL INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SWEEPSTAKES
race_
location = Indianapolis
date =30 May 1956
winner =Pat Flaherty
mph = 128.490
leader =Pat Flaherty (128)
pole =Pat Flaherty
pole_speed = 145.596
fast_time =Paul Russo
rookie =Bob Veith
anthem =
back_home =
start_engines =
pace_car =
pace_driver =
attendance =
network =
announcers =
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share =The 1956 Indianapolis 500 was held on Wednesday,
30 May 1956 at Indianapolis. As with other Indy 500s of the 1950s, it was counted as a round of the World Drivers' Championship.The 1956 race would be the first 500 to be governed by the
United States Automobile Club as theAmerican Automobile Association withdrew the previous August. Another change would have a more immediate effect on the current race. The track had been resurfaced with asphalt with only a small line of bricks still remaining on the main stretch. With the new surface, a new track record was expected. Pat Flaherty did not disappoint with a pole speed of 145.596mph, over 4.5mph faster than the 1954 record. 29 drivers qualified opening weekend. The second weekend saw heavy rain that completely canceled Saturday and left only a small window on Sunday for 4 drivers to fill the field. Nino Farina was one of the drivers left out when he didn’t get a chance to qualify hisBardahl -Ferrari.The early part of the race turned into a three man duel between Russo, O’Connor, and Flaherty. Russo was the first to retire when his tyre failed and his car crashed and caught fire. At quarter distance due to yellows and the pit stops, Parsons took the lead followed by Freeland. By the 200 mile mark Flaherty took over the lead followed by Freeland, Sweikert, and Parsons but Hanks was working his way through the fields after sustaining some damage in the Russo crash, eventually taking second. Flaherty had built up such a lead that he was able to make his last pit stop and remain in front. He crossed the finish line with Hanks the only other car on the lead lap. The only real change in the top cars toward the end was both O’Connor and Jim Rathmann having to drop back with mechanical problems while both drivers were in the top 5.
Classification
Notes
*
Pole position :Pat Flaherty - 4:07.26 (time over four laps)
* Fastest Lead LPaul Russo - 1:02.32
* Shared Drive: Car# 10:Ed Elisian 123 laps andEddie Russo 37 lapsF1 race report
Name_of_race =Indianapolis 500
Year_of_race = 1956
Previous_race_in_season =1956 Monaco Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season =1956 Belgian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race =1955 Indianapolis 500
Next_year's_race =1957 Indianapolis 500 Indy 500 Walker
Previous_race = 1955
Previous_winner =Bob Sweikert
This_race = 1956
This_winner =Pat Flaherty
Next_race = 1957
Next_winner =Sam Hanks
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