1956 Pre-Race Scene

Posted on: September 14, 2010 | Comments(5) | Gasoline Alley Unplugged, IMS History, Indy 500 | By:

1956 Pre-Race Scene

1956-Indianapolis 500

1956 Pre-Race Scene

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Comments

There are 5 comments for this post.

  1. Chris Blackwell on September 14, 2010 11:28 am
    Chris Blackwell

    Donald, as much as I’ve greatly admired and respected your abilities through the years, I’m afraid I have to contradict you a little bit here. This picture is not 1956. I know this because of the strip of concrete pavement next to the wall in the turn. When most of the track was repaved between the 1955-56 races, that concrete was covered up by asphalt. You mentioned the wind carrying the balloons, so this could actually be 1955, which was a very windy race day. The banners hanging from the grandstand roof would seem to bear that out as well.

  2. Andrew Riggs on September 14, 2010 1:28 pm
    Andrew Riggs

    Be it 1955, or 1956..I am just in awe, remembering the energy of the crowds back then! Back when the goal was build a car that could go faster than anyone else, and last the duration!

  3. Sherman Owen on September 14, 2010 2:05 pm
    Sherman Owen

    This was my dad’s first year at Indy. he had just graduated high school. Ibelieve he said that he sat outside, off of turn four. This year we celebrated his 54th anniversary and my 36th year of races at the Brickyard. Love the place!

  4. Steve Wuertz on September 14, 2010 10:27 pm
    Steve Wuertz

    I never like to contradict our good friend Donald, but this picture is either 1952 or 1953. The new Stand A was in place for the 1951 Race, and the new Stand B (just to the south, closer to Turn One) was in place for the 1954 Race; this picture has the old Stand B. It looks very hot, which leads me to think this is 1953.

    Also, fans can still cross the track on Race Day morning at the entrance to Turn One, from 6AM when the gates open until the the bands start coming by. It is an awesome scene from the track .

    Donald, keep these nuggets coming; they are great!!!

  5. Michael Lazorko on September 16, 2010 11:11 am
    Michael Lazorko

    Steve Wuertz is correct. The grandstands dictate that it is either 1952 or 1953, and judging from the weather, I’ll go along with 1953.

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