The First Indianapolis Rookie of the Year

Art Cross was the first Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 1952 and finished second to Bill Vukovich a year later.

Born in Jersey City, Art Cross began racing midget cars in 1938 and served as a tank commander in the Second World War, receiving a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he returned to midgets and then moved up to the Indianapolis 500, which counted toward the World Championship from 1950 to 1960.

In 1952, his first start, he finished fifth and became the first winner of the race's Rookie of the Year award. A year later he finished second behind Bill Vukovich from twelfth on the grid. He started again in 1954 and 1955, bringing his total to four championship starts, and later ran his farm near LaPorte, Indiana. He died in 2005.

0 world titles, 0 wins, 0 pole positions, 4 starts.

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