Jim Rathmann and the 1960 Indianapolis duel

Jim Rathmann finished second at Indianapolis three times before beating Rodger Ward in the 1960 race, the last 500 to count toward the World Championship.

Jim Rathmann was born in Valparaiso on 16 July 1928. He began racing as a teenager and reached the AAA Championship Car series in 1949, and from 1950 his starts in the Indianapolis 500 also counted as World Championship races, since the 500 was part of the championship until 1960.

His first championship start, in 1950, ended in 24th place, but in 1952 he finished second at the Speedway. Through the mid 1950s his results were mixed, then he was second again in 1957 and once more in 1959, when he drove a Watson Offenhauser. Away from Indianapolis he won the 1958 Race of Two Worlds on the banked oval at Monza, a non championship event.

The 1960 Indianapolis 500 was his finest hour. Starting from the middle of the front row, Rathmann ran at the front all day, and from halfway he and Rodger Ward fought a close duel for the lead. The race set a record for lead changes at Indianapolis, and as tire wear became critical in the closing laps, Rathmann managed his tires well enough to pull clear and win. It was the final 500 included in the World Championship.

His World Championship record reads 12 starts, 1 win, 2 fastest laps and 4 podiums, every one of them at Indianapolis. He continued racing at the Speedway until 1963 and died on 23 November 2011.

0 world titles, 1 wins, 0 pole positions, 12 starts.

Teams

Victories

• Indianapolis 500 1960