The 1948 Indianapolis 500 was the 32nd running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The event was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, United States on Monday, 31 May 1948. Rex Mays started on pole position and Mauri Rose was the race winner. Having also won in 1941 and 1947, this was Rose’s third and final Indy 500 victory.
1948 Indianapolis 500 Race Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Started | Laps | Total Time | Laps Led | Status | Avg. Speed | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Mauri Rose | Deidt | Offenhauser | Firestone | 3 | 200 | 4:10:23.33 | 81 | Running | 119.814 | $42,800 |
| 2 | 2 | Bill Holland | Deidt | Offenhauser | Firestone | 2 | 200 | +1:24.07 | 0 | Running | 119.147 | $19,100 |
| 3 | 54 | Duke Nalon | Kurtis | Novi | Firestone | 11 | 200 | 9 | Running | 118.034 | $15,675 | |
| 4 | 1 | Ted Horn | Maserati | Maserati | Firestone | 5 | 200 | 74 | Running | 117.844 | $16,175 | |
| 5 | 35 | Mack Hellings | KK2000 | Offenhauser | Firestone | 21 | 200 | 0 | Running | 113.361 | $7,675 | |
| 6 | 63 | Hal Cole | KK2000 | Offenhauser | Firestone | 14 | 200 | 0 | Running | 111.587 | $5,425 | |
| 7 | 91 | Lee Wallard | Meyer | Offenhauser | Firestone | 28 | 200 | 0 | Running | 109.177 | $5,040 | |
| 8 | 33 | Johnny Mauro | Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | Firestone | 27 | 198 | 0 | Running | $4,115 | ||
| 9 | 7 | Tommy Hinnershitz | Kurtis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 23 | 198 | 0 | Running | $4,270 | ||
| 10 | 61 | Jimmy Jackson | Deidt | Offenhauser | Firestone | 4 | 193 | 0 | Left spindle | $4,120 | ||
| 11 | 4 | Charlie Van Acker | Stevens | Offenhauser | Firestone | 12 | 192 | 0 | Running | $3,120 | ||
| 12 | 19 | Billy DeVore | Kurtis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 20 | 190 | 0 | Running | $2,930 | ||
| 13 | 98 | Johnny Mantz | KK2000 | Offenhauser | Firestone | 8 | 185 | 0 | Running | $2,230 | ||
| 14 | 6 | Tony Bettenhausen | Stevens | Offenhauser | Firestone | 22 | 167 | 0 | Clutch | $2,560 | ||
| 15 | 64 | Hal Robson | Adams | Offenhauser | Firestone | 18 | 164 | 0 | Valve | $1,990 | ||
| 16 | 36 | Bill Cantrell | Stevens | Fageol | Firestone | 7 | 161 | 0 | Steering | $1,870 | ||
| 17 | 55 | Joie Chitwood | Shaw | Offenhauser | Firestone | 10 | 138 | 0 | Fuel leak | $2,375 | ||
| 18 | 53 | Bill Sheffler | Bromme | Offenhauser | Firestone | 24 | 132 | 0 | Spark plugs | $1,830 | ||
| 19 | 5 | Rex Mays | Kurtis | Winfield | Firestone | 1 | 129 | 36 | Fuel leak | $5,775 | ||
| 20 | 31 | Chet Miller | Mercedes | Mercedes | Firestone | 19 | 108 | 0 | Oil trouble | $2,120 | ||
| 21 | 52 | Jack McGrath | Bromme | Offenhauser | Firestone | 13 | 70 | 0 | Stalled | $1,865 | ||
| 22 | 16 | Duane Carter | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | Firestone | 29 | 59 | 0 | Accident | $1,960 | ||
| 23 | 26 | Fred Agabashian | Kurtis | Duray | Firestone | 32 | 58 | 0 | Oil line | $1,580 | ||
| 24 | 34 | Les Anderson | Kurtis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 9 | 58 | 0 | Gears | $1,550 | ||
| 25 | 17 | Mel Hansen | Adams | Sparks | Firestone | 33 | 42 | 0 | Disqualified | $1,420 | ||
| 26 | 76 | Sam Hanks | Adams | Sparks | Firestone | 15 | 34 | 0 | Clutch | $1,490 | ||
| 27 | 51 | Spider Webb | Bromme | Offenhauser | Firestone | 30 | 27 | 0 | Oil line | $1,685 | ||
| 28 | 9 | George Connor | Stevens | Miller | Firestone | 17 | 24 | 0 | Drive shaft | $1,330 | ||
| 29 | 74 | Doc Williams | Cooper | Offenhauser | Firestone | 6 | 19 | 0 | Ignition | $1,300 | ||
| 30 | 86 | Mike Salay | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | Firestone | 31 | 13 | 0 | Stalled | $1,470 | ||
| 31 | 8 | Emil Andres | KK2000 | Offenhauser | Firestone | 16 | 11 | 0 | Steering | $1,340 | ||
| 32 | 25 | Paul Russo | Maserati | Maserati | Firestone | 25 | 7 | 0 | Oil leak | $1,310 | ||
| 33 | 65 | Harry McQuinn | Maserati | Maserati | Firestone | 26 | 1 | 0 | Supercharger | $1,180 |