The 1961 Indianapolis 500 was the 45th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The event was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, United States on Tuesday, 30 May 1961. Eddie Sachs started on pole position and A.J. Foyt was the race winner.
1961 Indianapolis 500 Race Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Started | Laps | Total Time | Laps Led | Status | Avg. Speed | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | A.J. Foyt | Trevis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 7 | 200 | 3:35:37.49 | 71 | Running | 139.13 | $117,975 |
| 2 | 12 | Eddie Sachs | Ewing | Offenhauser | Firestone | 1 | 200 | +8.28 | 44 | Running | 139.041 | $53,400 |
| 3 | 2 | Rodger Ward | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 4 | 200 | 7 | Running | 138.539 | $26,500 | |
| 4 | 7 | Shorty Templeman | Meskowski | Offenhauser | Firestone | 18 | 200 | 0 | Running | 136.873 | $16,025 | |
| 5 | 19 | Al Keller | Phillips | Offenhauser | Firestone | 26 | 200 | 0 | Running | 136.034 | $13,725 | |
| 6 | 18 | Chuck Stevenson | Epperly | Offenhauser | Firestone | 28 | 200 | 0 | Running | 135.742 | $9,875 | |
| 7 | 31 | Bobby Marshman | Epperly | Offenhauser | Firestone | 33 | 200 | 0 | Running | 135.534 | $9,550 | |
| 8 | 5 | Lloyd Ruby | Epperly | Offenhauser | Firestone | 25 | 200 | 0 | Running | 134.86 | $8,750 | |
| 9 | 17 | Jack Brabham | Cooper | Climax | Firestone | 13 | 200 | 0 | Running | 134.116 | $7,250 | |
| 10 | 34 | Norm Hall | KK500E | Offenhauser | Firestone | 32 | 200 | 0 | Running | 134.104 | $8,250 | |
| 11 | 28 | Gene Hartley | Trevis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 15 | 198 | 0 | Running | $5,820 | ||
| 12 | 98 | Parnelli Jones | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 5 | 192 | 27 | Running | $10,350 | ||
| 13 | 97 | Dick Rathmann | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 6 | 164 | 0 | Fuel pump | $5,580 | ||
| 14 | 10 | Paul Goldsmith | Lesovsky | Offenhauser | Firestone | 17 | 160 | 0 | Oil leak | $5,210 | ||
| 15 | 15 | Wayne Weiler | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 12 | 147 | 0 | Wheel | $5,040 | ||
| 16 | 35 | Dempsey Wilson | Kuzma | Offenhauser | Firestone | 31 | 145 | 0 | Fuel pump | $4,920 | ||
| 17 | 32 | Bob Christie | Kurtis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 16 | 132 | 0 | Piston | $4,850 | ||
| 18 | 33 | Eddie Johnson | Kuzma | Offenhauser | Firestone | 10 | 127 | 0 | Accident | $4,730 | ||
| 19 | 8 | Len Sutton | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 8 | 110 | 0 | Transmission | $4,650 | ||
| 20 | 52 | Troy Ruttman | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 22 | 105 | 10 | Clutch | $6,970 | ||
| 21 | 41 | Johnny Boyd | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 20 | 105 | 0 | Clutch | $4,650 | ||
| 22 | 99 | Jim Hurtubise | Epperly | Offenhauser | Firestone | 3 | 102 | 35 | Piston | $10,410 | ||
| 23 | 86 | Ebb Rose | Porter | Offenhauser | Firestone | 19 | 93 | 0 | Oil line | $4,530 | ||
| 24 | 26 | Cliff Griffith | Elder | Offenhauser | Firestone | 30 | 55 | 0 | Piston | $4,750 | ||
| 25 | 45 | Jack Turner | Kurtis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 21 | 52 | 0 | Accident | $5,720 | ||
| 26 | 73 | A.J. Shepherd | Christensen | Offenhauser | Firestone | 14 | 51 | 0 | Accident | $4,440 | ||
| 27 | 22 | Roger McCluskey | Moore | Offenhauser | Firestone | 29 | 51 | 0 | Accident | $4,710 | ||
| 28 | 14 | Bill Cheesbourg | Kuzma | Offenhauser | Firestone | 9 | 50 | 0 | Accident | $4,430 | ||
| 29 | 83 | Don Davis | Trevis | Offenhauser | Firestone | 27 | 49 | 0 | Accident | $4,950 | ||
| 30 | 4 | Jim Rathmann | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 11 | 48 | 6 | Magneto | $5,270 | ||
| 31 | 55 | Jimmy Daywalt | KK500G | Offenhauser | Firestone | 23 | 27 | 0 | Brakes | $4,890 | ||
| 32 | 16 | Bobby Grim | Watson | Offenhauser | Firestone | 24 | 26 | 0 | Fuel injection | $4,660 | ||
| 33 | 3 | Don Branson | Epperly | Offenhauser | Firestone | 2 | 2 | 0 | Valves | $5,080 |