1957 & 1958 - "Single File Trip Down Pit Lane" Starting Procedure

[Tree0404]

Apparently in 1957 & 58 @ Indy they did a "single file down pit lane" starting procedure, which was abandoned after the first lap crash in the '58 500.

Can someone describe a) Why exactly this was done in the first place and b) Explain it in more detail - was it pre-green flag or during the green flag, etc.? And maybe how it led or was thought to have led to the first lap accident.

Thanks.

[roach]

Prior to 1957 / 1958, the pits were actually part of the front stretch with no barrier separating them. With the 1956 remodel, there was now a "pit wall" that teams would have to climb over after the command to start engines. The thought was that by starting the cars in pit lane where the equipment was located, there would be less congestion and it would be quicker.

[indyrjc]

Prior to 1957 / 1958, the pits were actually part of the front stretch with no barrier separating them. With the 1956 remodel, there was now a "pit wall" that teams would have to climb over after the command to start engines. The thought was that by starting the cars in pit lane where the equipment was located, there would be less congestion and it would be quicker.

Yup. And to accomodate the cars starting single file in the pits a "Parade Lap" was added for the first time which would then be followed by the Pace Lap. Prior to 1957 the cars were started on the track already lined up and took the green flag the first time around with only the single pace lap. Even though the single file start in the pits was abandoned after 1958 the parade lap was kept so that all of the fans got a chance to see the entire field in alignment before the start. At least that's the way it was until fairly recent years (when even a third warmup/parade lap was added). It's been a long time since the fans actually got to see eleven rows of three cars in anything approaching a decent alignment on a "parade" lap. The word "parade" is something of a misnomer today since it's basically just another warmup lap now.

[ensign14]

And of course in 1957 Elmer George hit Eddie Russo as they were coming out of the pits, both out before the green flag lap. The 1958 crash was, as I see it, little to do with the pit-lane line-up, more to do with a couple of hotheads into the first corner. The start was a bit messed up beforehand but it seemed to be sorted by the time the green flew.

[ZOOOM]

And of course in 1957 Elmer George hit Eddie Russo as they were coming out of the pits, both out before the green flag lap. The 1958 crash was, as I see it, little to do with the pit-lane line-up, more to do with a couple of hotheads into the first corner. The start was a bit messed up beforehand but it seemed to be sorted by the time the green flew.

Well, it wasn't a charge into the first corner that was bad, it was going into three when all hell broke loose...

ZOOOM

[Niseguy]

Actually the 1958 start was dicked up and added to the Rathmann/Elisian duel. The front row got out ahead of the pace car. They ended up driving all the way around and were barely in the first row after passing the rest of the field by Green flag.

[56Novi]

The 58 "500" was my first. I was sitting about 4 rows up on some old wooden bleachers at the head of the front straight. When the cars came past me for the start the front row was passing the 2nd row to get into position. Dick Rathman was passing everybody on the inside and Elisian and Reece were moving around everybody on the outside. They were all in position for maybe 5 seconds before the drop of the green flag. So the start was not responsible for the wreck in turn 3.

I didn't have a radio and could not see the green/yellow lights from my seat so when Jimmy Bryan came around turn 4 in the lead my first thought was how did he get from the 3rd row to the lead. Then I saw Bob Veith drive by with the nose of his car sticking up in the air and about only half of the field come by and it was then very clear what had happened.

[indyrjc]

.... When the cars came past me for the start the front row was passing the 2nd row to get into position. Dick Rathman was passing everybody on the inside and Elisian and Reece were moving around everybody on the outside. They were all in position for maybe 5 seconds before the drop of the green flag. So the start was not responsible for the wreck in turn 3......

Maybe not the start itself but the drivers, especially the front row drivers were certainly all confused at a time when they were already pumped up for the start. And the actual start came on the third lap as a second "pace lap" had been added after the front row went off and left everyone. I talked to a fan who said that he saw Pat O'Connor turn and look at Johnnie Parsons (outside of him in row two) and shrug his shoulders and throw his hands up in the air as the cars went through the south chute after what should have been the actual start. At this point the cars of Veith, O'Connor, and Parsons were now the front row and they had no idea what was really happening. The screwed up starting procedure might not have been the reason for the crash that followed but it was certainly a factor.

[mathouser]

The 1957 fiasco was because the cars lined up in their pit spots regardless of starting positions, George ran into the back of Russo on the backstretch, not exiting the pits, as they were all trying to regroup into their respective starting postions. Rumor has it was that George was actually waving to someone when he pounded the rear of Russo's car.
In 1958 the cars lined up in the pits in order of starting positions, and that the front row got out before the pace car, the front row was getting mixed signals, with some officials telling them to speed up, and some signaling to slow down.

[56Novi]

Maybe not the start itself but the drivers, especially the front row drivers were certainly all confused at a time when they were already pumped up for the start. And the actual start came on the third lap as a second "pace lap" had been added after the front row went off and left everyone. I talked to a fan who said that he saw Pat O'Connor turn and look at Johnnie Parsons (outside of him in row two) and shrug his shoulders and throw his hands up in the air as the cars went through the south chute after what should have been the actual start. At this point the cars of Veith, O'Connor, and Parsons were now the front row and they had no idea what was really happening. The screwed up starting procedure might not have been the reason for the crash that followed but it was certainly a factor.

I agree it was a factor. Anything out of the ordinary would affect their concentration, and it just might have made Elisian try that much harder to get into the lead.