The 1956 Indianapolis 500 marked the first race governed by USAC after the AAA withdrew, and featured a record eleven caution periods.
Key Facts
- Race edition
- 40th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes
- Winner
- Pat Flaherty
- Laps led by winner
- 127 laps
- Caution periods (record)
- 11 periods
- Total caution time
- 1 hour, 11 minutes, 15 seconds
- Governing body (first year)
- United States Automobile Club (USAC)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The AAA withdrew from sanctioning auto racing in August 1955 following a series of fatal incidents, including the Le Mans disaster and the death of Bill Vukovich at the 1955 Indianapolis 500, prompting the United States Automobile Club to assume governance of the sport. Torrential pre-race rains flooded tunnels and the infield, threatening cancellation.
On May 30, 1956, Pat Flaherty won the 40th Indianapolis 500, the first under USAC governance. The race featured a then-record eleven yellow caution periods totaling over an hour, caused largely by blown tires and multiple crashes. Flaherty took the lead for good on lap 76, finishing 20 seconds ahead of Sam Hanks after leading 127 laps.
Flaherty's victory under USAC marked a new administrative era for American open-wheel racing. The track superintendent's heroic 48-hour cleanup effort, dubbed 'Cagle's Miracle,' became part of Indy 500 lore. The record number of cautions highlighted tire and safety concerns, while the near-total asphalt repaving of the circuit set the stage for faster qualifying speeds in subsequent years.