1952 Indy 500 / KitSpeed.com

Video Courtesy of Cummings Inc.

Freddie Agabashian's Cummins Diesel Special wasn't the first oil-burner to compete in the Indy 500, but it was the fastest-and likely most significant. The company had been there before. In 1931, a Cummins-powered Duesenberg qualified last, but ran the entire race without a pit-stop, finishing a lucky 13th. The long, low, heavy Special roadster of 1952 was purpose-built for diesel power and surprised everyone in motorsport when it grabbed the pole that year with a record four-lap-qualifying average of 138.010. It was powered by a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder truck diesel that put out around 400 horses. Things didn't go so well in the race, as the turbocharger inlet was clogged with rubber and other debris by lap 70, overheating the massive engine. The car retired, but the point had been made. Turbocharging became common at Indy by the late 1960s, and diesel-powered race cars have since won at Sebring and Le Mans. They owe a lot to the Cummins Diesel Special.

MotorTrend 1978

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Indy
• 500
• 1952

[Yuri600ru]

I wish Ascari had finished in Indy 500 1952. He was the only Ferrari F1 driver in Indy 500.

[jstett1]

SPELL CUMMINS RIGHT

[LRSS46]

Great Documentary video!