Ex-Bridesmaid

Jim Rathmann was only 20 in 1949 when he drove in his first Indianapolis 500. But he was already a veteran of the hot-rod and stock-car circuits, and he had scars and some chipped vertebrae to prove it. In that first start in Indianapolis' famed "Brickyard," Rathmann finished a creditable eleventh, and swore then and there that he would some day win the biggest event in U.S. racing.

Then started a decade of frustration for the taciturn driver. He was 4 min. 2.4 sec. behind the winner in 1952, and 17.35 sec. behind in 1957. Last year he trailed the winner, Rodger Ward, by 23 sec. Around Indianapolis they began calling Jim Rathmann the "Bridesmaid of the Brickyard."

When he showed up at Indianapolis this year, balding Jim Rathmann had a sky-blue Ken-Paul Special, built by Leading Designer A. J. Watson, which could develop 375 h.p. Right from the start, Rathmann turned last week's 500 into a grim, personal duel with Ward. Watching them fight for the lead, spectators on a rickety scaffold in the infield leaned so far forward that the whole structure toppled with agonizing slowness, killing two and injuring 79. Wheel to wheel, lap after lap, Rathmann and Ward kept up their fight, hitting up to 180 m.p.h. on the straightaway, wheeling around the turns of the great oval at 135 m.p.h.

Late in the race, both men began to worry about their tires. "I could see the color changing as the rubber wore off," said Rathmann later. "There wasn't anything left." With three laps to go, Ward finally slowed down, and Rathmann roared past to win by 12.67 sec.--with the record average speed of 138.767 r.p.h.

By taking one of the most dramatic 500s in the 50-year history of the event, Rathmann earned $44,000 (plus an estimated $15,000 in endorsements and personal appearances) and the right to paint "No. 1" on the side of his car until the next 500. Said the ex-Bridesmaid of the Brickyard: "Ward's car seemed to have more steam than mine, but I just kept pushing him close. I don't believe in hard braking when you're trying to catch someone. I ran flat out all the way."

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