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Johnnie
Parsons, the 1950 Indianapolis 500® winner, came to the Brickyard®
in 1955 without a ride. Car owner Carl Anderson had bought a new
KK500D for his driver, Johnnie Tolan, but although Tolan practiced
the car, he was hospitalized with a ruptured ulcer and was unable
to qualify. So Parsons and Anderson hooked up, and Parsons
qualified the Trio Brass Special in 27th
position on the final
day of qualifying at a speed of 136.809 mph. When Parsons made his
qualifying run Tolan's name was still on the car. Strangely,
although Tolan's name was subsequently covered with masking
tape, Parsons's name was never painted on the car. At the start
of the 1955 race, Parsons began advancing through the field. Just
before halfway, Parsons moved up into fourth place behind Jimmy
Bryan, Bob Sweikert, and Art Cross.
 Then
Bryan pitted with a faulty fuel pump. Parsons was up to third
place by Lap 100, behind Sweikert and Cross, but ahead of Cal
Niday, Pat O'Connor, Don Freeland,
and Tony Bettenhausen (who would
finish 2nd). But on Lap 118, Parsons's car began
smoking badly down the front straight. He pulled off to the side
in Turn 3 on Lap 119 with a faulty magneto. The 1955 Indianapolis
500® was won by Bob Sweikert with a
speed of 128.209 mph.
started 27th
finished 21st
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