Formula 1 historical archive

Johnnie Parsons won the 1950 Indianapolis 500

Johnnie Parsons won the 1950 Indianapolis 500 for Kurtis Kraft, ahead of Bill Holland and Mauri Rose at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Johnnie Parsons
Team
Kurtis Kraft
Top listed
Johnnie Parsons, Bill Holland, and Mauri Rose
Race date
May 30, 1950
Pole
Walt Faulkner
Fastest lap
Johnnie Parsons
Classified drivers
36
Circuit
Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The decisive result

Johnnie Parsons finished first for Kurtis Kraft. Bill Holland is listed 2 for Deidt, with Mauri Rose 3 for Deidt.

Grid to finish

Lee Wallard from P23 to P6 (+17), Gene Hartley from P31 to P16 (+15), and Johnny McDowell from P33 to P18 (+15) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Walt Faulkner started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 4 +3 laps, 4 Finished, 3 +1 lap, 3 +10 laps, and 2 +2 laps. Johnnie Parsons holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:09.770. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

Report a correction · Get the iPhone app

Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Johnnie ParsonsKurtis Kraft2:46:55.9709
2Bill HollandDeidt+1 lap6
3Mauri RoseDeidt+1 lap4
4Cecil GreenKurtis Kraft+1 lap3
5Joie ChitwoodKurtis Kraft+2 laps1
5Tony BettenhausenKurtis KraftFinished1
6Lee WallardMoore+2 laps0
7Walt FaulknerKurtis Kraft+3 laps0
8George ConnorLesovsky+3 laps0
9Paul RussoNichels+3 laps0
10Pat FlahertyKurtis Kraft+3 laps0
11Myron FohrMarchese+5 laps0
12Duane CarterStevens+5 laps0
13Mack HellingsKurtis Kraft+6 laps0
14Jack McGrathKurtis KraftSpun off0
15Troy RuttmanLesovsky+8 laps0
16Gene HartleyLangley+10 laps0
17Jimmy DaviesEwing+10 laps0
18Johnny McDowellKurtis Kraft+10 laps0
19Walt BrownKurtis Kraft+11 laps0