INDIANAPOLIS -- 1950 was a big year for racing.
The first race in the inaugural FIA Formula One World Championship was held at Silverstone, England.
And Darlington Raceway was the site of the inaugural Southern 500, the first 500-mile NASCAR race.
The stars were out at IMS in 1950.
Clark Gable and Jack Benny were at the race as well as Wilbur Shaw and Tony Hulman.
Gable wasn't just there as a spectator. He and Barbara Stanwyck were on location throughout the month, shooting scenes for the film, "To Please a Lady."
Mercury paced the 1950 Indianapolis 500, but soon all drivers would be following a different car.
Johnnie Parsons' car number one turned out to be prophetic. He dominated the race leading 115 of 138 laps.
And for just the second time in history, rain shortened the Indianapolis 500.
After 345 miles, Johnnie Parsons had his first and only victory at the Speedway.
His win made history for another reason as well. His name is the only one misspelled on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Parsons name was spelled "Johnny" instead of "Johnnie."
MORE ON THE ROAD TO 100
1949 | 1948| 1947| 1946| 1941 | 1940 | 1939 | 1938 | 1937 | 1936 | 1935 | 1934 | 1933 | 1932 | 1931 | 1930
|1929 | 1928 | 1927 | 1926 | 1925 | 1924 | 1923 | 1922 | 1921 | 1920 | 1919 | 1916 | 1915 | 1914 | 1913 | 1912 |
1911 | Special Section: Road to 100 | Enter to win tickets to the Indy 500 | Start your engines: 100 stories in 100 days
Tune in to RTV6 News at 6 p.m. every night for our Road to 100, where we take a look back at each of the races leading up to the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Want tickets to this year's race? Tune in to RTV6 News at 6 p.m. and watch for the daily trivia question and answer, then click here to enter the answer to be entered daily for your chance to win tickets to the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29.
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