Johnnie Parsons, the 1950 Indianapolis 500â
winner, came to the Brickyardâ 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 500â
was won by Bob Sweikert with a speed of 128.209 mph.
started 27th
finished 21st
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