Indianapolis 500 1957 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sam Hanks won the Indianapolis 500 in an Epperly roadster, claiming victory in the American oval racing classic that continued its anomalous inclusion in the World Championship. The specialized Indy cars with their powerful Offenhauser engines remained completely separate from European Grand Prix racing, creating the peculiar situation where championship points were awarded for a race featuring none of the drivers or teams competing in the European rounds.

The Indianapolis 500's presence in the World Championship highlighted the disconnect between American oval racing and European road racing, with no integration between the two disciplines. American specialists like Hanks never competed in traditional Grand Prix, while European Formula 1 teams and drivers avoided Indianapolis entirely. The different technical regulations, racing formats, and competitive philosophies meant the 500 existed as an isolated appendix to the championship.

Hanks' victory earned him eight championship points despite no participation in Grand Prix racing, illustrating the artificial nature of Indianapolis' championship status. The awkward arrangement would persist until Indianapolis finally dropped from the World Championship after 1960, ending the pretense of integration between two fundamentally incompatible racing traditions.