Scaffold Disaster at the Indy Speedway

1960 Scaffold Disaster

Indianapolis News photographer, J. Parke Randall, captured the scene when tragedy
struck during the pace lap of the 1960 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. A privately owned
makeshift scaffold collapsed, killing two people and injuring 40. About 125 people, who
had paid $5 to $10 for vantage spots on the scaffold, tumbled to the ground. Upon
hearing screams behind him, Randall turned away from the track to see -- and shoot --
the wood-and-metal tower tumbling to the ground under the weight of jostling
spectators, spewing them out onto the infield turf.

Indy 500 Memorial Page

Speedway Party Page

Old Speedway Photos

You probably came here
from one of these pages:

Henceforth, all scaffolding at the Speedway was banned.