People have often expressed surprise that the Indianapolis 500 was included in the World Championship, between 1950 and 1960. For the first two years of the series it made sense, because both formulae allowed engines of 4,500-cc. After 1951, it made no sense at all, but the 500 was included in the World Championship to keep alive the idea that there could be cooperation.
This had been a long-held ideal. It led to the “Monzanapolis” races of 1957 and 1958. In 1978 there were rounds of the USAC Championship at Silverstone and Brands Hatch. I interviewed Roger Penske for radio and I guessed that there was something going on behind the scenes. A month later, some of his comments took on a new meaning when CART was announced.
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