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Highlights from the 40th running of the Indianapolis 500

Associated Press
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FILE - In this May 30, 1956, file photo, Pat Flaherty, driving a Zing Special, crosses the finish line to win the 40th Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this May 30, 1956, file photo, Pat Flaherty gets a kiss from actress Virginia Mayo as his wife looks on, at left, after winning the 40th Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/File) (The Associated Press)

RACE: 40th Indianapolis 500

DATE: May 30, 1956

WINNER: Pat Flaherty

AVERAGE SPEED: 128.490 mph

WHAT HAPPENED: Flaherty dominated and led 127 of the 200 laps at the Brickyard. Flaherty did not get the chance to defend his victory because he was severely injured in a race car crash a month later that sidelined him from the 1957 race.

NOTABLE: The track was paved with asphalt, leaving only about 600 yards of the mainstretch still remaining brick.