Even die-hard racing fans might not know about the Cummins Diesel engine-powered race car that took pole at the 1952 Indy 500. How did it do in the race, and where is it now?
The Cummins diesel-powered race car that competed in the 1952 Indianapolis 500 was a remarkable vehicle. With the number 28 on its bright yellow and red livery and Freddie Agabashian behind the wheel, it was powered by an inline-six engine from diesel truck engine builder Cummins in Columbus, Indiana. That’s just about 50 miles south of the Speedway, and Cummins saw an opportunity. The 1952 Cummins diesel racer is a tribute to the technical ingenuity and promotional know-how of Clessie Cummins, the self-taught engineer who founded the company in 1919 and led it forward. In fact, Clessie Cummins’ Indy 500 experience goes all the way back to the inaugural 1911 500-mile race, when he worked on the pit crew for Roy Harroun’s race-winning Marmon Wasp.
The Cummins diesel race car from 1952 lives on and is currently in excellent condition, with the car and its engine having undergone a multi-year restoration. Bruce Watson — the retired Cummins engineer who led the restoration project — drove it up the the hillclimb track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2017, and former Indy 500 and Formula 1 champ Mario Andretti took it for some laps around the oval during pre-race ceremonies for the 2022 Indy 500.
