1952 Kuzma Special

J.C. Agajanian backed many successful racecars and drivers. At age 22, Troy Ruttman piloted this Agajanian Special to victory at the 1952 Indianapolis 500. Although the car caught fire at a routine pit stop, Ruthman restarted and finished first at an average speed of over 128 miles per hour. His closest competitor, Bill Vukovich, was eliminated when he crashed into a wall with only five minutes to go. To improve stopping power, racecars like the Agajanian Special were equipped with disc brakes, which had been used on military aircraft during World War II to enable them to land safely on short runways.