1952 Ferrari 375

In the fall of 1951, Ferrari found themselves with a problem: What to do with their successful 4.5 liter 375 GP cars. The FIA, worried about a dominating Ferrari team, announced a two-liter formula for 1952 which made the 4.5-liter Ferrari obsolete. Around this time Road & Track magazine had been publishing editorials that new blood was needed to attract European entries to the Indianapolis 500. With encouragement from American Ferrari distributor Luigi Chinetti, the factory decided to prepare four cars for the 1952 Indy race using the 1951 chassis. In 1952 Ferrari sent four retired 375 Grand Prix cars to race at the Indy Motor Speedway. Chassis number one was the factory entry for Alberto Ascari. Chassis number two belonged to Gerry Grant, founder of Grant Piston Ring Company. Chassis three was owned and driven by Johnny Mauro a Pikes Peak Hill Climb specialist. This car, chassis number four, was delivered to Howard Keck from the Superior Oil Company. Bobby Ball drove the car to 134 MPH, fast enough to qualify. Pole time was set the weekend prior by Freddy Agabashian in the Cummings Diesel Special at 139 MPH. Dissatisfied with lap times, rumors of wire wheel failure, Ball moved onto an Offenhauser powered car. With no driver, Keck sent chassis number four to storage, in a crate, where it sat untouched for over 35 years.