As we enter the 28th hour of a rain delay, things seem grim. But in 1956, there was so much rain that some thought the race itself was in danger of being postponed.

The final weekend of qualifying was plagued by rain. Sunday saw intermittent showers which left a dozen cars waiting for their chance to make the race. USAC officials extended qualifying an hour, but rain cancelled that plan. A one hour qualifying period was scheduled for Monday, but again rain interfered.

The rain was non stop in the days leading up to the race. An Indianapolis radio station broadcast a false report that the race would be postponed. Tony Hulman issued a strongly worded statement that the race would go off at its scheduled time.

The Speedway had not postponed a race since 1915, and Hulman was not going to allow that to happen if at all possible.

The track in 1956 did not have the sophisticated drainage system that is in place today. Standing water went all the way to the edge of the apron. One newspaper report said that if a driver spun down there, he would drown.

The race became known as “Cagle’s Miracle.” Clarence Cagle and his crew worked for 48 hours straight pumping water out of the flooded access tunnels, off of the track, and out of the infield.

The race, won by Pat Flaherty, was slowed by a then record 11 caution periods consuming more than an hour of race time. The infield crowd was smaller than usual, prompting some complaints from vendors.

So this week’s delays are not so bad when you take a look at what occurred 68 years ago.