According to Wiki-20 degrees
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The last time more than 33 cars started in an Indy/Champ Car event:
Las Vegas 2011. R.I.P. Dan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsataYtOJfs
Last fatality in an Indy/Champ Car race: Justin Wilson Pocono 500 2015. R.I.P. Justin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6S3X3g_MyI
Of note relating to the Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona for which practice begins tomorrow and is the first major race of the year at least in the Northern Hemisphere--The first 24 hour automobile race:
The Columbus, Ohio 24 Hour in 1905. Coming in first were brothers George and Charles Soules who covered 828.5 miles in a Pope-Toledo.
First and last times AAA/USAC Championship/Silver Crown/Indy Cars competed at the Darlington Speedway--
First: 1950 when Johnnie Parsons won the 200 miles event driving a Russo-Nichels/Offenhauser
Last: 2007 when Aaron Pierce won the 68 (green flag) miles event driving a Beast/Chevrolet
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First and last World Drivers Championship race with more than 33 starters:
1953 German Grand Prix with 34
First Grand Prix WC race with fewer than 15 starters:
1950 Belgian Grand Prix with 14
Last Grand Prix WC race with fewer than 15 starters:
2005 U.S. Grand Prix with 6
The last time more than 34 cars qualified in an Indy Car race:
1997 Indianapolis 500 with 35
First major race won by a rear (mid) engined racing car:
The 1934 German Grand Prix won by Hans Stuck in an Auto Union Type-A
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Last Indianapolis 500 with fewer than 33 starters:
1947 with 30
The first AWD single rear engined racing car to start in a major event:
The Gulf Miller 6 cylinder driven by George Bailey in the 1939 Indianapolis 500
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It looks like the first AWD racing car entered in a WC/F1 event was a Gulf-Miller entered in the 1950 Indianapolis 500. The car was run in practice by driver Al Miller but did not qualify.
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First Layover engine roadster to race in the Indianapolis 500: The Cummins Diesel Special driven by Fred Agabashian in 1952
Last layover engine roadster to race in the Indianapolis 500: The Arizona Apache Airlines Special drive by Bill Cheesbourg in 1964
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I think that, Jimmy Jackson's car in 1950 had a roots supercharger and Freddie Agabashian's mount in 1952 was turbocharged-the first tubocharged racing car!