Ferrari Tipo 500

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The Ferrari 500 was a Formula 2 car designed by Aurelio Lampredi. For 1952, the FIA announced that the World Championship would be run to Formula 2 specification after the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo from the sport.

Ferrari were the only team to have a car specifically designed for the new formula. The car was powered by a in line four cylinder engine which was mounted behind the front axle, improving weight distribution.

Ferrari 500.
Ferrari 500.

Alberto Ascari used the car to win his first world championship, winning all but one race with the simple 500. The race he missed was due to the fact he was driving the 4.5 litre Ferrari at the Indianapolis 500, but all was not lost as Ferrari won the race he was absent from as well. The following season, Ascari won his second world championship, and Ferrari won all but the final race, which was won by Juan Manuel Fangio, back in racing after an accident which had damaged his neck.

Ascari won 9 straight races in the 500, a world championship record which still stands today. The 500 won all but one race it was entered in, making it the most statistically successful car in the history of the FIA world championship.

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Flag of Italy Scuderia Ferrari
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Cars that competed in the 1952 FIA World Championship (ex. Indianapolis 500)
AFM • Alta F2 • Aston NB • BMW Eigenbau • Cisitalia D46 • Connaught Type A • Cooper T20 • ERA G-type • Ferrari 125 • Ferrari 166 • Ferrari 212 • Ferrari 500 • Frazer-Nash FN48 • Frazer-Nash 421 • Gordini T16 • HWM • Maserati 4CLT • Maserati A6GCM • OSCA 20 • Simca-Gordini T11 • Simca-Gordini T15 • Veritas Meteor • Veritas RS
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Cars that competed in the 1953 FIA World Championship (ex. Indianapolis 500)
AFM • BMW Eigenbau • Connaught Type A • Cooper T20 • Cooper T23 • Cooper T24 • EMW • Ferrari 166C • Ferrari 500 • Ferrari 553 • Gordini T16 • HWM • Maserati A6GCM • OSCA 20 • Simca-Gordini T15 • Veritas Meteor • Veritas RS
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Cars that competed in the 1954 Formula One season (ex. Indianapolis 500)
Connaught Type A • Cooper T23 • Cooper T24 • Ferrari 500 • Ferrari 553 • Ferrari 625 • Gordini T16 • HWM • Klenk Meteor • Lancia D50 • Maserati A6GCM • Maserati 250F • Mercedes-Benz W196 • Vanwall Special
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Cars that competed in the 1955 Formula One season (ex. Indianapolis 500)
Arzani-Volpini Special • Connaught Type B • Cooper T40 • Ferrari 625 • Ferrari 555 • Ferrari 500 • Ferrari D50 • Gordini T16 • Gordini T32 • HWM • Lancia D50 • Maserati A6GCM • Maserati 250F • Mercedes-Benz W196 • Vanwall
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Cars that competed in the 1956 Formula One season (ex. Indianapolis 500)
BRM P25 • Bugatti T251 • Connaught Type B • Cooper T23 • Emeryson • Ferrari 500 • Ferrari 555 • Ferrari D50 • Gordini T16 • Gordini T32 • Maserati A6GCM • Maserati 250F • Vanwall
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Cars that competed in the 1957 Formula One season (ex. Indianapolis 500)
BRM P25 • Connaught Type B • Cooper T41 • Cooper T43 • Cooper BG43 • Ferrari 500 • Ferrari D50/D50A • Ferrari 801 • Maserati 250F • Porsche 550RS • Vanwall