It was also the first race held with the track surface paved entirely in asphalt, with just the ceremonial single yard of bricks exposed at the start/finish line.

[citation needed] For 1962, the Opening Day of practice was shifted back to Saturday April 28.

A four-car crash in turn four involved Jack Turner, Bob Christie, Allen Crowe, and Chuck Rodee.

After dominating much of the early race, Parnelli Jones, who started on the pole and led 120 laps, finished 7th.

Turn reporter Mike Ahern, who debuted on the radio crew a year earlier, missed the 1962 race due to being in the Army.