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I would certainly take exception to the use of the word "nonsense" given that its use demonstates the usual lack of awareness as to the particular nature of the Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs from its beginnings in 1950 until 1960. The incorporation of the "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes" event was a very deliberate attempt by the CSI to ensure that the United States was included in the new championship, to have at least one round outside Europe. The technical regulations of the Formule Internationale during the 1947-1953 period and those of the Contest Board of the American Automobile Association for its National Championship did not differ as much as most seem to think. It is not difficult to do a bit of research and demonstate that the vast majority of the cars actually competing in the National Championship as being able to conform to the Formule Internationale during that period.
It is both inaccurate and anachronistic to equate the Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs and the Formule Internationale as being one and the same during this period. Even from 1961 to 1980, the two were separate entities. Therefore, whether one likes it or not, which is irrelevant, the Meyer-Drake Offenhauser is correctly credited with being used in eleven of the wins credited under the Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs.
Keep in mind that in Europe during the 1952 and 1953 seasons that the Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs was conducted using machines conforming to the Formulae Internationale no. 2 rather than the Formule Internationale. This was possible since, as would be the case for the Indianapolis event from 1954 to 1960, the CSI designated the events to be run for the championship and the organizing club then deciding which formula to use. In 1952, the CSI simply acquiesced to the overwhelming choice of the clubs, although it did have the option to simply not hold the championship that season.
It is revisionistic history of the worst sort to exclude the Indianapolis events from the history of the Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs, which has been done repeatedly over the years. It is also revisionism to include the 1952 and 1953 championship seasons if one excludes the Indianapolis events should one only consider the Championnat du Monde des Conducteurs in terms of the Formule Internationale.
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