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1938 Indianapolis 500

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26th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1938
WinnerFloyd Roberts
Winning EntrantLou Moore
Average speed117.200 mph
Pole positionFloyd Roberts
Pole speed125.681 mph
Most laps ledFloyd Roberts and
Jimmy Snyder (92 laps each)
Pre-race
Pace carHudson 112
Pace car driverStu Baits
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeHarvey S. Firestone[1]
Estimated attendance150,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1937 1939

The 26th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1938. For 1938, riding mechanics were made optional; however, no teams utilized them in the race.[3] In addition, after seven years, the engine specifications were changed again. The 1930 "Junk" formula was eliminated. Normally aspirated engines were allowed 4.5 liters (down from 6.0 L), and superchargers would be permitted again, with a maximum displacement of 3.0 liters. Any fuel was allowed, which directly affected the race.

Time trials

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Ten-lap (25 mile) qualifying runs were utilized. This would be the final time this distance was used. Floyd Roberts won the pole position.

Qualifying Results
Date Driver Lap 1
(mph)		 Lap 2
(mph)		 Lap 3
(mph)		 Lap 4
(mph)		 Lap 5
(mph)		 Lap 6
(mph)		 Lap 7
(mph)		 Lap 8
(mph)		 Lap 9
(mph)		 Lap 10
(mph)		 Average Speed
(mph)
Sat 5/21/1938 Floyd Roberts 126.174 126.743 124.138 125.839 125.857 125.122 124.688 125.523 125.892 126.886 125.506

Starting grid

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Row Inside Middle Outside
1 23 United States Floyd Roberts 14 United States Russ Snowberger 8 United States Rex Mays
2 17 United States Tony Gulotta 3 United States Chet Miller 2 United States Ted Horn
3 1 United States Wilbur Shaw  W  34 United States Babe Stapp 27 United States Mauri Rose
4 16 United States Ronney Householder 26 United States Frank Brisko 5 United States Louis Meyer  W 
5 22 United States Joel Thorne  R  54 United States Herb Ardinger 6 United States Jimmy Snyder
6 7 United States Bill Cummings  W  29 United States Frank Wearne 38 United States Chet Gardner
7 15 United States George Connor 47 United States Shorty Cantlon 35 United States Kelly Petillo  W 
8 55 United States Al Miller 36 United States Al Putnam  R  21 United States Louis Tomei
9 45 United States Harry McQuinn 10 United States Tony Willman 37 United States Ira Hall
10 42 United States Emil Andres 12 United States George Bailey 58 United States Billy Devore
11 33 United States Henry Banks  R  9 United States Cliff Bergere 43 United States Duke Nalon  R 
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

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Failed to Qualify

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Race Recap

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Floyd Roberts started in the pole position.

By 200 miles completed, Jimmy Snyder led a trio of alcohol-powered cars, followed by Roberts and Wilbur Shaw in cars running gasoline. When the alcohol cars pitted to re-fuel, Roberts took the lead for the first time. At 300 miles, Roberts made his one and only pit stop for fuel and a single tire change, and gave up the lead to Snyder. At 375 miles, Snyder made his 3rd stop for more methanol, and Roberts re-took a lead he would not relinquish to the checkered.[6]

Roberts led 92 laps, posted an average speed of 117.200 miles per hour, and won $32,075.[7] Roberts' car was owned by Lou Moore, who was also the chief mechanic.

For this race, only the front and back straightaways were still surfaced with the original bricks installed in 1909. All 4 turns were paved with asphalt prior to this race.[6]

The race was run under heavily overcast skies, with rain threatening the entire day. But it did not rain until the race was completed.[6]

The race was marred by the death of 33-year-old spectator Everett Spence. On lap 45 the number 42 car driven by Emil Andres hit the wall in turn two, then flipped over several times, causing its right front wheel to fly off. The wheel traveled 100 feet (30 m) through the air and hit Spence, who was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital. Andres suffered a concussion, broken nose, and chest injuries.[8]

Box score

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Finish Start No Name Entrant Chassis Engine Qual Rank Laps Status
1 1 23 United States Floyd Roberts Lou Moore Wetteroth Miller 125.681 2 200 117.200 mph
2 7 1 United States Wilbur Shaw  W  W. Wilbur Shaw Shaw Offenhauser 120.987 13 200 +3:55.27
3 5 3 United States Chet Miller Boyle Racing Headquarters Summers Offenhauser 121.898 9 200 +5:21.11
4 6 2 United States Ted Horn Harry Hartz Wetteroth Miller 121.327 12 200 +11:43.99
5 18 38 United States Chet Gardner Joe Lencki Rigling Offenhauser 120.435 17 200 +16:19.08
6 14 54 United States Herb Ardinger
(Russ Snowberger Laps 84–92)
(Cliff Bergere Laps 122–199) 		Lewis W. Welch Miller-Ford Offenhauser 119.022 24 199 Flagged
7 25 45 United States Harry McQuinn
(Tony Willman Laps 87–169) 		Carl Marchese Marchese Miller 119.492 21 197 Flagged
8 30 58 United States Billy Devore Joel Thorne, Inc. Stevens Offenhauser 116.339 30 185 Flagged
9 13 22 United States Joel Thorne  R  Joel Thorne, Inc. Shaw Offenhauser 119.155 23 185 Flagged
10 17 29 United States Frank Wearne Paul Weirick Adams Offenhauser 121.405 11 181 Flagged
11 33 43 United States Duke Nalon  R  Henry Kohlert Fengler Miller 113.828 33 178 Flagged
12 29 12 United States George Bailey Leon Duray Weil Duray 116.393 29 166 Clutch
13 9 27 United States Mauri Rose Boyle Racing Headquarters Maserati Maserati 119.796 20 165 Supercharger
14 10 16 United States Ronney Householder
(Billy Winn Laps 139–154) 		Joel Thorne, Inc. Adams Sparks 125.769 1 154 Supercharger
15 15 6 United States Jimmy Snyder Joel Thorne, Inc. Adams Sparks 123.506 4 150 Supercharger
16 12 5 United States Louis Meyer  W  Bowes Racing, Inc. Stevens Winfield 120.525 16 149 Oil Pump
17 4 17 United States Tony Gulotta Tony Gulotta Stevens Offenhauser 122.499 6 130 Rod
18 22 55 United States Al Miller Jack Holly Miller Miller 119.420 22 125 Clutch
19 19 15 United States George Connor Joseph Marks Adams Miller 120.326 18 119 Engine
20 32 9 United States Cliff Bergere George H. Lyons Stevens Miller 114.464 32 111 Piston
21 31 33 United States Henry Banks  R  Louis Kimmel Miller Voelker 116.279 31 109 Rod bearing
22 21 35 United States Kelly Petillo  W  Kelly Petillo Wetteroth Offenhauser 119.827 19 100 Camshaft
23 24 21 United States Louis Tomei H. E. Winn Miller Miller 121.599 10 88 Rod
24 16 7 United States Bill Cummings  W  Boyle Racing Headquarters Miller Miller 122.393 7 72 Radiator
25 2 14 United States Russ Snowberger Russ Snowberger Snowberger Miller 124.027 3 56 Rod
26 8 34 United States Babe Stapp Bill White Race Cars, Inc. Weil Miller 120.595 15 54 Valve
27 26 10 United States Tony Willman Murrell Belanger Stevens Miller 118.458 25 47 Valve
28 3 8 United States Rex Mays Bill White Race Cars, Inc. Alfa Romeo-Weil Alfa Romeo 122.845 5 45 Supercharger
29 28 42 United States Emil Andres Elgin Piston Pin Company Adams Brisko 117.126 27 45 Crash T2
30 27 37 United States Ira Hall Nowiak & Magnee Nowiak Studebaker 118.255 26 44 Crash T3
31 11 26 United States Frank Brisko Frank Brisko Stevens Brisko 121.921 8 39 Oil line
32 23 36 United States Al Putnam  R  Arthur M. Sims Stevens Miller 116.791 28 15 Crankshaft
33 20 47 United States Shorty Cantlon Thomas O'Brien Stevens Miller 120.906 14 13 Supercharger
[9][10]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses[11]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

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  • After the 5th-place car finished 200 laps, rain brought out the yellow flag. Moments later, rain started to fall harder, and the red flag was put out ending the race. All cars still on the track were flagged off.[12][13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
  2. ^ "Roberts Is Winner; Sets Track Record; Spectator Is Killed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. May 31, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
  4. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  5. ^ "1938 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History" by John & Barbara Devaney p. 120
  7. ^ "1938 Indianapolis 500 Official Box Score :: Indianapolis 500". Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  8. ^ New York Times, "Roberts Sets Record to Win Indianapolis Auto Classic; Spectator Is Killed", May 31, 1938, page 24.
  9. ^ "Indianapolis 500 1938". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  10. ^ Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-2798-3.
  11. ^ "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1938". ChampCarStats.com.
  12. ^ Patton, W. Blaine (May 31, 1938). "Shaw second, Miller Third, also smash former record; Victor in pits only once". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved April 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  13. ^ "The Last of a Long Line of Gasoline Sallies". Indianapolis News. May 31, 1938. p. 18. Retrieved April 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon


1937 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw 		1938 Indianapolis 500
Floyd Roberts 		1939 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw
Preceded by
113.580 mph
(1937 Indianapolis 500)
 Record for the fastest average speed
117.200 mph 		Succeeded by
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