1938 Indianapolis 500

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.

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, Jimmy Snyder (92 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

Time trials

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
DateDriverLap 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 5/21/1938Floyd Roberts126.174126.743124.138125.839125.857125.122124.688125.523125.892126.886125.506

Race Recap

The race was won by the number 23 car driven by Floyd Roberts. Roberts' car started in the pole position, and was the first car to win from that start since 1930. Roberts led 92 laps, posted an average speed of 117.200 miles per hours, and won $32,075.[4] Roberts' car was owned by Lou Moore, who was also the chief mechanic. 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.[5]

Box score
Finish Start No Name Qual Rank Laps Led Status
1 1 23 Floyd Roberts 125.681 2 200 92 Running
2 7 1 Wilbur Shaw  W  120.987 13 200 0 Running
3 5 3 Chet Miller 121.898 9 200 0 Running
4 6 2 Ted Horn 121.327 12 200 0 Running
5 18 38 Chet Gardner 120.435 17 200 0 Running
6 14 54 Herb Ardinger 119.022 24 199 0 Flagged
7 25 45 Harry McQuinn 119.492 21 197 0 Flagged
8 30 58 Billy Devore 116.339 30 185 0 Flagged
9 13 22 Joel Thorne  R  119.155 23 185 0 Flagged
10 17 29 Frank Wearne 121.405 11 181 0 Flagged
11 33 43 Duke Nalon  R  113.828 33 178 0 Flagged
12 29 12 George Bailey 116.393 29 166 0 Clutch
13 9 27 Mauri Rose 119.796 20 165 0 Supercharger
14 10 16 Ronney Householder 125.769 1 154 0 Supercharger
15 15 6 Jimmy Snyder 123.506 4 150 92 Supercharger
16 12 5 Louis Meyer  W  120.525 16 149 0 Oil Pump
17 4 17 Tony Gulotta 122.499 6 130 0 Rod
18 22 55 Al Miller 119.420 22 125 0 Clutch
19 19 15 George Connor 120.326 18 119 0 Engine
20 32 9 Cliff Bergere 114.464 32 111 0 Piston
21 31 33 Henry Banks  R  116.279 31 109 0 Rod bearing
22 21 35 Kelly Petillo  W  119.827 19 100 0 Camshaft
23 24 21 Louis Tomei 121.599 10 88 0 Rod
24 16 7 Bill Cummings  W  122.393 7 72 0 Radiator
25 2 14 Russ Snowberger 124.027 3 56 0 Rod
26 8 34 Babe Stapp 120.595 15 54 0 Valve
27 26 10 Tony Willman 118.458 25 47 0 Valve
28 3 8 Rex Mays 122.845 5 45 16 Supercharger
29 28 42 Emil Andres 117.126 27 45 0 Crash T2
30 27 37 Ira Hall 118.255 26 44 0 Crash T3
31 11 26 Frank Brisko 121.921 8 39 0 Oil line
32 23 36 Al Putnam  R  116.791 28 15 0 Crankshaft
33 20 47 Shorty Cantlon 120.906 14 13 0 Supercharger
[6]

Alternates
  • First alternate: Charlie Crawford[7]

Failed to Qualify

See also

References
  1. 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.
  3. Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-06-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. New York Times, "Roberts Sets Record to Win Indianapolis Auto Classic; Spectator Is Killed", May 31, 1938, page 24.
  6. "Indianapolis 500 1938". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  7. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  8. "1938 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
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
119.814 mph
(1948 Indianapolis 500)
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