1928 Indianapolis 500

Last updated
16th Indianapolis 500
1928 Indianapolis 500 program cover.jpg
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 30, 1928
Winner Louis Meyer
Winning EntrantAlden Sampson II
Average speed99.482 mph (160.101 km/h)
Pole position Leon Duray
Pole speed122.391 mph (196.969 km/h)
Most laps led Leon Duray (59)
Pre-race
Pace car Marmon 8 (Model 78)
Pace car driver Joe Dawson
Starter Chester Maitland [1]
Honorary refereeLarry D. Fisher [1]
Estimated attendance140,000 [2]
Chronology
PreviousNext
1927 1929

The 16th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1928. This was the first Indianapolis 500 presided over by new Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker. Rain threatened to wash out the day, but the showers stopped and the race started on time. One brief shower slowed the race around the 400-mile mark, bringing out the yellow flag for a few laps.

Contents

It was the third year contested with the supercharged 9112 cu. in. (1.5 L) displacement engine formula. A total of seven supercharged front-wheel drive cars were entered, and they swept the front row during time trials. Leon Duray in a Miller took the pole position with an average speed of 122.391 mph (196.969 km/h), a new track record. Duray dominated much of the first half of the race, setting a blistering pace. He dropped out in the second half, however, due to an overheating engine.

With twenty laps to go, Tony Gulotta led Jimmy Gleason and Louis Meyer. All three cars were running nose-to-tail. On lap 181, Gulotta slowed with a leaking fuel tank and a clogged fuel line. Gleason and Meyer then battled for the lead. On lap 196 Gleason headed for the pits to take on water for the radiator. A crew member missed the radiator and accidentally doused the car's magneto with water. The engine was ruined with a cracked water jacket in sight of victory.

Rookie driver Louis Meyer (though he had appeared as a relief driver in 1927) took the first of what would be three career Indy victories. Meyer did not even land his ride until one week before the race. Car owner Phil Shafer entered a rear-wheel drive Miller Special for Wilbur Shaw with initial backing from a fuel pump manufacturer. The deal fell through, and Shafer abruptly sold the car to Alden Sampson II four days before time trials were scheduled to begin. Sampson hired Louis Meyer to drive the car, the same machine that Tony Gulotta drove to a third place in 1927. Meyer put the car safely in the field in 13th starting position. He drove a steady, consistent pace, and led only once, the final 19 laps of the race. Despite predictions of record speed, and an early blistering pace, Meyer's average speed of 99.482 mph for the 500 miles fell short of the record set in 1926.

Race schedule

The race was scheduled for Wednesday May 30. Competitors began arriving at the grounds in mid-April, and the track was to be made available for practice and testing no later than May 1. Elimination trials were scheduled for three days (May 26–28), but qualifying extended to an additional day (and for a brief period on race morning) due to a short field. The annual awards banquet was scheduled for Thursday evening (May 31) at the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. [3]

Race schedule – May 1928
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
  1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
10
 
11
 
12
 
13
 
14
 
15
 
16
 
17
 
18
 
19
 
20
 
21
 
22
 
23
 
24
 
25
 
26
Time Trials
27
Time Trials
28
Time Trials
29
Time Trials
30
Indy 500
31
Banquet
  
ColorNotes
GreenTrack available for practice
Dark blueTime trials
SilverRace day
BlankNo track activity

Preparations and Practice

April

May

Time trials

Qualifications was scheduled for three days, May 26–28. The minimum speed to qualify was set at 90 mph. A total of 36 entries were expected to make attempts to fill the 33 starting positions. Qualified cars on the first day of trials would line up in the grid first, followed by the second day qualifiers, and so on. [27]

Riding mechanics were optional, [33] however, no teams entered utilized them.

Saturday May 26

The first day of elimination trials was held Saturday May 26. Qualifying was scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Any cars in line at 5 o'clock were permitted to make their runs, continuing until the track closed at sundown. The morning dawned dark, with the threat of rain looming, but fair skies prevailed. [32] The existing track records going into the month were both held by Frank Lockhart. The one-lap track record (120.918 mph) and four-lap track record (120.100 mph) were both set during time trials in 1927.

The supercharged front-wheel drive Millers were expected to excel in qualifying, with Leon Duray the favorite for the pole position. Duray had set an unofficial track record on May 17, and was among the fastest cars all month long.

The first driver to challenge the track record was Cliff Woodbury in one of the Boyle Valve Specials owned by Mike Boyle. On his third lap, Woodbury's set a one-lap track record (121.081 mph). His four-lap average of 120.418 mph was also a record. It was noted that this was Woodbury's first attempt in a front-wheel drive car at the Speedway, and it garnered him a solid front row starting position. Woodbury's spot on the pole was short-lived, however. Leon Duray in the Miller Special took to the track a short time after Woodbury. Duray smashed the one-lap track record on his second lap with a speed of 123.203 mph. His four-lap average of 122.391 mph was also a new track record, and he secured the pole position.

The most serious incident of the afternoon involved 1925 winner Peter DePaolo. During his qualifying attempt, going into turn three on the first lap, the car went out of control, and flipped over at least three times. DePaolo was thrown from the vehicle, then the car slid upside down along the bricks, ripping off the engine cowling, shearing off the carburetor, and grinding the top of the supercharger casing. The car suffered a bent rear axle, a dented nose, and other minor damage. It was determined that the crash was caused by the steering mechanism locking up. DePaolo suffered gouges to his arms, bruised legs, and cuts on his chin. Though DePaolo escaped serious injuries, he was sidelined for the remainder of the month. After the crash, the team led by chief mechanic Collon Henning Peters began repairing the car, in hopes of still qualifying with another driver.

At the end of the day, the front wheel drive machines swept the front row, and five of the top eight starting positions. A total of 19 cars had qualified, leaving 14 positions open.

PosNo.NameLap 1
(mph)
Lap 2
(mph)
Lap 3
(mph)
Lap 4
(mph)
Average Speed
(mph)
Notes
14 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Leon Duray 122.917123.203121.819121.638122.391New 1-lap and 4-lap track record
210 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Woodbury 120.240120.417121.081119.936120.418
321 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Bergere 119.760120.498119.744119.824119.956
48 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Gulotta 117.218117.080117.447116.324117.031
57 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Babe Stapp 117.371117.894116.913115.399116.887
616 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn 116.474116.264116.655116.054116.354
724 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Schneider 114.767114.068113.866113.450114.036
828 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lou Moore  R 113.350113.722114.126114.111113.826
925 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Comer 114.942114.198112.810112.839113.690
1015 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Keech  R 112.486114.198112.796114.227113.421
1133 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Seymour  R 111.982111.565111.829111.317111.671
123 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Souders  W 110.987111.815111.996110.987111.444
1314 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Meyer  R 109.369112.010111.857112.219111.352
1435 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Buddy Marr  R 109.422111.083109.609108.656109.685Withdrawn May 29
1527 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Frame 107.296106.875107.462108.381107.501
1622 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Norman Batten 106.408107.694106.572106.939106.585
1738 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Ross  R 108.212107.913105.609104.638106.572
1823 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon Litz  R 106.559106.395105.349106.559106.213
195 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Durant 100.122100.200101.04597.53999.990
1 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Peter DePaolo IncompleteWrecked in turn 3
34 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Russ Snowberger IncompleteFailed hose connection

Sunday May 27

The second day of elimination trials was held on Sunday May 27. Five cars completed runs in front of a crowd estimated at 12,000–15,000 spectators. Pete Kreis was the fastest driver of the day. The field filled to 24 cars, leaving nine spots open.

Back in the garage area, the wrecked car of Peter DePaolo was being repaired. Bob McDonogh and Wilbur Shaw were being rumored as possible replacement drivers to the seat.

During the day, a tire changing contest was held between several of the pit crews. Dick Doyle and Bud Miller, servicing the car of George Souders, won the $50 top prize.

PosNo.NameLap 1
(mph)
Lap 2
(mph)
Lap 3
(mph)
Lap 4
(mph)
Average speed
(mph)
Notes
2032 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pete Kreis 113.165112.191112.814113.464112.906
2143 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Arnold  R 111.968110.974111.718113.065111.926
2239 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Gleason  R 112.725111.331110.993111.857111.708
2334 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Russ Snowberger  R 112.556112.250111.043110.186111.618
2412 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Dave Evans 109.289108.434107.360107.991108.264

Monday May 28

The third day of elimination trials was scheduled for Monday May 28. Although Monday was originally the final day allowed to qualify, officials announced that Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning may opened up due to prospects of a short field.

Clarence Belt made history, becoming the first driver ever to qualify a V-type engine at Indianapolis.

PosNo.NameLap 1
(mph)
Lap 2
(mph)
Lap 3
(mph)
Lap 4
(mph)
Average Speed
(mph)
Notes
256 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Devore 109.078109.998110.619109.556109.810
2618 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Dutch Baumann 106.132105.423106.724106.635106.226Withdrew May 30
2717 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg L. L. Corum 97.60396.68196.89993.60496.172Withdrew May 30
2841 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Clarence Belt  R 95.70496.13396.44295.82696.026

Tuesday May 29

Despite a slippery track, three drivers completed qualifying attempts. Officials decided that the deadline to qualify would be set at 12 noon. Late in the afternoon Ted Miller, the relief driver for Buddy Marr, was taking practice laps in the #35 B.W. Cooke Special. Miller crashed at the south end of the track. Miller suffered a broken arm and lacerations, and was taken to the hospital. The car was badly damaged. The crew would work into the night to try to repair the car, but ran out of time, and withdrew on race morning.

PosNo.NameLap 1
(mph)
Lap 2
(mph)
Lap 3
(mph)
Lap 4
(mph)
Average Speed
(mph)
Notes
2918 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Benny Shoaff 102.409
3026 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ira Hall  R 96.886
3129 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Henry Kohlert  R 93.545

Wednesday May 30

Two drivers, Wilbur Shaw and Jim Hill, received permission to qualify their cars at 5:00 a.m. on race morning. However, only Shaw took to the track. Shaw put Peter DePaolo's car in the field, a car repaired after the crash on Saturday. DePaolo was brought to the track by an ambulance, and cheered on the team lying on a stretcher trackside.

During practice runs just before the race, L. L. Corum and Dutch Baumann crashed their cars. Corum crashed in turn three. Baumann lost control in turn two and wrecked, but was not injured. Both cars were too damaged to race and both cars were withdrawn before the race started.

PosNo.NameLap 1
(mph)
Lap 2
(mph)
Lap 3
(mph)
Lap 4
(mph)
Average Speed
(mph)
Notes
321 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wilbur Shaw 100.956
31 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jim Hill N/ADid not qualify

Starting grid

RowInsideMiddleOutside
1 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Leon Duray Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Woodbury Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Bergere
2 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Gulotta Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Babe Stapp Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn
3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Schneider Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lou Moore  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Comer
4 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Keech  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Seymour  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Souders  W 
5 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Meyer  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Frame Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Norman Batten
6 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Ross  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon Litz  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Durant
7 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pete Kreis Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Arnold  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Gleason  R 
8 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Russ Snowberger  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Dave Evans Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Devore
9 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Clarence Belt  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Benny Shoaff Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ira Hall  R 
10 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Henry Kohlert  R  Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wilbur Shaw  

Qualified cars withdrawn

Alternates

Failed to qualify

Race summary

Louis Meyer Louis Meyer at the 1928 Indianapolis 500.jpg
Louis Meyer

Morning rain threatened to postpone the start of the race, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. central standard time. The first shower came through the area at 6:30 a.m., followed by another brief shower at 8:30 a.m. About fifteen minutes later, the rain stopped and the track began to dry. Changes to the starting lineup shuffled the grid Wednesday morning. With Wilbur Shaw putting the DePaolo car in the field, his car was placed at the rear of the field. Meanwhile, three cars were withdrawn on race morning due to crashes. Buddy Marr's car, wrecked on Tuesday, was not repaired in enough time and was scratched. L. L. Corum and Dutch Baumann both suffered crashes during practice runs early Wednesday morning, and both were withdrawn. Both crashes were blamed on the damp conditions. Corum was not seriously injured, and planned to drive relief for other cars during the race.

Jim Hill was unable to qualify, and there were no alternates, so the 33-car field would be short by four cars. Only 29 cars lined up in the grid to take the starter's flag.

Start

The track was still damp, but officials deemed it adequately dry for racing. The sun had come out, and the brick surface was drying quickly. With rain showers holding off, pace car driver Joe Dawson led the field around for one warm up lap. The field received the red starter's flag, and the race started on time.

Leon Duray grabbed the lead from the pole position at the start. The first lap was run at 113.279 mph, and Duray held a four car-length lead at the conclusion of the first lap. Cliff Woodbury ran second with Cliff Bergere in third. Benny Shoaff (lap 3) made a pit stop to adjust the distributor, and Fred Comer (lap 4) was also in the pits to change a tire.

Russ Snowberger was the first car out of the race, suffering a broken supercharger. Then, after starting in the outside of the front row, Cliff Bergere was out on lap 6 with a broken distributor shaft.

First half

Leon Duray dominated the early stages of the race. His average speed after 20 laps (50 miles) was 107.078 mph – over a mile per hour faster than the previous year. With Bergere out, Tony Gulotta moved up to second place, Babe Stapp was in third, Louis Schneider in fourth, and Jimmy Gleason was in fifth. Cliff Woodbury was forced to make a pit stop to change spark plugs. He lost nearly three minutes, and fell two laps down.

On lap 35, Benny Shoaff hit an oil slick in the south end of the track and spun out. The car crashed into the outside wall, rebounded, and came to rest facing the opposite direction. Shoaff's suffered a bloody nose, but no major injuries. Shoaff headed back to the pits, and would later drive relief for Fred Frame. Wilbur Shaw, the last qualifier who put his car in the field just that morning, was never a factor. Starting last (29th) in the same car that Peter DePaolo wrecked just days earlier, he lasted only 42 laps. He was another victim of broken timing gears. Shaw returned to the pits, and stood by to drive relief.

At the 100 mile mark (40 laps), Duray continued to lead, with Gulotta in second. Duray and Babe Stapp traded the lead for a few laps, but soon after Duray began to fade. After leading 59 of the first 62 laps, Duray's car was beginning to suffer overheating problems and he began to slip in the standings.

Defending race winner George Souders came to the lead on lap 63, and led for 16 laps. Souders reported that his car was difficult to handle, but he was able to run a consistent pace and stay near the front of the field. Cliff Woodbury, who started in the middle of the front row and had been plagued with mechanical problems early on, dropped out with 55 laps completed due to broken timing gears.

On lap 80 (200 miles) first-year starter Louis Meyer had charged up to fourth position.

As the race approached the halfway point, it was Jimmy Gleason (who started deep in the field), that was now the fastest car on the track. Gleason took the lead from Babe Stapp on lap 83, and set out to lead over the next 100 miles.

A leaking gasoline line on Ray Keech's car was beginning to cause the car to lose fuel pressure. Keech handed the car over to relief driver Wilbur Shaw, but Shaw did not last very long with burns on his leg due to the leaking fuel. Keech got back in the car, and pushed on.

Second half

Leon Duray's day finally came to an end after 133 laps. The car went out with overheating trouble while Cliff Woodbury was behind the wheel. Jimmy Gleason led until a pit stop on lap 135. He handed the car over to Russ Snowberger who drove relief for the next 13 laps. Snowberger maintained the lead in Gleason's car.

Ira Hall crashed out after competing 115 laps. Lou Wilson took over as relief driver for Louis Schneider. Then Scheinder himself got behind the wheel of Lou Moore's car. Both drivers finished the remainder of the race that way.

The final 100 miles was set to be a three-car battle between the cars of Jimmy Gleason, Tony Gulotta, and the steady but gaining Louis Meyer. Louis Schneider, now driving Lou Moore's car, was also inching closer to the leaders.

Shortly after 2:00 p.m., when the leaders had just passed the 400-mile mark (lap 160), a light rain began to fall. Officials put out the yellow flag and the drivers were instructed to proceed with caution. Officials contemplated halting the race (as has happened two years earlier) for safety reasons, but the shower was very brief. After only a few laps under yellow, the field went back to racing. At that moment, on his 162nd lap, Earl Devore skidded coming out of the north turns due to the wet conditions and eventually crashed into the outside wall in turn one. The fuel tank was crushed, and Devore was out of the race.

Finish

With twenty laps to go, Tony Gulotta led Jimmy Gleason and Louis Meyer. A margin of only 2.04 seconds separated 1st-2nd-3rd place. On lap 181, Gulotta began slowing down and stalled in turn three. A tiny leak in the fuel tank was causing his fuel pressure to drop, and his fuel line was clogged. Gulotta's crew would need an hour-long pit stop to make repairs. Gulotta and Dutch Baumann took turns nursing the car around to 10th-place finish. Meyer took the lead on lap 182, but Gleason was in second, and was in close contention.

On lap 195, Gleason headed for the pits to take on water for the radiator. A crew member missed the radiator and accidentally doused the car's magneto with water. The engine was ruined with a cracked water jacket as well, and Gleason was out of the race in sight of a chance for victory. Louis Meyer cruised at a steady pace to victory, winning by a little less than one lap margin over a charging Louis Schneider (in Lou Moore's car). Meyer is credited as a being a rookie winner, since his previous experience in the 1927 race was only in a relief driver role. Meyer made only one pit stop, a routine stop for oil, fuel, and to change two tires.

Ray Keech, despite bad burns on his leg, remarkably came home fourth. All three cars of the front row dropped out, and yet again, the supercharged front-engine machines failed to achieve victory. The highest finishing front wheel drive car was Babe Stapp in 6th place.

Box score

FinishStartNoNameEntrantChassisEngineQualLapsStatus
11314 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Meyer  R Alden Sampson II Miller Miller 111.352200Running
2828 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lou Moore  R 
(Louis Schneider Laps 133-200)
Charles Haase Miller Miller 113.826200Running
3123 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Souders  W William S. White Miller Miller 111.444200Running
41015 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Keech  R 
(Wilbur Shaw Laps 87-116)
M. A. Yagle Miller Miller 113.421200Running
51522 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Norman Batten
(Zeke Meyer Laps 81-200)
Norman K. Batten Fengler Miller 106.585200Running
657 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Babe Stapp
(Ralph Hepburn Laps 122-145)
Phil Shafer Miller Miller 116.887200Running
72043 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Arnold  R 
(Bill Spence Laps 36-103)
(Bill Spence Laps 151-169)
Boyle Valve Company Miller Miller 111.926200Running
81427 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Frame
(Ralph Hepburn Laps 178-185)
(Benny Shoaff Laps 186-200)
William S. White Duesenberg Duesenberg 107.501200Running
9925 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Comer
(Cliff Woodbury Laps 92-200)
Boyle Valve Company Miller Miller 113.690200Running
1048 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Gulotta
(Dutch Baumann Laps 68-117)
(Dutch Baumann Laps 184-197)
J. R. Burgamy Miller Miller 117.031200Running
11724 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Schneider
(Lou Wilson Laps 91-101)
(Lou Wilson Laps 106-200)
Louis F. Schneider Miller Miller 114.036200Running
122312 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Dave Evans Boyle Valve Company Miller Miller 108.264200Running
132829 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Henry Kohlert  R 
(Shorty Cantlon Laps 6-58)
(W. E. Shattuc Laps 59-115)
(Shorty Cantlon Laps 116-180)
Elgin Piston Pin Company Miller Miller 93.545180Flagged
141723 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon Litz  R 
(Wesley Crawford Laps 67-154)
A. B. Litz Miller Miller 106.213161Flagged
152139 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Gleason  R 
(Russ Snowberger Laps 136-147)
H. C. Henning Duesenberg Duesenberg 111.708195Magneto
16185 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Durant
(Bob McDonogh Laps 105-175)
Tommy Milton Detroit Miller 99.990175Supercharger
171133 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Seymour  R Cooper Engineering CompanyCooper Miller 111.671170Supercharger
18246 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Devore
(Cy Marshall Laps 91-148)
Metals Protection Company Miller Miller 109.810161Crash T1
1914 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Leon Duray
(Cliff Bergere Laps 92-133)
Leon Duray Miller Miller 122.391133Overheating
201638 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Ross  R Reed & Mulligan Miller Miller 106.572132Timing gears
212726 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ira Hall  R 
(Jack Petticord Laps 104-115)
Henry Maley Duesenberg Duesenberg 96.886115Crash T1
221932 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pete Kreis Cooper Engineering CompanyCooper Miller 112.90673Rod bearing
23210 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Woodbury Boyle Valve Company Miller Miller 120.41855Timing gears
24616 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn Harry A. Miller Miller Miller 116.35448Timing gears
25291 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wilbur Shaw Peter DePaolo Miller Miller 100.95642Timing gears
262618 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Benny Shoaff Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 102.40935Crash T1
272541 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Clarence Belt  R Green Engineering CompanyGreenGreen96.02632Valve
28321 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Bergere Cliff Bergere Miller Miller 119.9567Supercharger
292234 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Russ Snowberger  R Cooper Engineering Company Miller Miller 111.6184Supercharger
[50]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses [51]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Statistics

Broadcasting

The race was carried live on radio on WKBF-AM, in a partnership arranged with the Indianapolis News . The broadcast began at 9:30 a.m. local time, and was about six hours in duration. It was the fourth consecutive year the race was being carried on the radio through this format. WFBM also picked up the broadcast. The broadcast originated from the Pagoda, with microphones also set up in the pit area. The booth announcing staff was led by Chris Albion. John Mannix led the pit reporting crew. [52] [53]

For the first time ever, NBC came on air for live national coverage of the final hour of the race. At approximately 2:10 p.m., anchor Graham McNamee's call was picked up on WKBF and numerous other NBC affiliates across the country. [54]

Notes

Works cited

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The 53rd International 500 Mile Sweepstakes was an auto race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Friday, May 30, 1969. It was the third round of the 1969 USAC Championship Car season. Polesitter A. J. Foyt led the race in the early stages, looking to become the first four-time winner of the 500. Near the halfway point, however, a lengthy pit stop to repair a broken manifold put him many laps down. Despite a hard-charging run towards the end, he wound up managing only an eighth-place finish, 19 laps down. Lloyd Ruby, a driver with a hard-luck reputation at the Speedway, was leading the race just after the midpoint. During a pit stop, he pulled away with the fueling hose still attached, ripped a hole in the fuel tank, and was out of the race. The incident put Mario Andretti in the lead for rest of the way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1946 Indianapolis 500</span> 30th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 30th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1946. This was the first Indianapolis 500 presided over by new track owner Tony Hulman. The track had closed in late 1941 due to World War II, and over the next four years, the facility fell into a terrible state of disrepair. Hulman purchased the Speedway in November 1945, and quickly went to work cleaning up the grounds, which had become overwhelmed by overgrowth and weeds. The Speedway re-opened, and the 1946 race was considered a rousing success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1919 Indianapolis 500</span> Seventh running of the Indianapolis 500

The 7th Liberty 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 31, 1919.

The 23rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1935. Despite attempts to improve participant safety by requiring crash helmets and installing green and yellow lights around the track, the event that year would prove to be one of the worst in terms of fatalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1934 Indianapolis 500</span> 22nd running of the Indianapolis 500

The 22nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1934. The winner was the number seven car driven by Bill Cummings, an Indianapolis native, at an average speed of 104.863 miles per hour. Cummings led for 57 laps total, including the last 26. Of the 33 cars that began the race, only 12 were running at the finish, although there were no crashes resulting in serious injuries. One serious incident involved George Bailey, whose car went over the outside wall, but resulted in only a broken wrist to the driver. The finish was the closest in the history of the race to that point, with second-place finisher Mauri Rose within 100 yards of Cummings at the finish. Rose would also file a protest that Cummings had illegally gained ground during a "slow-down" period following a crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1932 Indianapolis 500</span> 20th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 20th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1932. Attrition was the story of the race, with 26 of the 40 cars dropping out due to crashes or mechanical failure. A record eight different drivers led laps during the race, with no driver seemingly able to hold the lead without experiencing some sort of trouble. For the third year in a row, Billy Arnold looked as if he would be the dominant car, but he sailed over the turn three wall on lap 59. Rookie Bob Carey also hit the wall while leading. Fred Frame took the lead for good on lap 152, and won from the 27th starting position - the furthest back of any winner except for Ray Harroun in 1911 and later, Louis Meyer in 1936. Frame was accompanied by riding mechanic Jerry Houck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1931 Indianapolis 500</span> 19th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 19th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1931. Race winner Louis Schneider, who led the final 34 laps, was accompanied by riding mechanic Jigger Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1930 Indianapolis 500</span> 18th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 18th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1930. The race was part of the 1930 AAA Championship Car season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1929 Indianapolis 500</span> 17th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 17th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1929. Ray Keech, who finished fourth a year earlier, took the lead for the final time on lap 158 and won his first Indianapolis 500. Keech won for car owner Maude A. Yagle, the first and to-date, only female winning owner in Indy history. Only two weeks after winning the race, Ray Keech was fatally injured in a crash at Altoona Speedway on June 15, 1929. The race was part of the 1929 AAA Championship Car season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1925 Indianapolis 500</span> 13th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 13th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920 Indianapolis 500</span> Eighth running of the Indianapolis 500

The 8th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan 500</span> Indy car race at Michigan

The Michigan 500 was an IndyCar Series race held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Held from 1981 to 2001, the event was held in high prestige, constituting part of Indy car racing's 500-mile "Triple Crown".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1928 Grand Prix season</span> Grand Prix season

The 1928 Grand Prix season saw the Monegasque driver Louis Chiron, and his Bugatti, take seven Grand Prix victories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Brickyard 400</span> First NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The 1994 Brickyard 400 was held on Saturday, August 6, 1994, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race marked the nineteenth race of the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. It was the first NASCAR stock car race at the famous Speedway and the first race of any kind held at the track beside the Indianapolis 500 since the Harvest Classic in 1916. The race featured the largest crowd in NASCAR history, and a then NASCAR record purse of $3.2 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USAC Daytona 100</span> US Auto Club race in 1959

The Daytona 100 was a USAC Championship Car race held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday April 4, 1959. It was the first and only Indy car race held on the high banks of Daytona, and saw incredible speeds turned in by the front-engined "roadsters." The race was part of a triple-header weekend featuring races for the USAC Championship Cars, Formula Libre, and a USAC-FIA sports car endurance race.

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