Login
Login

1938 Indianapolis 500

{{short description|26th running of the Indianapolis 500}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox Indy500 1911to1941

| race_name = 26th Indianapolis 500

| race_logo =

| sanction = AAA

| date = May 30, 1938

| winner = Floyd Roberts

| team = Lou Moore

| mph = 117.200 mph

| pole = Floyd Roberts

| pole_speed = 125.681 mph

| leader = Floyd Roberts and
Jimmy Snyder (92 laps each)

| pace_car = Hudson 112

| pace_driver = Stu Baits

| starter = Seth Klein{{cite book|last=Fox|first=Jack C.|title =The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994|publisher =Carl Hungness Publishing|edition=4th|date=1994|pages=22|language=en|isbn=0-915088-05-3}}

| honorary = Harvey S. Firestone

| attendance = 150,000{{cite news|title=Roberts Is Winner; Sets Track Record; Spectator Is Killed|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11447150/|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 31, 1938|access-date=June 3, 2017}}{{Open access}}

| previous = 1937

| next = 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.{{cite book|last=Blazier, John E. |author2=Rollings, Tom|title=Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics|date=1994}} 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

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

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
align="center"

|colspan=13|Qualifying Results

align="center"

! 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)

align="center"

|Sat 5/21/1938

Floyd Roberts126.174126.743124.138125.839125.857125.122124.688125.523125.892126.886125.506

Starting grid

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

!Row

!colspan=2 width="195"|Inside

!colspan=2 width="195"|Middle

!colspan=2 width="195"|Outside

1

|align="center" width="20"|23

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Floyd Roberts

|align="center" width="20"|14

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Russ Snowberger

|align="center" width="20"|8

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Rex Mays

2

|align="center" width="20"|17

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Tony Gulotta

|align="center" width="20"|3

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Chet Miller

|align="center" width="20"|2

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Ted Horn

3

|align="center" width="20"|1

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Wilbur Shaw {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|34

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Babe Stapp

|align="center" width="20"|27

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Mauri Rose

4

|align="center" width="20"|16

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Ronney Householder

|align="center" width="20"|26

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Frank Brisko

|align="center" width="20"|5

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Louis Meyer {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

5

|align="center" width="20"|22

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Joel Thorne {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|54

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Herb Ardinger

|align="center" width="20"|6

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jimmy Snyder

6

|align="center" width="20"|7

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Cummings {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|29

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Frank Wearne

|align="center" width="20"|38

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Chet Gardner

7

|align="center" width="20"|15

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Connor

|align="center" width="20"|47

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Shorty Cantlon

|align="center" width="20"|35

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Kelly Petillo {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

8

|align="center" width="20"|55

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Al Miller

|align="center" width="20"|36

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Al Putnam {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|21

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Louis Tomei

9

|align="center" width="20"|45

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Harry McQuinn

|align="center" width="20"|10

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Tony Willman

|align="center" width="20"|37

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Ira Hall

10

|align="center" width="20"|42

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Emil Andres

|align="center" width="20"|12

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Bailey

|align="center" width="20"|58

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Billy Devore

11

|align="center" width="20"|33

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Henry Banks {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|align="center" width="20"|9

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Cliff Bergere

|align="center" width="20"|43

| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Duke Nalon {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

{{legend|orange|text=R|Indianapolis 500 rookie|border=solid 1px darkgray}}

{{legend|gold|text=W|Indianapolis 500 winner|border=solid 1px darkgray}}

=Alternates=

=Failed to Qualify=

Race Recap

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.Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History" by John & Barbara Devaney p. 120

Roberts led 92 laps, posted an average speed of 117.200 miles per hour, and won $32,075.{{cite web|url=http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1938 |title=1938 Indianapolis 500 Official Box Score :: Indianapolis 500 |access-date=2008-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514014814/http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1938 |archive-date=2008-05-14 }} 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.

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

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 {{convert|100|ft|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.New York Times, "Roberts Sets Record to Win Indianapolis Auto Classic; Spectator Is Killed", May 31, 1938, page 24.

Box score

class="wikitable"

!Finish

!Start

!No

!Name

!Entrant

!Chassis

!Engine

!Qual

!Rank

!Laps

!Status

1

|1

|23

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Floyd Roberts

|Lou Moore

|Wetteroth

|Miller

|125.681

|2

|200

|117.200 mph

2

|7

|1

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Wilbur Shaw {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|W. Wilbur Shaw

|Shaw

|Offenhauser

|120.987

|13

|200

| +3:55.27

3

|5

|3

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Chet Miller

|Boyle Racing Headquarters

|Summers

|Offenhauser

|121.898

|9

|200

| +5:21.11

4

|6

|2

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Ted Horn

|Harry Hartz

|Wetteroth

|Miller

|121.327

|12

|200

| +11:43.99

5

|18

|38

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Chet Gardner

|Joe Lencki

|Rigling

|Offenhauser

|120.435

|17

|200

| +16:19.08

6

|14

|54

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} 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

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Harry McQuinn
(Tony Willman Laps 87–169)

|Carl Marchese

|Marchese

|Miller

|119.492

|21

|197

|Flagged

8

|30

|58

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Billy Devore

|Joel Thorne, Inc.

|Stevens

|Offenhauser

|116.339

|30

|185

|Flagged

9

|13

|22

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Joel Thorne {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Joel Thorne, Inc.

|Shaw

|Offenhauser

|119.155

|23

|185

|Flagged

10

|17

|29

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Frank Wearne

|Paul Weirick

|Adams

|Offenhauser

|121.405

|11

|181

|Flagged

11

|33

|43

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Duke Nalon {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Henry Kohlert

|Fengler

|Miller

|113.828

|33

|178

|Flagged

12

|29

|12

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} George Bailey

|Leon Duray

|Weil

|Duray

|116.393

|29

|166

|Clutch

13

|9

|27

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Mauri Rose

|Boyle Racing Headquarters

|Maserati

|Maserati

|119.796

|20

|165

|Supercharger

14

|10

|16

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Ronney Householder
(Billy Winn Laps 139–154)

|Joel Thorne, Inc.

|Adams

|Sparks

|125.769

|1

|154

|Supercharger

15

|15

|6

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Jimmy Snyder

|Joel Thorne, Inc.

|Adams

|Sparks

|123.506

|4

|150

|Supercharger

16

|12

|5

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Louis Meyer {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|Bowes Racing, Inc.

|Stevens

|Winfield

|120.525

|16

|149

|Oil Pump

17

|4

|17

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Tony Gulotta

|Tony Gulotta

|Stevens

|Offenhauser

|122.499

|6

|130

|Rod

18

|22

|55

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Al Miller

|Jack Holly

|Miller

|Miller

|119.420

|22

|125

|Clutch

19

|19

|15

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} George Connor

|Joseph Marks

|Adams

|Miller

|120.326

|18

|119

|Engine

20

|32

|9

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Cliff Bergere

|George H. Lyons

|Stevens

|Miller

|114.464

|32

|111

|Piston

21

|31

|33

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Henry Banks {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Louis Kimmel

|Miller

|Voelker

|116.279

|31

|109

|Rod bearing

22

|21

|35

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Kelly Petillo {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|Kelly Petillo

|Wetteroth

|Offenhauser

|119.827

|19

|100

|Camshaft

23

|24

|21

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Louis Tomei

|H. E. Winn

|Miller

|Miller

|121.599

|10

|88

|Rod

24

|16

|7

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Bill Cummings {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}

|Boyle Racing Headquarters

|Miller

|Miller

|122.393

|7

|72

|Radiator

25

|2

|14

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Russ Snowberger

|Russ Snowberger

|Snowberger

|Miller

|124.027

|3

|56

|Rod

26

|8

|34

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Babe Stapp

|Bill White Race Cars, Inc.

|Weil

|Miller

|120.595

|15

|54

|Valve

27

|26

|10

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Tony Willman

|Murrell Belanger

|Stevens

|Miller

|118.458

|25

|47

|Valve

28

|3

|8

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Rex Mays

|Bill White Race Cars, Inc.

|Alfa Romeo-Weil

|Alfa Romeo

|122.845

|5

|45

|Supercharger

29

|28

|42

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Emil Andres

|Elgin Piston Pin Company

|Adams

|Brisko

|117.126

|27

|45

|Crash T2

30

|27

|37

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Ira Hall

|Nowiak & Magnee

|Nowiak

|Studebaker

|118.255

|26

|44

|Crash T3

31

|11

|26

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Frank Brisko

|Frank Brisko

|Stevens

|Brisko

|121.921

|8

|39

|Oil line

32

|23

|36

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Al Putnam {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|Arthur M. Sims

|Stevens

|Miller

|116.791

|28

|15

|Crankshaft

33

|20

|47

|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} Shorty Cantlon

|Thomas O'Brien

|Stevens

|Miller

|120.906

|14

|13

|Supercharger

colspan=12 style="text-align:center"| {{cite web|title=Indianapolis 500 1938 |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19551 |work=Ultimate Racing History |access-date=January 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915045615/http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19551 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite book|title=The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle|publisher=Publications International, Ltd.|first1=Rick|last1=Popely|first2=L. Spencer|last2=Riggs|date=1998|isbn=0-7853-2798-3|location=Lincolnwood, Illinois}}

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses{{cite web|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|url=https://www.champcarstats.com/races/193801.htm|title=International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1938}}

{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} Former Indianapolis 500 winner

{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} Indianapolis 500 Rookie

=Race statistics=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Lap Leaders

Laps

! Leader

1–14Rex Mays
15–31Jimmy Snyder
32–33Rex Mays
34–74Jimmy Snyder
75–110Floyd Roberts
111–114Jimmy Snyder
115–200Floyd Roberts

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Total laps led

Driver

! Laps

Floyd Roberts92
Jimmy Snyder92
Rex Mays16

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Yellow Lights

Laps

! Reason

Extra timeRain; race ended (see below).

{{col-end}}

  • 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.{{cite news|title=Shaw second, Miller Third, also smash former record; Victor in pits only once|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-0531-indy500-race/79800319/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|first=W. Blaine|last=Patton|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 31, 1938|accessdate=April 27, 2024}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=The Last of a Long Line of Gasoline Sallies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/146198191/|newspaper=Indianapolis News|page=18|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 31, 1938|accessdate=April 27, 2024}}{{Open access}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Indy 500 Walker

|Previous_race = 1937

|Previous_winner = Wilbur Shaw

|This_race = 1938

|This_winner = Floyd Roberts

|Next_race = 1939

|Next_winner = Wilbur Shaw

|Fastest_average_speed = 117.200

|Previous_fastest_average_speed = 113.580 {{nobold|mph
{{small|(1937 Indianapolis 500)}}}}

|Next_fastest_average_speed = 119.814 {{nobold|mph
{{small|(1948 Indianapolis 500)}}}}

}}

{{Indy 500}}

Category:Indianapolis 500 races

Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

Category:1938 in American motorsport

Category:May 1938 in sports