1936 Indianapolis 500

Last updated
24th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 30, 1936
Winner Louis Meyer
Winning Entrant Louis Meyer
Average speed109.069 mph
Pole position Rex Mays
Pole speed119.644 mph
Most laps led Louis Meyer (96)
Pre-race
Pace car Packard 120
Pace car driver Tommy Milton
Starter Seth Klein [1]
Honorary referee Ralph DePalma [1]
Estimated attendance170,000 [2]
Chronology
PreviousNext
1935 1937

The 24th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1936. The race was part of the 1936 AAA Championship Car season. The race is remembered for three noteworthy Indy traditions getting their start.

Contents

Louis Meyer became the first three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He notably celebrated in victory lane with a bottle of buttermilk, which later started the famous tradition of serving milk in victory lane at Indianapolis.

Lawson Harris served as Meyer's riding mechanic. Harris, who also rode with Meyer in 1933, became the first two-time Indianapolis 500 winning riding mechanic.

The Borg-Warner Trophy debuted for the winner in 1936. Also, pace car driver Tommy Milton suggested that the race winner should be awarded the official pace car as part of his complement of prizes. Louis Meyer was given the keys to the Packard after the race, and it has been a tradition ever since (with only a handful of exceptions).

Time trials

Ten-lap (25 mile) qualifying runs were utilized. Rex Mays won the pole position for the second consecutive year.

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 5/16/1936 Rex Mays 119.745119.348118.743119.968121.065119.984120.289119.697119.253118.985119.644

Results

FinishStartNoNameQualRankLapsLedStatus
1288 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Meyer  W 114.1711820096Running
21122 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Horn 116.564820016Running
3410 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Doc MacKenzie 116.96152000Running
43036 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mauri Rose 113.890212000Running
5318 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Miller 117.67532000Running
62541 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Pixley  R 116.70372000Running
793 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wilbur Shaw 117.503420051Running
81417 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Barringer 112.700272000Running
93253 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Zeke Meyer 111.476302000Running
10538 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Connor 116.26992000Running
111235 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Freddy Winnai 116.221101990Flagged
12249 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn 112.673281960Flagged
132728 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry McQuinn 114.118191960Out of gas
14107 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Shorty Cantlon 116.91261940Out of gas
15133 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Rex Mays 119.644119212Out of gas
162354 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Doc Williams  R 112.837261920Out of gas
172932 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lou Moore 113.996201850Out of gas
183319 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Emil Andres  R 111.455311840Flagged
19154 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Floyd Roberts 112.403291830Out of gas
202014 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Brisko 114.213171800Out of gas
211712 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Al Miller 116.138111190Crash FS
22742 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Bergere 113.377221160Engine support
232615 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon Litz 115.997131080Crankshaft
24221 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Babe Stapp 118.94528925Crankshaft
25195 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Winn 114.64816780Crankshaft
262252 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank McGurk  R 113.10224510Crankshaft
27827 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Tomei 111.07833440Engine support
28644 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Herb Ardinger 115.08215380Transmission
29186 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Gardner 116.00012380Clutch
301643 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Snyder 111.29132210Oil leak
312147 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Seymour 113.16923130Clutch
323146 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Frame  W 112.8772540Piston
33132 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Cummings  W 115.9391400Clutch
[3]

Alternates

Failed to Qualify

Race summary

To slow the cars, a fuel limit of 37.5 gallons of gasoline was implemented for the race distance. Engine tuners struggled to make their engines more efficient.

At the start, polesitter Rex Mays led but soon dropped out with a faulty throttle. Wilbur Shaw then took the lead, but lost time with a 17-minute pit stop to re-fasten loose rivets on his engine hood.

Louis Meyer steadily moved up through the field and took the lead by halfway. He pitted for fuel at 350 miles, allowing Ted Horn to take the point. But Meyer caught him, pulled away and became the first 3-time "500" winner. He wasn't sure his fuel would last until the end. He said, "That last lap, I held my breath." [6]

Related Research Articles

Indianapolis 500 Auto race held in Speedway, Indiana, US

The Indianapolis 500, also formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, or simply the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis. The event is traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend, usually the last weekend of May.

1959 Indianapolis 500 Motor car race

The 43rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1959 World Championship of Drivers.

This article discusses the year-by-year history of the Indianapolis 500 race.

1916 Indianapolis 500

The 6th International 300-Mile Sweepstakes Race was the sixth running of the Indianapolis 500. It was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1916. The management scheduled the race for 120 laps, 300 miles (480 km), the only Indianapolis 500 scheduled for less than 500 miles (800 km).

1919 Indianapolis 500

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

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. 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, and superchargers would be permitted again, with a maximum displacement of 3.0 liters. Any fuel was allowed, which directly effected the race.

The 25th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1937. With temperatures topping out at 92°F, it is one of the hottest days on record for the Indy 500.

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.

1934 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.

The 21st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1933. Louis Meyer defeated Wilbur Shaw by a time of 401.89 seconds. The average speed of the race was 104.162 miles per hour (167.632 km/h) while Bill Cummings achieved the pole position with a speed of 118.521 miles per hour (190.741 km/h). The race was part of the 1933 AAA Championship Car season.

1932 Indianapolis 500 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.

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.

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.

1929 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.

1928 Indianapolis 500

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.

1926 Indianapolis 500

The 14th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1926. Louis Chevrolet drove the Chrysler pace car for the start.

1921 Indianapolis 500

The 9th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 30, 1921.

1920 Indianapolis 500

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

1914 Indianapolis 500

The 4th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1914.

1913 Indianapolis 500

The Third International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1913.

References

  1. 1 2 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. Campbell, Russell E. (May 31, 1936). "Meyer Spins Home As 170,000 Sunburn". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "Indianapolis 500 1936". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  4. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  5. "1936 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  6. Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History by John and Barbara Devaney p. 111-112
  7. Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
1935 Indianapolis 500
Kelly Petillo
1936 Indianapolis 500
Louis Meyer
1937 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw
Preceded by
106.240 mph
(1935 Indianapolis 500)
Record for the fastest average speed
109.069 mph
Succeeded by