1940 Indianapolis 500

Last updated
28th Indianapolis 500
Indy500winningcar1939-1940.JPG
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 30, 1940
Winner Wilbur Shaw
Winning Entrant Boyle Racing Headquarters
Average speed114.277 mph
Pole position Rex Mays
Pole speed127.850 mph
Most laps led Wilbur Shaw (136)
Pre-race
Pace car Studebaker Champion
Pace car driver Ab Jenkins
Starter Seth Klein [1]
Honorary referee Roscoe Turner [1]
Estimated attendance150,000 [2]
Chronology
PreviousNext
1939 1941

The 28th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1940. The winner was Wilbur Shaw in the same Maserati 8CTF he had driven to victory in 1939. Shaw became the first driver in the history of the race to win in consecutive years. It also marked Shaw's third win in four years, making him the second three-time winner of the race. Shaw's average speed was 114.277 mph, slowed by rain which caused the last 50 laps to be run under caution. [3] Shaw took home $31,875 (equivalent to $665,817in 2022) in prize winnings, plus additional prizes that included a car and a refrigerator. [4]

Contents

Fourth place finisher Ted Horn was flagged due to the rain shower after completing only 199 laps - one lap short of the full distance. This marked the only blemish on his noteworthy record of nine consecutive races completing every lap. He eventually completed 1,799 out of a possible 1,800 laps from 1936 to 1948.

The top four starting positions finished in the top four places, albeit in shuffled order.

Results

FinishStartNoNameChassisEngineQualRankLapsLedStatus
121 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wilbur Shaw  W  Maserati Maserati 127.0652200136Running
2133 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Rex Mays Stevens Winfield127.850120059Running
337 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mauri Rose Wetteroth Offenhauser 125.62432005Running
443 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ted Horn Miller Miller 125.54541990Flagged
5108 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joel Thorne AdamsSparks122.434201970Flagged
62032 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bob Swanson Stevens Sampson124.88261960Flagged
779 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Wearne Stevens Offenhauser 123.216121950Flagged
8531 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Mel Hansen Wetteroth Miller 124.75371940Flagged
9816 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Brisko Stevens Brisko122.716161930Flagged
103149 Flag of France.svg René Le Bègue  R 
(Approx. laps 1-50 and 101-150)
Flag of France.svg René Dreyfus
(Approx. laps 51-100 and 151-192)
Maserati Maserati 118.981331920Flagged
111541 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry McQuinn A-R Weil Alfa Romeo 122.486191920Flagged
122225 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Emil Andres Stevens Offenhauser 122.963151920Flagged
131428 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Hanks  R WeilDuray123.064131920Flagged
14166 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Barringer Weil Offenhauser 121.889221910Flagged
152642 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joie Chitwood  R Adams Offenhauser 121.757251900Flagged
161826 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Tomei Miller Offenhauser 119.980321900Exhaust pipe
172734 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Chet Miller
(Relieved by Henry Banks laps 148-189)
Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 121.392271890Flagged
183214 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Devore
(Relieved by George Connor laps 107-181)
Shaw Offenhauser 122.197211810Flagged
192844 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Al Putnam Adams Offenhauser 120.818281790Flagged
203361 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Floyd Davis
(Relieved by Lou Webb laps 27-57)
(Relieved by George Connor laps 58-59)
(Relieved by Lou Webb laps 60-157)
LenckiLencki120.797301570Flagged
211335 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Kelly Petillo  W  Wetteroth Offenhauser 125.33151280Bearing
222521 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duke Nalon Silnes Offenhauser 121.790241200Rod
232317 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Robson  R  Miller Offenhauser 122.56218670Shock absorber
241224 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Babe Stapp
(Started in substitute for Shorty Cantlon)
(Relieved by Tony Willman)

(Relieved by Doc Williams laps 13-64)
Stevens Offenhauser 123.36711640Oil line
251936 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Doc Williams Cooper Miller 122.96314610Oil line
261710 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Connor LenckiLencki124.5858520Rod
2765 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Bergere Wetteroth Offenhauser 123.67310510Oil line
282938 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Paul Russo  R BlumeBrisko120.80929480Oil leak
292154 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn Miller Offenhauser 123.8609470Steering
303058 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Al Miller Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 120.28831410Clutch
311119 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Russ Snowberger Snowberger Miller 121.56426380Water pump
32927 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tommy Hinnershitz  R Adams Offenhauser 122.61417320Crash FS
332429 Flag of Argentina.svg Raúl Riganti Maserati Maserati 121.82723240Crash T2
[5] [6]

Note: The race was run under caution from lap 150 to 200 due to rain.

Alternates

Failed to qualify

See also

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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. Brooks, Ralph L. (May 31, 1940). "Nearly 150,000 Fans Eat, Nap, Cheer, And Even Watch Race at '40 Classic". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "1940 Indianapolis 500 Official Box Score :: Indianapolis 500". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  4. The New York Times, "First Place Nets $31,875 for Shaw", June 1, 1940, Sports page 16
  5. "Indianapolis 500 1940". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  6. "Indianapolis Motor Speedway". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  7. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  8. "1940 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
1939 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw
1940 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw
1941 Indianapolis 500
Mauri Rose
Floyd Davis