1942 Indianapolis 500

Last updated
1942 Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 30, 1942 (cancelled)
Pre-race
Chronology
PreviousNext
1941 1946

The 1942 Indianapolis 500 was scheduled for Saturday May 30, 1942, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was to be the 30th annual running of the famous automobile race. The race was canceled due to the United States involvement in World War II. In total, the Indianapolis 500 was not held from 1942 to 1945.

Contents

This was the second instance in which the Indianapolis Motor Speedway suspended the annual running of the Indianapolis 500. During World War I the Speedway management voluntarily suspended competition in 1917–1918. However, for World War II, the decision to cancel the race was more resolute, and ultimately was part of a four-year nationwide ban on automobile racing.

During the war, the track was closed and neglected, and fell into a terrible state of disrepair. Towards the end of the war, revival of the "500" appeared unlikely, and the facility was in danger of being demolished in favor of development.

Background

Offseason

Following the 1941 race, the 1941 National Championship was won by Rex Mays. With the hostilities of World War II escalating abroad, rumors began to circulate during the summer of 1941 that the 1942 race may be suspended. Track officials, however, rebuffed the rumors, and insisted the race would go on as planned. The AAA Contest Board announced their rules package for 1942, and with the United States still not involved in the war, preparations were underway to race. Rules and specifications were effectively frozen, as parts shortages due to the war were beginning to affect the sport. [1]

A fire had swept through the "Gasoline Alley" garage area on the morning of the 1941 race, destroying the car of George Barringer, and burning down about a third of the southern bank of garages. About a month later, plans were drafted to rebuild the garages, and the work was done at some point during the summer and fall of 1941. [1] [2]

As was customary at the time, a number of non-points exhibition races took place at the Speedway in July, August, and September 1941. These races were usually put on to entertain visiting conventioneers. [3] [4] [5] [6] On September 9, 1941, an exhibition "match race" was held at the Speedway to entertain delegates attending the National Association of Postal Supervisors convention. Five drivers - Duke Nalon, Cliff Bergere, Russ Snowberger, Chet Miller, and George Connor - ran two short races. Nalon won the first, a 10-mile race, and Bergere won the second, a 15-mile race. [7] It would be the last event held at the Speedway before the war intervened.

Cancellation

Ticket order forms were available for the race in November 1941. [8] Less than a month later, the attack on Pearl Harbor launched the United States into World War II. Within days, public and political pressure began to mount on Speedway management to suspend the race. [9]

Initially, the Speedway management was noncommittal about canceling the race, and tentatively proceeded with plans for the race. [10] [11] On December 29, 1941, Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker announced that the 1942 Indianapolis 500 was canceled, [12] [13] and the race would remain suspended throughout the duration of the war. [13] Unlike during World War I, all automobile racing under the auspices of the AAA Contest Board was suspended, [14] and furthermore in July 1942, the federal government moved to ban automobile racing, [15] [16] [17] primarily on account of rationing. [13] [18] Other reasons cited, however, included the need for the skilled mechanics and technicians from the racing fraternity to shift their labor to war efforts, or even enlistment. In addition, the intrinsic use of auto racing as a testing and proving ground for the automobile industry was largely unimportant, as the industry had already shifted its focus to wartime production and away from motoring public. [14]

Rickenbacker initially offered the Speedway to the U. S. military for any purpose they saw fit. During World War I, it was activated as the 821st Aero Repair Squadron. But they could not use it during World War II, because warplanes of the day needed longer runways than the track's 58 mile straights provided. Thus the Speedway gates were locked, and the facility was abandoned. In March 1942, nearly the entire Speedway staff was laid off, and the headquarters offices at 444 North Capital Avenue in downtown Indianapolis was closed. [2] The race would not be held from 1942 to 1945. The golf course on the premises, however, did operate for at least some time during the war. During the period in which the track was closed, it fell into a terrible state of disrepair. Grass and weeds overwhelmed the brick racing surface, [17] and the old wooden grandstands became frail and unsuitable and inhospitable. The infield became an un-kept quagmire of weeds and overgrowth. Locals would occasionally wander the dormant infield, hunting small vermin, ride bicycles around the course, or simply explore the grounds. [19] [20]

Many former and future Indianapolis 500 drivers were servicemen in the war effort during World War II. [21] Sam Hanks is believed to be the only driver who served in the war, and drove in the race both before and after. Some drivers from before the war period worked as consultants during the war to various suppliers. [21] Most drivers who served did not return to racing afterwards, but a number of drivers who were not servicemen drove before and after. Several World War II veterans returned home to later become Indy drivers, including winners Lee Wallard, Bob Sweikert, and Rodger Ward. [22]

Revival

Towards the end of the war, Firestone received permission from the U.S. government to conduct a tire test at the Speedway. [17] On or approximately November 25, 1944, Firestone tested several passenger cars at the track. On November 29, 1944, Wilbur Shaw tested a race car, driving a full 500 miles, averaging about 100 mph. [23] A second similar test was reported in the spring of 1945. Driver Sam Hanks took a tour of the facility with mechanic Harry C. "Cotton" Henning, and reported that the track was overgrown with weeds, the bleachers were about to collapse, and both conjectured that the race was finished. [24]

On May 30, 1945, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope came to the Speedway to hold a war bonds rally, [25] putting on a 45-minute show with Jerry Colonna and other entertainers. [26] They then took part in a charity golf tournament at the Speedway Golf Course with Ed Dudley. [27]

After World War II was over in the summer of 1945, Eddie Rickenbacker was mostly uninterested in reviving the Speedway, due to other commitments, including his involvement with Eastern Air Lines. He was looking to sell the property, perhaps to developers. [17] Wilbur Shaw helped consummate a deal for Tony Hulman to purchase the track in November 1945, and it reopened in 1946. Hulman worked diligently over the next few months to revive and clean up the dilapidated facility, and make it suitable for world-class racing once again.

The 30th Indianapolis 500 was held May 30, 1946.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilbur Shaw</span> American racing driver (1902–1954)

Warren Wilbur Shaw was an American racing driver. The second three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, he is also remembered for serving as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 until his death in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Indianapolis 500</span> 34th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 34th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1950. The event was sanctioned by the AAA and served as the premier event on the calendar of the 1950 AAA National Championship Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Indianapolis 500</span> 35th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 35th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1951. The event was part of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1951 World Championship of Drivers. For the second year in a row, no European Formula One-based teams entered the race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Indianapolis 500</span> 36th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 36th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was a motor race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1952. It was the opening race of the 1952 AAA National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1952 World Championship of Drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1953 Indianapolis 500</span> 37th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 37th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1953. The event was part of the 1953 AAA National Championship, and was race 2 of 9 in the 1953 World Championship of Drivers. Bill Vukovich, after falling just short a year before, dominated the race, leading 195 of the 200 laps. Vukovich won the first of two consecutive "500" victories, finishing more than three minutes ahead of second place Art Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 Indianapolis 500</span> 38th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 38th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1954. The event was part of the 1954 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 Indianapolis 500</span> 41st running of the Indianapolis 500

The 41st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1957. The event was part of the 1957 USAC National Championship Trail and it was the third race of the eight-race 1957 World Championship of Drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1959 Indianapolis 500</span> 43rd running of the Indianapolis 500

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Davidson (historian)</span> American sports historian

Donald C. Davidson was the historian of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1998 to 2020, the only person to hold such a position on a full-time basis for any motorsports facility in the world. Davidson started his career as a statistician, publicist, and historian at USAC. His radio program, The Talk of Gasoline Alley, is broadcast annually throughout the "Month of May" on WFNI in Indianapolis, and he is part of the IMS Radio Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network</span> Radio network carrying events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, the NTT IndyCar Series, and Indy NXT to radio stations covering most of North America. The network, owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and headquartered in Speedway, Indiana, claims to be one of the largest of its kind in the world. It currently boasts over 350 terrestrial radio affiliates, plus shortwave transmissions through American Forces Network and World Harvest Radio. The network is carried on satellite radio through SiriusXM, and is also accessible through online streaming, and downloadable podcasts. For 2017, the broadcast reached 20.5 million listeners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1941 Indianapolis 500</span> 29th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 29th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1941. The start of the race was delayed due to a fire that swept through the garage area on race morning. No persons were injured, but one car in the field was destroyed. The race rolled off with only 31 cars, and ran to its scheduled distance. This would be the final "500" prior to the United States involvement in WWII. It was not known at the time, but it would be the final race organized by Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker, and due to the war, the race would not be held again until 1946.

<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">1916 Indianapolis 500</span> Sixth running of the 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).

<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.

<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">1922 Indianapolis 500</span> Tenth running of the Indianapolis 500

The 10th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1913 Indianapolis 500</span> Third running of the Indianapolis 500

The Third International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1913. Frenchman Jules Goux became the first foreign-born, and first European winner of the Indianapolis 500. His margin of victory of 13 minutes, 8 seconds over second place Spencer Wishart still stands, as of 2024, as the largest margin of victory in Indianapolis 500 history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvest Auto Racing Classic</span> Series of auto races

The Harvest Auto Racing Classic was a series of three automobile races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday September 9, 1916. The meet, held four months after the 1916 Indianapolis 500, featured a 20-mile race, a 50-mile race, and a 100-mile race. The main event, a 100-mile Championship Car race, paid points towards the 1916 AAA National Championship. Johnny Aitken won all three races, two of which had a margin of victory of less than a car length.

Lou Palmer was an American broadcaster best known for his work at the Indianapolis 500 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network from 1958 until 1989.

References

  1. 1 2 "1942 Speedway Rules Unchanged". The Indianapolis Star. July 2, 1945. p. 18. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. 1 2 Bostwick, Mary E (February 3, 1946). "Old Speedway Office Lively Place Again; Orders Pour In". The Indianapolis Star. p. 3. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "Famous Drivers Entertain Printers at Speedway". The Indianapolis Star. July 30, 1941. p. 16. Retrieved April 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. "Officers Named By Veterinarians". The Indianapolis Star. August 15, 1941. p. 4. Retrieved April 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. Patton, W. Blaine (August 27, 1941). "Moose Nominate Gray As Prelate". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. "See Spirited Exhibitions at Speedway". The Indianapolis Star. August 28, 1941. p. 4. Retrieved April 7, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. "P.O. Supervisors Will Hear Uttley". The Indianapolis Star. September 10, 1941. p. 5. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. "Order Tickets Now". The Indianapolis Star. December 15, 1945. p. 22. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. Patton, W. Blaine (December 23, 1941). "Union Asks Speedway Race Be Halted; Myers Says Plans Unchanged". The Indianapolis Star. p. 13. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. Patton, W. Blaine (December 12, 1945). "Paper, "Snipes" Litter Offices As Navy Ends Busy Recruiting Day". The Indianapolis Star. p. 25. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. "Speedway Race Plans Proceed". The Indianapolis Star. December 28, 1945. p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. "No Speedway Race". The Indianapolis Star. December 30, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. 1 2 3 "500 Mile Race Is Off for Duration of War". The Milwaukee Journal. 1941-12-29. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  14. 1 2 Patton, W. Blaine (February 24, 1942). "If So - Why? In Sportland". The Indianapolis Star. p. 16. Retrieved December 22, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. "All Auto Races Banned by ODT". The Indianapolis Star. July 4, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved December 22, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. "Racing Deadline Changed by ODT". The Indianapolis Star. July 4, 1942. p. 18. Retrieved December 22, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. 1 2 3 4 Oreovicz, John (2011-05-15). "Indy at 100: WWII puts racing on hold". Commentary. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  18. Rickenbacker 1967, p. 159.
  19. Cavin, Curt (May 27, 1995). "Speedway was at peace during war years (Part 1)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 61. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  20. Cavin, Curt (May 27, 1995). "Speedway was at peace during war years (Part 2)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 63. Retrieved April 6, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  21. 1 2 Patton, W. Blaine (May 30, 1942). "If So - Why? In Sportland". The Indianapolis Star. p. 12. Retrieved November 8, 2018 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  22. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 21, 2009. WFNI.
  23. The Talk of Gasoline Alley – WFNI, July 22, 2009
  24. The Legends of the Brickyard – 1985, ESPN
  25. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 23, 2014. WFNI.
  26. "The Most Famous Man in the World, 1940–1945". Bing Magazine. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  27. "Speedway Links for Bing and Bob". The Spokane Daily Chronicle. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
1941 Indianapolis 500
Mauri Rose
Floyd Davis
1942 Indianapolis 500
Cancelled
1946 Indianapolis 500
George Robson