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{{short description|28th running of the Indianapolis 500}}
{{Infobox Indy500 1911to1941
{{Infobox Indy500 1911to1941
| race_name = 28th Indianapolis 500
| race_name = 28th Indianapolis 500
Line 5: Line 6:
| date = May 30, 1940
| date = May 30, 1940
| winner = [[Wilbur Shaw]]
| winner = [[Wilbur Shaw]]
| team = [[Boyle Racing Headquarters]]
| team = Boyle Racing Headquarters
| mph = 114.277 mph
| mph = 114.277 mph
| pole = [[Rex Mays]]
| pole = [[Rex Mays]]
| pole_speed = 127.850 mph
| pole_speed = 127.850 mph
| leader = [[Wilbur Shaw]] (136)
| leader = Wilbur Shaw (136)
| pace_car = [[Studebaker Champion]]
| pace_car = [[Studebaker Champion]]
| pace_driver = [[Ab Jenkins]]
| pace_driver = [[Ab Jenkins]]
Line 19: Line 20:
}}
}}


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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1940 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-06-11 |archive-date=2008-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514014824/http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1940 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shaw took home $31,875 ({{Inflation|US|31875|1940|fmt=eq}}) in prize winnings, plus additional prizes that included a car and a refrigerator.<ref>The New York Times, "First Place Nets $31,875 for Shaw", June 1, 1940, Sports page 16</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1940 |title=1940 Indianapolis 500 Official Box Score :: Indianapolis 500 |access-date=2008-06-11 |archive-date=2008-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514014824/http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1940 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shaw took home $31,875 ({{Inflation|US|31875|1940|fmt=eq}}) in prize winnings, plus additional prizes that included a car and a refrigerator.<ref>The New York Times, "First Place Nets $31,875 for Shaw", June 1, 1940, Sports page 16</ref>


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.
Fourth place finisher [[Ted Horn]] was flagged due to the rain shower, and was officially credited with 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.
The top four starting positions finished in the top four places, albeit in shuffled order.


==Results==
==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"|33
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Rex Mays]]
|align="center" width="20"|1
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Wilbur Shaw]] {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|7
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Mauri Rose]]
|-
! 2
|align="center" width="20"|3
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Ted Horn]]
|align="center" width="20"|31
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Mel Hansen]]
|align="center" width="20"|5
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Cliff Bergere]]
|-
! 3
|align="center" width="20"|9
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Frank Wearne]]
|align="center" width="20"|16
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Frank Brisko]]
|align="center" width="20"|27
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Tommy Hinnershitz]] {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|-
! 4
|align="center" width="20"|8
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Joel Thorne]]
|align="center" width="20"|19
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Russ Snowberger]]
|align="center" width="20"|24
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Babe Stapp]]
|-
! 5
|align="center" width="20"|35
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Kelly Petillo]] {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|28
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Sam Hanks]] {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|41
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Harry McQuinn]]
|-
! 6
|align="center" width="20"|6
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[George Barringer]]
|align="center" width="20"|10
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]]
|align="center" width="20"|26
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Louis Tomei]]
|-
! 7
|align="center" width="20"|36
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Doc Williams (racing driver)|Doc Williams]]
|align="center" width="20"|32
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Bob Swanson]]
|align="center" width="20"|54
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Ralph Hepburn]]
|-
! 8
|align="center" width="20"|25
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Emil Andres]]
|align="center" width="20"|17
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[George Robson (racing driver)|George Robson]] {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|29
| {{flagicon|ARG|1861}} [[Raúl Riganti]]
|-
! 9
|align="center" width="20"|21
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Duke Nalon]]
|align="center" width="20"|42
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Joie Chitwood]] {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|34
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Chet Miller]]
|-
! 10
|align="center" width="20"|44
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Al Putnam]]
|align="center" width="20"|38
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Paul Russo]] {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|58
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Al Miller (racing driver, born 1907)|Al Miller]]
|-
! 11
|align="center" width="20"|49
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Le Bègue]] {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|align="center" width="20"|14
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Billy Devore]]
|align="center" width="20"|61
| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Floyd Davis]]
|-
|}
{{legend|orange|text=R|Indianapolis 500 rookie|border=solid 1px darkgray}}
{{legend|gold|text=W|Indianapolis 500 winner|border=solid 1px darkgray}}

===Alternates===
*First alternate: [[Tony Willman]]<ref>''[[Donald Davidson (historian)|The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' - [[WIBC (FM)|1070-AM WIBC]], May 14, 2004</ref>

===Failed to qualify===
*[[George Bailey (racing driver)|George Bailey]] (#56) - Fatal accident
*[[Henry Banks]] (#39)
*[[Shorty Cantlon]] (#24) - Replaced by [[Babe Stapp]]
*[[Wesley Crawford]] (#62)
*[[Port DeFraties]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#51)
*[[René Dreyfus]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#22) - drove two stints of relief for [[René Le Bègue]] during the race
*[[Louis Durant]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#12)
*[[Ira Hall]] (#47)
*[[Bill Lipscomb]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#57)
*[[Louis Unser]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' - Passed driver's test
*[[Lou Webb]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#37)
*[[Freddie Winnai]] (#59)<ref>{{cite web|title=1940 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/194001.htm|website=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref>


==Box score==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
!Finish
!Finish
Line 31: Line 149:
!No
!No
!Name
!Name
!Chassis
!Engine
!Qual
!Qual
!Rank
!Rank
!Laps
!Laps
!Led
!Status
!Status
|-
|-
Line 41: Line 160:
|1
|1
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Wilbur Shaw]] '''{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Wilbur Shaw]] '''{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}'''
|[[Maserati]]
|[[Maserati]]
|127.065
|127.065
|2
|2
|200
|200
|114.277&nbsp;mph
|136
|Running
|-
|-
!2
!2
Line 51: Line 171:
|33
|33
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Rex Mays]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Rex Mays]]
|[[Myron Stevens|Stevens]]
|Winfield
|127.850
|127.850
|1
|1
|200
|200
| +1:14.14
|59
|Running
|-
|-
!3
!3
Line 61: Line 182:
|7
|7
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Mauri Rose]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Mauri Rose]]
|[[Wetteroth]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|125.624
|125.624
|3
|3
|200
|200
| +1:37.79
|5
|Running
|-
|-
!4
!4
Line 71: Line 193:
|3
|3
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Ted Horn]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Ted Horn]]
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|125.545
|125.545
|4
|4
|199
|199
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 81: Line 204:
|8
|8
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Joel Thorne]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Joel Thorne]]
|[[Adams (constructor)|Adams]]
|Sparks
|122.434
|122.434
|20
|20
|197
|197
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 91: Line 215:
|32
|32
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Bob Swanson (racing driver)|Bob Swanson]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Bob Swanson (racing driver)|Bob Swanson]]
|[[Myron Stevens|Stevens]]
|Sampson
|124.882
|124.882
|6
|6
|196
|196
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 101: Line 226:
|9
|9
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Frank Wearne]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Frank Wearne]]
|[[Myron Stevens|Stevens]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|123.216
|123.216
|12
|12
|195
|195
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 111: Line 237:
|31
|31
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Mel Hansen]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Mel Hansen]]
|[[Wetteroth]]
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|124.753
|124.753
|7
|7
|194
|194
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 121: Line 248:
|16
|16
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Frank Brisko]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Frank Brisko]]
|[[Myron Stevens|Stevens]]
|Brisko
|122.716
|122.716
|16
|16
|193
|193
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 130: Line 258:
|31
|31
|49
|49
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Le Bègue]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' <br /><small>(Approx. laps 1-50 and 101-150)</small><br />{{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Dreyfus]]<br /><small>(Approx. laps 51-100 and 151-192)</small>
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Le Bègue]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' <br/><small>(Laps 1-45 and 98-150)</small><br/>{{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Dreyfus]]<br/><small>(Laps 46-97 and 151-192)</small>
|[[Maserati]]
|[[Maserati]]
|118.981
|118.981
|33
|33
|192
|192
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 141: Line 270:
|41
|41
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Harry McQuinn]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Harry McQuinn]]
|A-R Weil
|[[Alfa Romeo]]
|122.486
|122.486
|19
|19
|192
|192
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 151: Line 281:
|25
|25
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Emil Andres]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Emil Andres]]
|[[Myron Stevens|Stevens]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|122.963
|122.963
|15
|15
|192
|192
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 161: Line 292:
|28
|28
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Sam Hanks]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Sam Hanks]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|Weil
|Duray
|123.064
|123.064
|13
|13
|192
|192
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 171: Line 303:
|6
|6
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[George Barringer]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[George Barringer]]
|Weil
|[[Offenhauser]]
|121.889
|121.889
|22
|22
|191
|191
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 181: Line 314:
|42
|42
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Joie Chitwood]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Joie Chitwood]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|[[Adams (constructor)|Adams]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|121.757
|121.757
|25
|25
|190
|190
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 191: Line 325:
|26
|26
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Louis Tomei]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Louis Tomei]]
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|119.980
|119.980
|32
|32
|190
|190
|0
|Exhaust pipe
|Exhaust pipe
|-
|-
Line 200: Line 335:
|27
|27
|34
|34
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Chet Miller]]<br><small>(Relieved by [[Henry Banks]] laps 148-189)</small>
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Chet Miller]]<br/><small>([[Henry Banks]] Laps 148-189)</small>
|[[Alfa Romeo]]
|[[Alfa Romeo]]
|121.392
|121.392
|27
|27
|189
|189
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 210: Line 346:
|32
|32
|14
|14
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Billy Devore]]<br><small>(Relieved by [[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]] laps 107-181)</small>
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Billy Devore]]<br/><small>([[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]] Laps 107-181)</small>
|[[Wilbur Shaw|Shaw]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|122.197
|122.197
|21
|21
|181
|181
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 221: Line 358:
|44
|44
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Al Putnam]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Al Putnam]]
|[[Adams (constructor)|Adams]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|120.818
|120.818
|28
|28
|179
|179
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 230: Line 368:
|33
|33
|61
|61
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Floyd Davis]]<br><small>(Relieved by [[Lou Webb]] laps 27-57)</small><br><small>(Relieved by [[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]] laps 58-59)</small><br><small>(Relieved by [[Lou Webb]] laps 60-157)</small>
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Floyd Davis]]<br/><small>([[Lou Webb]] Laps 27-57)</small><br/><small>([[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]] Laps 58-59)</small><br/><small>([[Lou Webb]] Laps 60-157)</small>
|Lencki
|Lencki
|120.797
|120.797
|30
|30
|157
|157
|0
|Flagged
|Flagged
|-
|-
Line 241: Line 380:
|35
|35
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Kelly Petillo]] '''{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Kelly Petillo]] '''{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}'''
|[[Wetteroth]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|125.331
|125.331
|5
|5
|128
|128
|0
|Bearing
|Bearing
|-
|-
Line 251: Line 391:
|21
|21
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Duke Nalon]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Duke Nalon]]
|Silnes
|[[Offenhauser]]
|121.790
|121.790
|24
|24
|120
|120
|0
|Rod
|Rod
|-
|-
Line 260: Line 401:
|23
|23
|17
|17
|{{flagicon|CAN|1921}} [[George Robson (racing driver)|George Robson]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[George Robson (racing driver)|George Robson]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|122.562
|122.562
|18
|18
|67
|67
|0
|Shock absorber
|Shock absorber
|-
|-
Line 270: Line 412:
|12
|12
|24
|24
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Babe Stapp]]<br><small>(Started in substitute for [[Shorty Cantlon]])<br>(Relieved by [[Tony Willman]])</small><br><small>(Relieved by [[Doc Williams (racing driver)|Doc Williams]] laps 13-64)</small>
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Babe Stapp]]<br/><small>(Started in substitution for [[Shorty Cantlon]])</small><br/><small>([[Tony Willman]] Lap 13-64)</small>
|[[Myron Stevens|Stevens]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|123.367
|123.367
|11
|11
|64
|64
|0
|Oil line
|Oil line
|-
|-
Line 281: Line 424:
|36
|36
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Doc Williams (racing driver)|Doc Williams]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Doc Williams (racing driver)|Doc Williams]]
|Cooper
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|122.963
|122.963
|14
|14
|61
|61
|0
|Oil line
|Oil line
|-
|-
Line 291: Line 435:
|10
|10
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[George Connor (racing driver)|George Connor]]
|Lencki
|Lencki
|124.585
|124.585
|8
|8
|52
|52
|0
|Rod
|Rod
|-
|-
Line 301: Line 446:
|5
|5
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Cliff Bergere]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Cliff Bergere]]
|[[Wetteroth]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|123.673
|123.673
|10
|10
|51
|51
|0
|Oil line
|Oil line
|-
|-
Line 311: Line 457:
|38
|38
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Paul Russo]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Paul Russo]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|Blume
|Brisko
|120.809
|120.809
|29
|29
|48
|48
|0
|Oil leak
|Oil leak
|-
|-
Line 321: Line 468:
|54
|54
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Ralph Hepburn]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Ralph Hepburn]]
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|123.860
|123.860
|9
|9
|47
|47
|0
|Steering
|Steering
|-
|-
Line 331: Line 479:
|58
|58
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Al Miller (racing driver born 1907)|Al Miller]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Al Miller (racing driver born 1907)|Al Miller]]
|[[Alfa Romeo]]
|[[Alfa Romeo]]
|120.288
|120.288
|31
|31
|41
|41
|0
|Clutch
|Clutch
|-
|-
Line 341: Line 490:
|19
|19
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Russ Snowberger]]
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Russ Snowberger]]
|[[Russ Snowberger|Snowberger]]
|[[Harry Miller (auto racing)|Miller]]
|121.564
|121.564
|26
|26
|38
|38
|0
|Water pump
|Water pump
|-
|-
Line 351: Line 501:
|27
|27
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Tommy Hinnershitz]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Tommy Hinnershitz]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}'''
|[[Adams (constructor)|Adams]]
|[[Offenhauser]]
|122.614
|122.614
|17
|17
|32
|32
|0
|Crash FS
|Crash FS
|-
|-
Line 361: Line 512:
|29
|29
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Raúl Riganti]]
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Raúl Riganti]]
|[[Maserati]]
|[[Maserati]]
|121.827
|121.827
|23
|23
|24
|24
|0
|Crash T2
|Crash T2
|-
|-
|colspan=9 style="text-align:center"| <ref>{{cite web|title=Indianapolis 500 1940 |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19546 |work=Ultimate Racing History |access-date=16 January 2012 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/64kVZOf8d?url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19546 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="11" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web|title=Indianapolis 500 1940 |url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19546 |work=Ultimate Racing History |access-date=16 January 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205043616/http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19546 |archive-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway |url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/race-stats/race-results/1940 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Winning Driver In Pits Twice|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/86615124/|newspaper=[[The Indianapolis Star]]|first=Cleo L.|last=Kern|page=14|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 31, 1940|accessdate=April 24, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref>
|}
|}


'''Note''': Relief drivers in parentheses<ref>{{cite web|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|url=https://www.champcarstats.com/races/194001.htm|title=International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1940}}</ref>
'''Note:''' The race was run under caution from lap 150 to 200 due to rain.


'''{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}''' Former Indianapolis 500 winner
===Alternates===
*First alternate: [[Tony Willman]]<ref>''[[Donald Davidson (historian)|The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' - [[WIBC (FM)|1070-AM WIBC]], May 14, 2004</ref>


'''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' Indianapolis 500 Rookie
===Failed to qualify===

*[[George Bailey (racing driver)|George Bailey]] (#56) - Fatal accident
All entrants utilized [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]] tires.
*[[Henry Banks]] (#39)

*[[Shorty Cantlon]] (#24) - Replaced by [[Babe Stapp]]
===Race statistics===
*[[Wesley Crawford]] (#62)
{{col-begin}}
*[[Port DeFraties]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#51)
{{col-break}}
*[[René Dreyfus]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#22) - drove two stints of relief for [[René Le Bègue]] during the race
{| class="wikitable"
*[[Louis Durant]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#12)
!colspan=2|Lap Leaders
*[[Ira Hall]] (#47)
|-
*[[Bill Lipscomb]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#57)
! Laps
*[[Louis Unser]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' - Passed driver's test
! Leader
*[[Lou Webb]] '''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' (#37)
|-
*[[Freddy Winnai]] (#59)<ref>{{cite web|title=1940 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/194001.htm|website=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref>
|1–33 || Rex Mays
|-
|34–73 || Wilbur Shaw
|-
|74–99 || Rex Mays
|-
|100–104 || Mauri Rose
|-
|105–200 || Wilbur Shaw
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|Total laps led
|-
! Driver
! Laps
|-
|Wilbur Shaw || 136
|-
|Rex Mays || 59
|-
|Mauri Rose || 5
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{|class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|Yellow Lights
|-
! Laps<nowiki>*</nowiki>
! Reason
|-
|25 || [[Raúl Riganti]] crash in turn 2
|-
|33 || [[Tommy Hinnershitz]] crash on mainstretch
|-
|47 || [[Ralph Hepburn]] crash on mainstretch
|-
|151–200 || Rain (approx. 1 hr., 18 mins.)
|-
|colspan=2 align=center|<nowiki>*</nowiki> – ''<small>Approximate lap counts</small>''<ref>{{cite news|title=Becomes Second 3-Time Winner (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item/146041470/|newspaper=Palladium-Item|first=Phillips J.|last=Peck|page=1|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 30, 1940|accessdate=April 25, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Becomes Second 3-Time Winner (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item/146041557/|newspaper=Palladium-Item|first=Phillips J.|last=Peck|page=12|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 30, 1940|accessdate=April 25, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 03:44, 16 May 2024

28th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1940
WinnerWilbur Shaw
Winning EntrantBoyle Racing Headquarters
Average speed114.277 mph
Pole positionRex Mays
Pole speed127.850 mph
Most laps ledWilbur Shaw (136)
Pre-race
Pace carStudebaker Champion
Pace car driverAb Jenkins
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeRoscoe Turner[1]
Estimated attendance150,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
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 $693,224 in 2023) in prize winnings, plus additional prizes that included a car and a refrigerator.[4]

Fourth place finisher Ted Horn was flagged due to the rain shower, and was officially credited with 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.

Starting grid

[edit]
Row Inside Middle Outside
1 33 United States Rex Mays 1 United States Wilbur Shaw  W  7 United States Mauri Rose
2 3 United States Ted Horn 31 United States Mel Hansen 5 United States Cliff Bergere
3 9 United States Frank Wearne 16 United States Frank Brisko 27 United States Tommy Hinnershitz  R 
4 8 United States Joel Thorne 19 United States Russ Snowberger 24 United States Babe Stapp
5 35 United States Kelly Petillo  W  28 United States Sam Hanks  R  41 United States Harry McQuinn
6 6 United States George Barringer 10 United States George Connor 26 United States Louis Tomei
7 36 United States Doc Williams 32 United States Bob Swanson 54 United States Ralph Hepburn
8 25 United States Emil Andres 17 United States George Robson  R  29 Argentina Raúl Riganti
9 21 United States Duke Nalon 42 United States Joie Chitwood  R  34 United States Chet Miller
10 44 United States Al Putnam 38 United States Paul Russo  R  58 United States Al Miller
11 49 France René Le Bègue  R  14 United States Billy Devore 61 United States Floyd Davis
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

[edit]

Failed to qualify

[edit]


Box score

[edit]
Finish Start No Name Chassis Engine Qual Rank Laps Status
1 2 1 United States Wilbur Shaw  W  Maserati Maserati 127.065 2 200 114.277 mph
2 1 33 United States Rex Mays Stevens Winfield 127.850 1 200 +1:14.14
3 3 7 United States Mauri Rose Wetteroth Offenhauser 125.624 3 200 +1:37.79
4 4 3 United States Ted Horn Miller Miller 125.545 4 199 Flagged
5 10 8 United States Joel Thorne Adams Sparks 122.434 20 197 Flagged
6 20 32 United States Bob Swanson Stevens Sampson 124.882 6 196 Flagged
7 7 9 United States Frank Wearne Stevens Offenhauser 123.216 12 195 Flagged
8 5 31 United States Mel Hansen Wetteroth Miller 124.753 7 194 Flagged
9 8 16 United States Frank Brisko Stevens Brisko 122.716 16 193 Flagged
10 31 49 France René Le Bègue  R 
(Laps 1-45 and 98-150)
France René Dreyfus
(Laps 46-97 and 151-192) 		Maserati Maserati 118.981 33 192 Flagged
11 15 41 United States Harry McQuinn A-R Weil Alfa Romeo 122.486 19 192 Flagged
12 22 25 United States Emil Andres Stevens Offenhauser 122.963 15 192 Flagged
13 14 28 United States Sam Hanks  R  Weil Duray 123.064 13 192 Flagged
14 16 6 United States George Barringer Weil Offenhauser 121.889 22 191 Flagged
15 26 42 United States Joie Chitwood  R  Adams Offenhauser 121.757 25 190 Flagged
16 18 26 United States Louis Tomei Miller Offenhauser 119.980 32 190 Exhaust pipe
17 27 34 United States Chet Miller
(Henry Banks Laps 148-189) 		Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 121.392 27 189 Flagged
18 32 14 United States Billy Devore
(George Connor Laps 107-181) 		Shaw Offenhauser 122.197 21 181 Flagged
19 28 44 United States Al Putnam Adams Offenhauser 120.818 28 179 Flagged
20 33 61 United States Floyd Davis
(Lou Webb Laps 27-57)
(George Connor Laps 58-59)
(Lou Webb Laps 60-157) 		Lencki Lencki 120.797 30 157 Flagged
21 13 35 United States Kelly Petillo  W  Wetteroth Offenhauser 125.331 5 128 Bearing
22 25 21 United States Duke Nalon Silnes Offenhauser 121.790 24 120 Rod
23 23 17 United States George Robson  R  Miller Offenhauser 122.562 18 67 Shock absorber
24 12 24 United States Babe Stapp
(Started in substitution for Shorty Cantlon)
(Tony Willman Lap 13-64) 		Stevens Offenhauser 123.367 11 64 Oil line
25 19 36 United States Doc Williams Cooper Miller 122.963 14 61 Oil line
26 17 10 United States George Connor Lencki Lencki 124.585 8 52 Rod
27 6 5 United States Cliff Bergere Wetteroth Offenhauser 123.673 10 51 Oil line
28 29 38 United States Paul Russo  R  Blume Brisko 120.809 29 48 Oil leak
29 21 54 United States Ralph Hepburn Miller Offenhauser 123.860 9 47 Steering
30 30 58 United States Al Miller Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 120.288 31 41 Clutch
31 11 19 United States Russ Snowberger Snowberger Miller 121.564 26 38 Water pump
32 9 27 United States Tommy Hinnershitz  R  Adams Offenhauser 122.614 17 32 Crash FS
33 24 29 Argentina Raúl Riganti Maserati Maserati 121.827 23 24 Crash T2
[7][8][9]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses[10]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

Race statistics

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 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 icon
  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. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  6. ^ "1940 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Indianapolis 500 1940". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  9. ^ Kern, Cleo L. (May 31, 1940). "Winning Driver In Pits Twice". The Indianapolis Star. p. 14. Retrieved April 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ^ "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1940". ChampCarStats.com.
  11. ^ Peck, Phillips J. (May 30, 1940). "Becomes Second 3-Time Winner (Part 1)". Palladium-Item. p. 1. Retrieved April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ Peck, Phillips J. (May 30, 1940). "Becomes Second 3-Time Winner (Part 2)". Palladium-Item. p. 12. Retrieved April 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon


1939 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw 		1940 Indianapolis 500
Wilbur Shaw 		1941 Indianapolis 500
Mauri Rose
Floyd Davis
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