# 1938 Indianapolis 500

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 (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.
Qualifying Results :
| 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) |
| Sat 5/21/1938 | Floyd Roberts | 126.174 | 126.743 | 124.138 | 125.839 | 125.857 | 125.122 | 124.688 | 125.523 | 125.892 | 126.886 | 125.506 |

## Starting grid

| Row | Inside | Inside | Middle | Middle | Outside | Outside |
| 1 | 23 | Floyd Roberts | 14 | Russ Snowberger | 8 | Rex Mays |
| 2 | 17 | Tony Gulotta | 3 | Chet Miller | 2 | Ted Horn |
| 3 | 1 | Wilbur Shaw W | 34 | Babe Stapp | 27 | Mauri Rose |
| 4 | 16 | Ronney Householder | 26 | Frank Brisko | 5 | Louis Meyer W |
| 5 | 22 | Joel Thorne R | 54 | Herb Ardinger | 6 | Jimmy Snyder |
| 6 | 7 | Bill Cummings W | 29 | Frank Wearne | 38 | Chet Gardner |
| 7 | 15 | George Connor | 47 | Shorty Cantlon | 35 | Kelly Petillo W |
| 8 | 55 | Al Miller | 36 | Al Putnam R | 21 | Louis Tomei |
| 9 | 45 | Harry McQuinn | 10 | Tony Willman | 37 | Ira Hall |
| 10 | 42 | Emil Andres | 12 | George Bailey | 58 | Billy Devore |
| 11 | 33 | Henry Banks R | 9 | Cliff Bergere | 43 | Duke Nalon R |

### Alternates

* First alternate: Charlie Crawford

### Failed to Qualify

* Frankie Beeder R (#45)
* Floyd Davis (#59)
* Fred Frame W (#32)
* Ralph Hepburn (#4)
* Deacon Litz (#52)
* Tazio Nuvolari R (#48, #54)
* Jack Petticord (#57)
* Johnny Sawyer (#53)
* Johnny Seymour (#56)
* Doc Williams (#46)
* Billy Winn (#18, #24)

## 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.
Roberts led 92 laps, posted an average speed of 117.200 miles per hour, and won $32,075. 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 100 feet (30 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.

## Box score

| Finish | Start | No | Name | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Qual | Rank | Laps | Status |
| 1 | 1 | 23 | Floyd Roberts | Lou Moore | Wetteroth | Miller | 125.681 | 2 | 200 | 117.200 mph |
| 2 | 7 | 1 | Wilbur Shaw W | W. Wilbur Shaw | Shaw | Offenhauser | 120.987 | 13 | 200 | +3:55.27 |
| 3 | 5 | 3 | Chet Miller | Boyle Racing Headquarters | Summers | Offenhauser | 121.898 | 9 | 200 | +5:21.11 |
| 4 | 6 | 2 | Ted Horn | Harry Hartz | Wetteroth | Miller | 121.327 | 12 | 200 | +11:43.99 |
| 5 | 18 | 38 | Chet Gardner | Joe Lencki | Rigling | Offenhauser | 120.435 | 17 | 200 | +16:19.08 |
| 6 | 14 | 54 | 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 | Harry McQuinn (Tony Willman Laps 87–169) | Carl Marchese | Marchese | Miller | 119.492 | 21 | 197 | Flagged |
| 8 | 30 | 58 | Billy Devore | Joel Thorne, Inc. | Stevens | Offenhauser | 116.339 | 30 | 185 | Flagged |
| 9 | 13 | 22 | Joel Thorne R | Joel Thorne, Inc. | Shaw | Offenhauser | 119.155 | 23 | 185 | Flagged |
| 10 | 17 | 29 | Frank Wearne | Paul Weirick | Adams | Offenhauser | 121.405 | 11 | 181 | Flagged |
| 11 | 33 | 43 | Duke Nalon R | Henry Kohlert | Fengler | Miller | 113.828 | 33 | 178 | Flagged |
| 12 | 29 | 12 | George Bailey | Leon Duray | Weil | Duray | 116.393 | 29 | 166 | Clutch |
| 13 | 9 | 27 | Mauri Rose | Boyle Racing Headquarters | Maserati | Maserati | 119.796 | 20 | 165 | Supercharger |
| 14 | 10 | 16 | Ronney Householder (Billy Winn Laps 139–154) | Joel Thorne, Inc. | Adams | Sparks | 125.769 | 1 | 154 | Supercharger |
| 15 | 15 | 6 | Jimmy Snyder | Joel Thorne, Inc. | Adams | Sparks | 123.506 | 4 | 150 | Supercharger |
| 16 | 12 | 5 | Louis Meyer W | Bowes Racing, Inc. | Stevens | Winfield | 120.525 | 16 | 149 | Oil Pump |
| 17 | 4 | 17 | Tony Gulotta | Tony Gulotta | Stevens | Offenhauser | 122.499 | 6 | 130 | Rod |
| 18 | 22 | 55 | Al Miller | Jack Holly | Miller | Miller | 119.420 | 22 | 125 | Clutch |
| 19 | 19 | 15 | George Connor | Joseph Marks | Adams | Miller | 120.326 | 18 | 119 | Engine |
| 20 | 32 | 9 | Cliff Bergere | George H. Lyons | Stevens | Miller | 114.464 | 32 | 111 | Piston |
| 21 | 31 | 33 | Henry Banks R | Louis Kimmel | Miller | Voelker | 116.279 | 31 | 109 | Rod bearing |
| 22 | 21 | 35 | Kelly Petillo W | Kelly Petillo | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | 119.827 | 19 | 100 | Camshaft |
| 23 | 24 | 21 | Louis Tomei | H. E. Winn | Miller | Miller | 121.599 | 10 | 88 | Rod |
| 24 | 16 | 7 | Bill Cummings W | Boyle Racing Headquarters | Miller | Miller | 122.393 | 7 | 72 | Radiator |
| 25 | 2 | 14 | Russ Snowberger | Russ Snowberger | Snowberger | Miller | 124.027 | 3 | 56 | Rod |
| 26 | 8 | 34 | Babe Stapp | Bill White Race Cars, Inc. | Weil | Miller | 120.595 | 15 | 54 | Valve |
| 27 | 26 | 10 | Tony Willman | Murrell Belanger | Stevens | Miller | 118.458 | 25 | 47 | Valve |
| 28 | 3 | 8 | Rex Mays | Bill White Race Cars, Inc. | Alfa Romeo-Weil | Alfa Romeo | 122.845 | 5 | 45 | Supercharger |
| 29 | 28 | 42 | Emil Andres | Elgin Piston Pin Company | Adams | Brisko | 117.126 | 27 | 45 | Crash T2 |
| 30 | 27 | 37 | Ira Hall | Nowiak & Magnee | Nowiak | Studebaker | 118.255 | 26 | 44 | Crash T3 |
| 31 | 11 | 26 | Frank Brisko | Frank Brisko | Stevens | Brisko | 121.921 | 8 | 39 | Oil line |
| 32 | 23 | 36 | Al Putnam R | Arthur M. Sims | Stevens | Miller | 116.791 | 28 | 15 | Crankshaft |
| 33 | 20 | 47 | Shorty Cantlon | Thomas O'Brien | Stevens | Miller | 120.906 | 14 | 13 | Supercharger |
Note: Relief drivers in parentheses
W Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie

### Race statistics

Lap Leaders :
| Laps | Leader |
| 1–14 | Rex Mays |
| 15–31 | Jimmy Snyder |
| 32–33 | Rex Mays |
| 34–74 | Jimmy Snyder |
| 75–110 | Floyd Roberts |
| 111–114 | Jimmy Snyder |
| 115–200 | Floyd Roberts |
Total laps led :
| Driver | Laps |
| Floyd Roberts | 92 |
| Jimmy Snyder | 92 |
| Rex Mays | 16 |
Yellow Lights :
| Laps | Reason |
| Extra time | Rain; race ended (see below). |
* 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.