The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-31
SHAW WINS 300
 MILE AUTO RAGE; ROBERTS KILLED
Lou Meyer All But ''in'' When Car Spins Win-
 ner Gets S5O,OOO
BY LEONARD CASTLE Limited Press Staff Correspondent

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 BY LEONARD CASTLE Limited Press Staff Correspondent)
 Indianapolis, Ind, May 31.-(UP) Bruised and weary, Wilbur Shaw, Indianapolis garage mechanic, re- ceives check today for $2l,400, part of his profit for outdriving and outlasting 32 other drivers yes- terday in the 27th annual Memorial day 500-mile race.
 It was his second victory y-he won the race in 1897 -and 1t was hard earned. It climaxed Q day o1 drama, disappointments and death
 The tragic side of the race was three-car smashup which killed Floyd Roberts, last years winner and injured drivers Chet Miller, Detroit, and Bob Swanson, Los An- geles, The conditions of Miller and Swanson, both of whom were burned and bruised, were not seri- ous.
 The accident saved Roberts rec ord of 117.2 m, p. h. which he set in winning the race last year. A prolonged slow period, while tne wreckage was being cleared from the track held down the average speeds of the drivers. Shaw might have set new record but for that slow period. His average was 115O35 m. D. h. and his time was 4:2Q:47Al.
 His total earnings were estimated at nearly S5OO00, including first prize of $2O 900, paid by the Indian apolis Motor Speedway, lap prizes totaling $1,400, also paid by the Speedway, and accessory awards ana automotive company prizes. How ever, Mike Boyle, Chicago sports man who owns the imported Italian Maserati Shaw drove, will receive percentage.
 Hard Drive Shaw was forced to the utmost to defeat Lou Meyer, who was on the trail of his fourth champion ship. Meyers desperate attempt to retain the lead at the 455-mile mark was one of the outstanding thrills of the day for the 145,0 900 fans who saw the race.
 For the entire 200 laps the race was three-car duel with first Jim my Snyder, Chicago, taking the lead. then Shaw, then Meyer. Meyer grabbed the advantage near the 250- mile post and held it until he went into a disastrous spin shortly after the 455-mile mark.
 The spin gave Shaw his oppor- tunity. He passed Meyer once while Meyer was coming around the track with flat tire as the result of the spin. This eliminated a one lap margin which Meyer had. Then Shaw roared around again to pass, Meyer for the second time and lap him while Meyer was changing the tire. From that point tot he finish Shaw was in. He had a one lap lead over Meyer, in sec- ond place, and over Snyder, only few seconds behind Meyer. | With only three laps to go, and with second place money of $l0,000 practically assured, Meyer spun again, this time on the northwest turn. His car stalled and officials ruled him off the track, out of the race, and eliminated all chance for any prize money outside of $2500 | lap prize aWardS.
 l Snyder Second
 Snyder leaped into second place and finished there. His average speed was l14.245. Cliff Bergere, Hollywood stunt driver who has competed in the race for ten years. was third. He averaged 113.698 m. D. h. Ted Horn, Burbank, Cal, was fourth with anaverage of ll1.879, and Babe Stapp, Los An- geles, was fifth, with an average of 1l1230.
 Others who finished in the money were George Barringer, Houston, Texas, sixth, li0472; Joel Thorne, New Rochelle, N. Y., seventh, l10.4 .426; Mauri Rose, Columbus, O., eighth, 109.544; Frank Wearne. Pas adena, Cal, ninth, 107.386, and Billy Devore, St. John, Kans., 104267.
 Roberts, seeking to be the first in history to, win the race two years in a row, rode to his death while rolling at better than 120 miles an hour on his 106th lap better than half the full distance On the southeast turn car driv- en by Bob Swanson skidded and locked with his machine. The lat ter rolled end over end twice and crashed through the outside rail while Swanson's car rolled sideways onto the edge of the track and burst into flames. l Miller, swerving to avoid tthe wreckage, lost control of his car. He crashed through the fence on the inside of the track.
 Il Roberts was the first driver killed on the track since 1883. He was 39, married and the father of three. Shaw credited his victory to luck when he entered the winners cage after the race. The first thing he asked for was water-in two pitch- CTS. Then. between intervals of drinking from one, and pouring the contests of the other over his head. he said:
 .I should say felt lucky. If Lou hadn't spun never would have caught him. I'm certainly happy ! H.-