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 5/21/1938Floyd Roberts126.174126.743124.138125.839125.857125.122124.688125.523125.892126.886125.506

Starting grid RowInsideMiddleOutside 123 Floyd Roberts14 Russ Snowberger8 Rex Mays 217 Tony Gulotta3 Chet Miller2 Ted Horn 31 Wilbur Shaw 34 Babe Stapp27 Mauri Rose 416 Ronney Householder26 Frank Brisko5 Louis Meyer 522 Joel Thorne 54 Herb Ardinger6 Jimmy Snyder 67 Bill Cummings 29 Frank Wearne38 Chet Gardner 715 George Connor47 Shorty Cantlon35 Kelly Petillo 855 Al Miller36 Al Putnam 21 Louis Tomei 945 Harry McQuinn10 Tony Willman37 Ira Hall 1042 Emil Andres12 George Bailey58 Billy Devore 1133 Henry Banks 9 Cliff Bergere43 Duke Nalon

Alternates First alternate: Charlie CrawfordThe Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004

Failed to Qualify Frankie Beeder (#45) Floyd Davis (#59) Fred Frame (#32) Ralph Hepburn (#4) Deacon Litz (#52) Tazio Nuvolari (#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.Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History" by John & Barbara Devaney p. 120

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 through the air and hit Spence, who was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital. Andres suffered a concussion, broken nose, and chest injuries.New York Times, "Roberts Sets Record to Win Indianapolis Auto Classic; Spectator Is Killed", May 31, 1938, page 24.

Box score FinishStartNoNameEntrantChassisEngineQualRankLapsStatus1123 Floyd RobertsLou MooreWetterothMiller125.6812200117.200 mph271 Wilbur Shaw W. Wilbur ShawShawOffenhauser120.98713200 +3:55.27353 Chet MillerBoyle Racing HeadquartersSummersOffenhauser121.8989200 +5:21.11462 Ted HornHarry HartzWetterothMiller121.32712200 +11:43.9951838 Chet GardnerJoe LenckiRiglingOffenhauser120.43517200 +16:19.0861454 Herb Ardinger(Russ Snowberger Laps 84–92)(Cliff Bergere Laps 122–199)Lewis W. WelchMiller-FordOffenhauser119.02224199Flagged72545 Harry McQuinn(Tony Willman Laps 87–169)Carl MarcheseMarcheseMiller119.49221197Flagged83058 Billy DevoreJoel Thorne, Inc.StevensOffenhauser116.33930185Flagged91322 Joel Thorne Joel Thorne, Inc.ShawOffenhauser119.15523185Flagged101729 Frank WearnePaul WeirickAdamsOffenhauser121.40511181Flagged113343 Duke Nalon Henry KohlertFenglerMiller113.82833178Flagged122912 George BaileyLeon DurayWeilDuray116.39329166Clutch13927 Mauri RoseBoyle Racing HeadquartersMaseratiMaserati119.79620165Supercharger141016 Ronney Householder(Billy Winn Laps 139–154)Joel Thorne, Inc.AdamsSparks125.7691154Supercharger15156 Jimmy SnyderJoel Thorne, Inc.AdamsSparks123.5064150Supercharger16125 Louis Meyer Bowes Racing, Inc.StevensWinfield120.52516149Oil Pump17417 Tony GulottaTony GulottaStevensOffenhauser122.4996130Rod182255 Al MillerJack HollyMillerMiller119.42022125Clutch191915 George ConnorJoseph MarksAdamsMiller120.32618119Engine20329 Cliff BergereGeorge H. LyonsStevensMiller114.46432111Piston213133 Henry Banks Louis KimmelMillerVoelker116.27931109Rod bearing222135 Kelly Petillo Kelly PetilloWetterothOffenhauser119.82719100Camshaft232421 Louis TomeiH. E. WinnMillerMiller121.5991088Rod24167 Bill Cummings Boyle Racing HeadquartersMillerMiller122.393772Radiator25214 Russ SnowbergerRuss SnowbergerSnowbergerMiller124.027356Rod26834 Babe StappBill White Race Cars, Inc.WeilMiller120.5951554Valve272610 Tony WillmanMurrell BelangerStevensMiller118.4582547Valve2838 Rex MaysBill White Race Cars, Inc.Alfa Romeo-WeilAlfa Romeo122.845545Supercharger292842 Emil AndresElgin Piston Pin CompanyAdamsBrisko117.1262745Crash T2302737 Ira HallNowiak & MagneeNowiakStudebaker118.2552644Crash T3311126 Frank BriskoFrank BriskoStevensBrisko121.921839Oil line322336 Al Putnam Arthur M. SimsStevensMiller116.7912815Crankshaft332047 Shorty CantlonThomas O'BrienStevensMiller120.9061413Supercharger

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses

Former Indianapolis 500 winner

Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

Lap Leaders Laps Leader1–14 Rex Mays15–31 Jimmy Snyder32–33 Rex Mays34–74 Jimmy Snyder75–110 Floyd Roberts111–114 Jimmy Snyder115–200 Floyd Roberts

Total laps led Driver LapsFloyd Roberts 92Jimmy Snyder 92Rex 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.

See also 1938 AAA Championship Car season

References