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.
Pole position winner Billy Arnold took the lead on lap 3, and led the entire rest of the race. He led a total of 198 laps (all consecutive), which stands as an all-time Indianapolis 500 race record. Arnold was accompanied by riding mechanic Spider Matlock.
Arnold was the first driver to complete the entire 500 miles in under five hours (over 100 mph average speed) without relief help. Pete DePaolo finished the 1925 race in under five hours, but used a relief driver for 21 laps. Arnold would eventually be named the first member of the prestigious 100 mph Club.
The race was marred by the death of Paul Marshall. He was acting as riding mechanic for his brother Cy when their car hit and flipped over the wall. His brother survived with serious injuries.
Rules changes and the "Junk" formula The 1930 race ushered in a series of substantially new engine rules and specifications. The allotted displacement was increased from 91 cu. in. (1.5 L) to 366 cu. in. (6.0 L). Superchargers were banned with the exception of two-cycle engines, and riding mechanics were made mandatory once again. In addition, the traditional mandate of a maximum 33-car field was lifted. This rules package would be in place through 1937.
Contrary to popular belief, the rule changes were not made in response to the stock market crash of 1929. The rules package is sometimes referred to disparagingly as the "Junk Formula" or the "Junkyard," and a common misconception is that it was implemented in order to dumb down the cars and maintain full fields during the Great Depression.
Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker sought to make the changes in order to lure back the passenger car manufacturers, and make the cars on the track more resemble those sold to the motoring public. Rickenbacker's desire was to move away from the supercharged, specialized racing machines that had taken over the Speedway through the 1920s. It was his vision at the time to bring the Speedway back to its origins and roots as a "proving ground" for the passenger car industry. Upon announcing the rule changes, he was quoted as saying, "Even a Model T can win." The rule changes were in fact being laid out as early as 1928, and were approved by the AAA Contest Board in early January 1929.The History of the 500 – WFNI/WIBC: Episode 10, 2013
Race schedule Race schedule – May 1930SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24Time Trials25Time Trials26Time Trials27Time Trials28Time Trials29 30Indy 50031 Color Notes Green Track Available for Practice Dark Blue Time trials Silver Race day Blank No track activity
Practice The deadline for entries to be submitted was midnight on May 1. The track was made available for practice a couple days later, with the first car taking to the track on or around Tuesday May 6. Most cars did not arrive at the Speedway until the second full week, with activity picking up mid-month.
By Monday May 19, a total of ten cars had taken to the track, with Louis Schneider (105 mph) posting the fastest lap thus far. On Tuesday May 20, the focus of attention was on the 201-c.i.d, 16-cylinder, Sampson Special of Louis Meyer. The car was now completed and wheeled out of its garage at the Steinhart Brake Services building. It was cranked up for the first time, and ready to deliver to the Speedway. Back at the track, Shorty Cantlon turned a lap of 109 mph.
On Wednesday May 21, Louis Meyer took to the track for the first time, blistering the bricks with a lap of 110.56 mph in the 16-cylinder machine. Meyer immediately established himself as a favorite for the front row. Meanwhile, Harry Hartz, who had not yet taken any laps in his front wheel drive Miller Special, was still expected to qualify come Saturday.
On Thursday May 22, Ralph Hepburn (112.20 mph) and Billy Arnold (111.83 mph) took laps in Harry Hartz's Miller Special. They were the two fastest laps thus far for the month. Speculation was growing that Hartz was preparing to hand the car over to either Hepburn or Arnold, but no official arrangement had been announced. As late as Friday night, Hartz was still insisting to the press that he was intending to race the car himself.
Time trials Qualifications was scheduled for five days, spanning from Saturday May 24 through Wednesday May 28. Four-lap qualifying runs were utilized, and cars were allowed up to three attempts. The minimum speed required was 85 mph. Time trials would end each day at sundown.
Saturday May 24 The first day of time trials was held Saturday May 24, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. L. L. Corum was the first car to qualify. Car owner Harry Hartz took the #4 Miller Special out for a shake-down qualifying attempt. After one official lap of 110.429 mph, he parked the car and handed it over to Billy Arnold. Arnold proceeded to win the pole position with a four-lap run of 113.268 mph.
One day after smacking the wall, Ernie Triplett qualified sixth. After practicing on Friday at over 111 mph, and being a favorite for the pole position, Louis Meyer fell short of expectations. Meyer qualified second, owing to an ill-conceived gear ratio change the team decided to make on Saturday morning.
No major incidents were reported.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)14 Billy Arnold113.208113.364113.279113.222113.26821 Louis Meyer 111.552111.843111.552110.227111.290316 Shorty Cantlon 110.281110.146110.200108.630109.810423 Louis Schneider104.883106.282106.534106.749106.107518 Chet Gardner 106.597105.485105.746105.423105.811617 Ernie Triplett105.646105.646105.907105.275105.618722 Russ Snowberger104.191104.275104.749105.018104.577815 Phil Shafer101.237102.576102.904102.412102.279925 Leslie Allen 101.569102.064101.925102.122101.9191036 Cy Marshall 100.334100.976100.874101.203100.8461133 Frank Farmer100.111100.402100.581101.374100.6151214 Lou Moore100.30199.91198.87999.86799.8671335 J. C. McDonald 98.91298.80399.03299.06498.9531429 Joe Caccia 96.56797.60397.95498.31897.6061541 Chet Miller 96.63997.01497.76298.03997.3601638 Claude Berton 93.76096.27794.95795.39095.087172 L. L. Corum 94.46894.37993.73093.94694.1301839 Johnny Seymour92.89893.30393.56593.74093.3761932 Charles Moran 88.75789.98289.14491.08489.733 4 Harry Hartz110.429 Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis News
Sunday May 25 Only two cars completed qualifying runs on Sunday May 25. Peter DePaolo was forced to change engines after crankshaft damage suffered on Saturday. Tony Gulotta put in the 12th-fastest speed thus far in the field, but as a second day qualifier, lined up in 20th starting position.
Rookie owner/driver Julius C. Slade quit his run after only two laps, then eventually would hand the car over to Roland Free. Rick Decker also pulled in after only two laps.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)209 Tony Gulotta100.022100.62699.82399.668100.033215 Peter DePaolo 99.71299.491100.615100.01199.956 31 Rick Decker96.05194.548 Incomplete 28 Julius C. Slade 84.77885.553 Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis News
Monday May 26 Three cars completed qualifying runs on Monday May 26, filling the field to 24 cars. Bill Cummings led the speed chart for the day, with a run of 106.173 mph, the fourth-fastest car in the field. Cummings car arrived late in the day, and he completed his run after 6 p.m., shortly before the track closed for the day. Cummings day was not without incident, as he nearly involved in an accident along with Peter DePaolo as they drove the car to the Speedway grounds.
Four other drivers took to the track, but failed to complete their runs. Bill Denver quit after two laps. Rick Decker, making his second attempt, blew an engine after completing only one lap. Likewise, Julius C. Slade, also making his second attempt in two days, threw a rod on his final lap. Babe Stapp took to the track just before sundown, but pulled off the track apparently before starting the attempt.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)226 Bill Cummings 105.820106.496105.610105.770106.1732310 Mel Kenealy 102.916103.448103.448103.496103.327247 Jimmy Gleason93.61393.69193.84893.68293.709 44 Bill Denver 91.50191.380 Incomplete 31 Rick Decker92.507engine Incomplete 28 Julius C. Slade 87.95188.03788.054engineIncomplete 8 Babe Stapp Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis News
Tuesday May 27 Six cars made qualifying attempts on Tuesday May 27, with all six running to completion. Wilbur Shaw led the speed chart for the day, with a four-lap average of 106.132 mph. There were no major incidents reported.
A day after practicing over 100 mph, Joe Huff did not disappoint, putting in the second-fastest speed of the afternoon. Rick Decker, who threw a rod and blew the engine in his #31 Decker Special on Monday, spent the day working a new engine. Decker made a deal with Fred Clemmons, owner of the #48 Hoosier Pete entry. Clemmons was unable to secure a chassis for his 4-cylinder Hoosier Pete engine, so he allowed Decker to install it in his car. The team expected to be out on the track for Wednesday.
Juan Gaudino (#52) and Fred Fansin (#53) officially scratched their entries, after they failed to arrive. At the end of the day, the field was filled to 30 cars. About twelve hopefuls remained, looking to qualify on Wednesday.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)253 Wilbur Shaw103.986107.565107.862105.214106.1322634 Joe Huff 100.852101.203100.212102.471101.1782719 Speed Gardner94.54796.28896.12395.29995.5852826 Baconin Borzacchini 96.49496.41194.74793.27495.2132945 Marion Trexler 92.43192.76493.13993.58492.9783042 Letterio Cucinotta 90.82791.44592.15691.92191.584 Source: The Indianapolis News
Wednesday May 28 The final day of qualifications was held on Wednesday May 28, with time trials officially ending at sundown (7:04 p.m.) A total of eight cars managed to qualify for the race bringing the field to 38 cars. With an entry list featuring as many as 46-47 possible qualifiers, a total of four failed to qualify, and three cars never arrived. No cars were bumped or "crowded out."
Deacon Litz was the fastest qualifier for the day, with a run of 105.755 mph. After two failed attempts, Rick Decker finally made the field, after he finished installation of the Hoosier Pete engine. Fred Roberts and Rollin May failed to complete their attempts. Roberts threw a rod, and May was too slow to meet the 80 mph minimum speed. Doc MacKenzie never made it out to the track, and Sam Greco threw a rod with only thirty minutes left in the day.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)3112 Deacon Litz104.676106.070106.132106.157105.755328 Babe Stapp104.834105.895104.118104.969104.9503324 Dave Evans97.17197.43498.99396.68197.3423421 Zeke Meyer 94.99795.47094.77796.19595.3573548 Rick Decker92.14792.05392.14792.83192.2933644 Bill Denver 90.68091.18590.12690.61690.6503728 Roland Free 89.41989.55289.68689.90189.6393846 Harry Butcher 86.60586.94887.13387.32887.003 37 Fred Roberts 80.928 Incomplete 51 Rollin May 77.640 Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis News
Starting grid RowInsideMiddleOutside1 Billy Arnold Louis Meyer Shorty Cantlon 2 Louis Schneider Chet Gardner Ernie Triplett3 Russ Snowberger Phil Shafer Leslie Allen 4 Cy Marshall Frank Farmer Lou Moore5 J. C. McDonald Joe Caccia Chet Miller 6 Claude Berton L. L. Corum Johnny Seymour7 Charles Moran Tony Gulotta Peter DePaolo 8 Bill Cummings Mel Kenealy Jimmy Gleason9 Wilbur Shaw Joe Huff Speed Gardner10 Baconin Borzacchini Marion Trexler Letterio Cucinotta 11 Deacon Litz Babe Stapp Dave Evans12 Zeke Meyer Bill Denver Rick Decker13 Roland Free Harry Butcher
Alternates First alternate: noneThe Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
Failed to qualify