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1934 Indianapolis 500

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22nd Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1934
WinnerBill Cummings
Winning EntrantH. C. Henning
Average speed104.863 mph
Pole positionKelly Petillo
Pole speed119.329 mph
Most laps ledFrank Brisko (69)
Pre-race
Pace carLaSalle Model 350
Pace car driverWillard "Big Boy" Rader
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeRoy D. Chapin[1]
Estimated attendance140,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1933 1935

The 22nd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1934. The winner was the number seven car driven by Bill Cummings, an Indianapolis native, at an average speed of 104.863 miles per hour. Cummings led for 57 laps total, including the last 26.[3] Of the 33 cars that began the race, only 12 were running at the finish, although there were no crashes resulting in serious injuries. One serious incident involved George Bailey, whose car went over the outside wall, but resulted in only a broken wrist to the driver. The finish was the closest in the history of the race to that point, with second-place finisher Mauri Rose within 100 yards of Cummings at the finish (officially 27.25 seconds behind). Rose would also file a protest that Cummings had illegally gained ground during a "slow-down" period following a crash.[4]

Cummings was accompanied by riding mechanic Earl Unversaw. The race was part of the 1934 AAA Championship Car season.


Background

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In an effort to improve safety, the maximum field size was capped at 33 cars. 33 starters has remained the maximum field size since, with the exception of the 1979 and 1997 races. After several consecutive 500s with multiple fatalities, efforts were also made to reduce speeds through fuel limits; entries were limited to 2.5 U.S. gallons (9.5 L) of fuel for qualification and 45 U.S. gallons (170 L) of fuel for the race.[5][6]

For 1934, riding mechanics were required.[7]

Time trials

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Ten-lap (25 mile) qualifying runs were utilized. Kelly Petillo earned the pole position with a speed of 119.329 mph (192.041 km/h). Babe Stapp and Charles Tramison were both disqualifed for exceeding the fuel limit in their qualifying runs.

During a qualification attempt, driver Pete Kreis lost control in turn 1, climbed over the wall, and struck a tree outside of the track. He and his riding mechanic were fatally injured.

Starting grid

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Row Inside Middle Outside
1 17 United States Kelly Petillo 3 United States Wilbur Shaw 32 United States Frank Brisko
2 9 United States Mauri Rose 4 United States Chet Gardner 26 United States Phil Shafer
3 8 United States Tony Gulotta 36 United States Al Miller 10 United States Russ Snowberger
4 7 United States Bill Cummings 31 United States Ralph Hepburn 18 United States George Barringer  R 
5 1 United States Louis Meyer  W  24 United States Herb Ardinger  R  15 United States Shorty Cantlon
6 58 United States George Bailey  R  51 United States Al Gordon 22 United States Cliff Bergere
7 12 United States Deacon Litz 2 United States Lou Moore 41 United States Johnny Sawyer
8 6 United States Dave Evans 35 United States Rex Mays  R  16 United States Joe Russo
9 42 United States Dusty Fahrnow  R  73 United States Doc MacKenzie 45 United States Rick Decker
10 49 United States Charles Crawford  R  5 United States Stubby Stubblefield 63 United States Harry McQuinn  R 
11 29 United States Gene Haustein 46 United States Chet Miller 33 United States Johnny Seymour
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

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Failed to Qualify

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Race summary

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At the start, polesitter Petillo took the lead for the first 4 laps. But the pace was 8 mph off the record of the previous year, owing to new fuel regulations that limited cars to 45 gallons for the entire race. Frank Brisko lead much of the first half of the race, but began to fall back as the race approached half-distance. By half-distance, Mauri Rose was leading, but close behind him was Cummings. "Wild Bill" first assumed the lead at 325 miles as Rose pitted for fuel, then lost it as he too made a stop. Cummings then closed on Rose and passed him with 70 miles to go. Both drivers, confident that they had enough fuel, then upped their pace to reach 140 mph on the straights. Cummings and Rose were never more than 30 seconds apart in the last part of the race. Cummings took the checkered with a new record average speed, despite the new fuel limitations. Rose was second, 27 seconds behind.[10]

Box score

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Finish Start No Name Entrant Chassis Engine Qual Rank Laps Status
1 10 7 United States Bill Cummings H. C. Henning Miller Miller 116.116 6 200 Running
2 4 9 United States Mauri Rose Leon Duray Stevens Miller 116.044 7 200 Running
3 20 2 United States Lou Moore
(Wilbur Shaw Laps 77–152)
California Racers, Inc. Miller Miller 113.442 16 200 Running
4 19 12 United States Deacon Litz
(Babe Stapp Laps 67–172)
A. B. Litz Miller Miller 113.731 14 200 Running
5 24 16 United States Joe Russo Joe E. Russo Duesenberg Duesenberg 113.115 18 200 Running
6 8 36 United States Al Miller
(Zeke Meyer Laps 169–200)
Phil Shafer Rigling Buick 113.307 17 200 Running
7 18 22 United States Cliff Bergere
(Tony Gulotta Laps 119–130)
(Billy Winn Laps 131–141)
William S. White Weil Miller 115.243 8 200 Running
8 9 10 United States Russ Snowberger Russell Snowberger Snowberger Studebaker 111.428 23 200 Running
9 3 32 United States Frank Brisko
(Rex Mays Laps 130–200)
F.W.D. Auto Company Miller Miller 116.894 4 200 Running
10 14 24 United States Herb Ardinger  R 
(Danny Day Laps 93–133)
Angelo Lucenti Graham Graham 111.722 22 200 Running
11 1 17 United States Kelly Petillo Joe Marks Adams Miller 119.329 1 200 Running
12 29 5 United States Stubby Stubblefield
(Dave Evans Laps 124–144)
Cummins Engine Company Duesenberg Cummins 105.921 32 200 Running
13 28 49 United States Charles Crawford  R  Detroit Gasket & Manufacturing Ford Ford V8 108.784 30 110 In pits
14 11 31 United States Ralph Hepburn
(Louis Meyer Laps 138–164)
Ralph Hepburn Miller Miller 114.321 10 164 Connecting rod
15 12 18 United States George Barringer  R 
(Chet Gardner Laps 98–161)
H. C. Henning Miller Miller 113.859 11 161 Bent front axle
16 6 26 United States Phil Shafer
(Zeke Meyer Laps 97–130)
Phil Shafer Rigling Buick 113.816 12 130 Camshaft drive
17 7 8 United States Tony Gulotta Floyd Smith Cooper Studebaker 113.733 13 94 Rod
18 13 1 United States Louis Meyer  W  Louis Meyer Stevens Miller 112.332 20 92 Oil tank
19 22 6 United States Dave Evans Cummins Engine Company Duesenberg Cummins 102.414 33 81 Transmission
20 15 15 United States Shorty Cantlon
(Billy Winn Laps 39–76)
William J. Cantlon Stevens Miller 117.875 2 76 Crankshaft
21 5 4 United States Chet Gardner Alden Sampson II Stevens Miller 114.786 9 72 Rod
22 17 51 United States Al Gordon Paul Weirick Adams Miller 116.273 5 66 Crash T1
23 23 35 United States Rex Mays  R  Fred Frame Duesenberg Miller 113.639 15 53 Front axle
24 25 42 United States Dusty Fahrnow  R  Irving Goldberg Cooper Cooper 113.070 19 28 Rod
25 21 41 United States Johnny Sawyer Lencki & Unger Miller Lencki 109.808 27 27 Rod
26 33 33 United States Johnny Seymour Fred Frame Adams Miller 108.591 31 22 Pinion gear
27 27 45 United States Rick Decker Rickliffe Decker Miller Miller 110.895 26 17 Clutch
28 2 3 United States Wilbur Shaw Joe Marks Stevens Miller 117.647 3 15 Lost oil
29 26 73 United States Doc MacKenzie Mikan & Carson Mikan-Carson Studebaker 111.933 21 15 Crash NC
30 31 29 United States Gene Haustein Lawrence J. Martz Hudson Hudson 109.426 28 13 Crash T4
31 30 63 United States Harry McQuinn  R  Michel DeBaets Rigling Miller 111.067 24 13 Rod
32 16 58 United States George Bailey  R  Roy Scott Snowberger Studebaker 111.063 25 12 Crash T3
33 32 46 United States Chet Miller Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation Ford Ford V8 109.252 29 11 Crash T1
[11]<[5]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses[12]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

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References

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  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. ^ Ogle, Carl F. (May 31, 1934). "Boy Who Listened to Racers' Drone In 1914 Realizes Childhood Ambition". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ "Reference at www.indy500.com". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  4. ^ "CUMMINGS VICTOR IN 500-MILE RACE". The New York Times. 31 May 1934. Associated Press as printed in the New York Times May 31, 1934, page 26, sports. (requires subscription to read full article)
  5. ^ a b Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-2798-3.
  6. ^ Book "The Indianapolis: A Complete Pictorial History" p.103
  7. ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
  8. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  9. ^ "1934 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  10. ^ Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History" p. 193
  11. ^ "Indianapolis 500 1934". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  12. ^ "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1934". ChampCarStats.com.


1933 Indianapolis 500
Louis Meyer
1934 Indianapolis 500
Bill Cummings
1935 Indianapolis 500
Kelly Petillo
Preceded by
104.162 mph
(1933 Indianapolis 500)
Record for the fastest average speed
104.863 mph
Succeeded by