1933 Indianapolis 500

Time trials

Ten-lap (25 mile) qualifying runs were utilized. 42 cars averaged faster than the designated 100 mph mark, making for the largest starting field in the race's history.

Starting grid

Alternates

• First alternate: Sam Palmer ****
• Howdy Wilcox II had qualified for the race, but officials disqualified him from the field when they learned that he had diabetes. On race day, he was replaced in the car by Mauri Rose.

Failed to Qualify

• Al Aspen (#42)
• George Barringer (#54)
• Paul Butler (#56)
• Ray Carter **** (#63)
• Terry Curley **** (#66)
• Frank Davidson **** (#76)
• Danny Day ****
• Leon DeHart **** (#55)
• Bill Denver (#42) - Fatal accident
• Harry Falt **** (#71)
• Speed Gardner (#31)
• George Howie (#48) - Withdrew
• L. A. Lariviere **** (#75)
• Harry Lewis **** (#44)
• Virgil Livengood **** (#69)
• Jack Mertz **** (#79)
• Roy Painter **** (#72)
• Phil Shafer (#7)
• Overton Snell **** (#52)
• Bill Sockwell **** (#74)
• Howdy Wilcox II (#3) - Replaced by Mauri Rose
• Doc Williams **** (#66)

Race summary

Bill Cummings led early on from the pole, turning laps of 113 mph. He faded from the front and dropped out with mechanical problems. Louis Meyer came from 7th starting position to first lead at 325 miles. By 400 miles, he had a commanding lead and was signaled "E-Z" by his pit crew to slow from his 110 mph pace. He cruised to the checkered with a lead of over 5 laps over Wilbur Shaw, with a new record average speed.

Box score

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses

**** Former Indianapolis 500 winner

**** Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

Race details

For 1933, riding mechanics were required.{{cite book

Despite the deadly month, three rules were installed to make the racing safer. Cars were allowed a maximum of 6 quarts of oil, and could not add oil during the race (a rule still in place today). These changes meant to send "leakers" to the garage and not make the track slippery. Also, fuel tanks were a maximum of 15 gallons, instead of 40 gallons or more. Cars would have to pit more often for fuel and crews could inspect tire wear and other problems.

"Will Overhead"

In 1933, one of the more famous bits of Indy 500 nostalgia occurred. Telegraph was still being used to transmit race information to newspapers and other outlets across the United States. George Zanaon, a typesetter for The World-Independent newspaper in the town of Walsenburg, Colorado was preparing a story for that day's Indianapolis 500. Since Memorial Day was a holiday, his young editor John B. Kirkpatrick was alone monitoring the Associated Press wire for race updates. The race took several hours to complete, and the AP wire was shut down prior to the finish. Kirkpatrick had nearly the entire story ready for print, minus the winner of the race. A helpful AP editor in Denver advised him that he would send the name of the winner via Western Union telegraph.

The telegraph Kirkpatrick received, in typical newspaper shorthand lingo was: "WILL OVERHEAD WINNER OF INDIANAPOLIS 500," meaning that he would send the information by telegraph when the information was available. The young editor misunderstood the jargon in the message, and interpreted it as saying a driver named Will Overhead was the winner. The headline read "Will Overhead won the Indianapolis Memorial Day race today. At the two hundred fifty mile post Babe Stapp was leading the string of racing cars, but gave way to Overhead on the last half of the 500 mile grind." The true winner was Louis Meyer. The gaffe put the town of Walsenburg, and The World-Independent newspaper (now known as the Huerfano World Journal), on the map in racing circles.

References

• 1933 Indianapolis 500 - Racing Reference

(1932 Indianapolis 500) (1934 Indianapolis 500)

References

1. Fox, Jack C.. (1994). "The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994". Carl Hungness Publishing.
2. (May 31, 1933). "Race Gets Late Start First Time In History; Drivers Threaten "Strike"". The Indianapolis Star.
3. ''[[Donald Davidson (historian). The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' - [[WIBC (FM). 1070-AM WIBC]], May 14, 2004
4. (1984-05-24). "Wheeling, dealing for final spot in Indy 500 is under way". [[St. Joseph Gazette]].
5. "1933 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes".
6. Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History" p.99-100
7. "Indianapolis 500 1933". Ultimate Racing History.
8. (1998). "The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle". Publications International, Ltd..
9. "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1933". ChampCarStats.com.
10. Book "The Indianapolis 500: A Complete Pictorial History" p.98
11. (May 23, 1983). "Will Overhead, a real no-name, once 'won' Indy 500 race". Wilington Morning Star.
12. {{cite episode. 1070 WIBC-AM]]
13. {{cite episode