1935 Indianapolis 500

Pre-race and qualifying

Ten-lap (25 mile) qualifying runs were utilized.

On May 21, nine days before the race, three prospective participants lost their lives. Rookie Johnny Hannon, on just his first lap at racing speed, had his car go over the outside retaining wall and was killed from a fractured skull. Later that day, driver Hartwell "Stubby" Stubblefield also had his car go over the outside wall, and both he and his riding mechanic Leo Whitaker died from injuries they received being thrown from the vehicle. Kelly Petillo, the eventual winner, had his own difficulties getting into the field. His initial qualifying run (a record-breaking 121.687 mph) was voided when his car was ruled to have exceeded the fuel limit. Returning to the track, he had an engine blow, before finally having a qualifying run of 115.095 that placed him 22nd in the field.

Starting grid

Alternates

• First alternate: Dave Evans

Failed to Qualify

• Emil Andres **** (#52, #56)
• Herb Ardinger (#24)
• George Barringer (#23)
• L. L. Corum **** (#49)
• Wesley Crawford (#48)
• Dusty Fahrnow (#53)
• Johnny Hannon **** (#45) - Fatal accident
• Gene Haustein (#28)
• Harry Hunt **** (#25)
• Herschell McKee **** (#51)
• Zeke Meyer (#31)
• Duke Nalon **** - Withdrew
• Floyd O'Neal **** (#57)
• Roy Painter **** (#51)
• Johnny Rae **** (#47)
• Johnny Sawyer (#63)
• Phil Shafer (#31)
• Overton Snell **** (#58)
• Stubby Stubblefield (#29) - Fatal accident
• Doc Williams **** (#64)
• Robert Wilson **** (#59)
• Billy Winn (#10)

Race

Driver Clay Weatherly would beg Leon Duray, the owner of Hannon's crashed car, to allow him to drive it in the race. The car would prove no luckier for Weatherly, who would be killed when the car crashed through the inner guard rail coming out of turn four on lap nine. Rex Mays would lead most of the first 300 mi before being forced out with mechanical failure. Petillo had climbed to second, and after Mays' departure led most of the remainder other than briefly following a pit stop. Petillo easily broke the record for the fastest average speed (106.240 mph) despite being slowed somewhat by rain near the end of the race. Petillo received approximately $33,000 in winnings for the race.

Aftermath

The driver deaths in 1935 caused the Speedway to develop a multi-phase Rookie Test, required for first-time drivers beginning in 1936. Adjustments were also made to the configuration of the turns. Petillo would race in five more 500s, never again finishing higher than 18th. Six of the thirty-three drivers who started the race would end up having their lives ended in accidents at the Indy Speedway.

Box score

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses

**** Former Indianapolis 500 winner

**** Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

Race details

For 1935, riding mechanics were required.{{cite book

References

(1934 Indianapolis 500) (1936 Indianapolis 500)

References

1. Fox, Jack C.. (1994). "The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994". Carl Hungness Publishing.
2. Kellum, Robert W.. (May 31, 1935). "Ever See Such A Mob? -- Nobody Had". The Indianapolis Star.
3. [http://www.indymotorspeedway.com/500d-35.htm Fatalities – May 1935] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-03-30 , indymotorspeedway.com)
4. Three Auto Racers Killed, One Injured, In Memorial Day Trials at Indianapolis ''Associated Press'', May 22, 1935, as seen on page 1 of the ''New York Times''
5. Reed, Terry Indy. ''The Race and Ritual of the Indianapolis 500''. Potomac Books 2005. {{ISBN. 1-57488-907-9.
6. ''[[Donald Davidson (historian). The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' - [[WIBC (FM). 1070-AM WIBC]], May 14, 2004
7. "1935 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes".
8. 155,000 See Petillo Capture Indianapolis Auto Race; One Driver Is Killed. ''Associated Press'', May 31, 1935, as seen on sports page 19 of the ''New York Times''
9. "Indianapolis 500 1935". Ultimate Racing History.
10. (1998). "The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle". Publications International, Ltd..
11. "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1935". ChampCarStats.com.
12. Hoffman, John C.. (May 31, 1935). "Wet Track Is No Detriment For Champion". The Times.