 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1931 | ||||
| Winner | Louis Schneider | ||||
| Winning Entrant | B. L. Schneider | ||||
| Average speed | 96.629 mph (155.509 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Russ Snowberger | ||||
| Pole speed | 112.796 mph (181.528 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Billy Arnold (155) | ||||
| Pre-race | |||||
| Pace car | Cadillac 370 Twelve | ||||
| Pace car driver | Willard "Big Boy" Rader | ||||
| Starter | Barney Oldfield[1] | ||||
| Honorary referee | William S. Knudsen[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 165,000[2] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 19th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1931. Race winner Louis Schneider, who led the final 34 laps, was accompanied by riding mechanic Jigger Johnson.[3]
The start of the race was delayed two hours due to rain.[4] Defending race winner Billy Arnold charged from 18th starting position to lead the race by lap 7. Arnold, who had dominated the 1930 race (led 198 laps), proceeded to lead the next 155 laps, and built up a five-lap lead over second place. His rear axle broke on lap 162. He spun in turn four, was hit by another car, driven by Luther Johnson, and went over the outside wall. One of his errant wheels bounced across Georgetown Road, and struck and killed an 11-year-old boy, Wilbur C. Brink. Arnold suffered a broken pelvis, and his riding mechanic, Spider Matlock, broke his shoulder.[5]
The race was part of the 1931 AAA Championship Car season.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Crowd Estimated at 165,000 Watches Race from Grand Stands, Boxes, Field". The Indianapolis Star. May 31, 1931. p. 12. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "500-Mile Auto Race Is Won By Schneider. Ex-Motorcycle Policeman Is First at Indianapolis as 150,000 Look On". The New York Times. May 31, 1931. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
Many Spills Mark Event. Arnold, 1930 Champion, Crashes at 400 Miles When Leading by About 7 Miles. Frame Gets Second Place. Hepburn, Meyer and Snowberger Next Across. Drizzle Adds to the Drivers' Perlis. Arnold's Car Catches Fire. Averages 96,629 Miles an Hour. Arnold Sets New Mark. Schneider's Patience Rewarded. Drivers Resume Breakneck Speed. Fate catapulted Louie Schneider, onetime Indianapolis motorcycle policeman, into a winner in a stunning upset at the 500-mile automobile race over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today.
- ^ Indianapolis Star/News 2002 Record & Fact Book
- ^ "Speedway Accident Costs Life of Youth". The Reading Eagle. Associated Press. May 31, 1931.
