1930 Indianapolis 500

18th running of the Indianapolis 500 February 2025 18th Indianapolis 500 1930_500_program_cover.jpg AAA May 30, 1930 Billy Arnold Harry Hartz Spider Matlock 4:58:39.72 100.448 mi/h km/h on Billy Arnold 113.268 mi/h km/h on Billy Arnold (198) Cord L-29 Wade Morton Grantland RiceFox Jack C. The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 Carl Hungness Publishing 4th 1994 22,400 en 0-915088-05-3 Vincent Hugo Bendix 165,000-170,000Jump Into Lead On Third Lap And Is Never Headed https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11445370/ W. Blaine Patton The Indianapolis Star 1 Newspapers.com May 31, 1930 June 3, 2017 1929 1931 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 911 2 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.Speedway Appetizers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2150485/1930_indianapolis_500_practice_may_6/ The Indianapolis News May 7, 1930 22 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 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.Speedway Appetizers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2151302/1930_indianapolis_500_practice/ The Indianapolis News May 20, 1930 23 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 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.Speedway Appetizers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153268/1930_indianapolis_500_practice_may_21/ The Indianapolis News May 21, 1930 18 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 thumb|right|Maserati Tipo V4 driven by Baconin Borzacchini 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.Speedway Appetizers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153433/1930_indianapolis_500_practice_may/ The Indianapolis News May 21, 1930 18 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 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.Speedway Appetizers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153569/1930_indianapolis_500_practice_may_23/ The Indianapolis News May 23, 1930 37 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 As late as Friday night, Hartz was still insisting to the press that he was intending to race the car himself.Speedway Appetizers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153680/1930_indianapolis_500_practice_may_24/ The Indianapolis News May 24, 1930 17 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 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.Corum, Caccia, and Moran Also Qualify https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153698/1930_indianapolis_500_time_trials_may/ The Indianapolis News May 24, 1930 1 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 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. Pos Position No. Car Number Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)14USA 1912 Billy Arnold113.208113.364113.279113.222113.26821USA 1912 Louis Meyer gold W silver111.552111.843111.552110.227111.290316USA 1912 Shorty Cantlon orange R silver110.281110.146110.200108.630109.810423USA 1912 Louis Schneider104.883106.282106.534106.749106.107518USA 1912 Chet Gardner orange R silver106.597105.485105.746105.423105.811617USA 1912 Ernie Triplett105.646105.646105.907105.275105.618722USA 1912 Russ Snowberger104.191104.275104.749105.018104.577815USA 1912 Phil Shafer101.237102.576102.904102.412102.279925USA 1912 Leslie Allen orange R silver101.569102.064101.925102.122101.9191036USA 1912 Cy Marshall orange R silver100.334100.976100.874101.203100.8461133USA 1912 Frank Farmer100.111100.402100.581101.374100.6151214USA 1912 Lou Moore100.30199.91198.87999.86799.8671335CAN 1868 J. C. McDonald orange R silver98.91298.80399.03299.06498.9531429USA 1912 Joe Caccia orange R silver96.56797.60397.95498.31897.6061541USA 1912 Chet Miller orange R silver96.63997.01497.76298.03997.3601638USA 1912 Claude Berton orange R silver93.76096.27794.95795.39095.087172USA 1912 L. L. Corum gold W silver94.46894.37993.73093.94694.1301839USA 1912 Johnny Seymour92.89893.30393.56593.74093.3761932USA 1912 Charles Moran orange R silver88.75789.98289.14491.08489.733 4USA 1912 Harry Hartz110.429   Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis NewsBattle of Cylinders to Close on Wednesday https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2122307/1930_indianapolis_500_time_trials/ The Indianapolis News May 26, 1930 18 Newspapers.com April 2, 2015 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.http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/SladeJulius.htm Julius Slade driver stats ChampCarStats.com April 3, 2015 Rick Decker also pulled in after only two laps. Pos Position No. Car Number Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)209USA 1912 Tony Gulotta100.022100.62699.82399.668100.033215USA 1912 Peter DePaolo gold W silver99.71299.491100.615100.01199.956 31USA 1912 Rick Decker96.05194.548  Incomplete 28USA 1912 Julius C. Slade orange R silver84.77885.553  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. Pos Position No. Car Number Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)226USA 1912 Bill Cummings orange R silver105.820106.496105.610105.770106.1732310USA 1912 Mel Kenealy orange R silver102.916103.448103.448103.496103.327247USA 1912 Jimmy Gleason93.61393.69193.84893.68293.709 44USA 1912 Bill Denver orange R silver91.50191.380 Incomplete 31USA 1912 Rick Decker92.507engine  Incomplete 28USA 1912 Julius C. Slade orange R silver87.95188.03788.054engineIncomplete 8USA 1912 Babe Stapp    Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis NewsSeveral Fast Cars Yet to Qualify for Race https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2122307/1930_indianapolis_500_time_trials/ The Indianapolis News May 27, 1930 22 Newspapers.com April 2, 2015 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. Pos Position No. Car Number Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)253USA 1912 Wilbur Shaw103.986107.565107.862105.214106.1322634USA 1912 Joe Huff orange R silver100.852101.203100.212102.471101.1782719USA 1912 Speed Gardner94.54796.28896.12395.29995.5852826ITA 1861 Baconin Borzacchini orange R silver96.49496.41194.74793.27495.2132945USA 1912 Marion Trexler orange R silver92.43192.76493.13993.58492.9783042ITA 1861 Letterio Cucinotta orange R silver90.82791.44592.15691.92191.584 Source: The Indianapolis NewsTwelve Lines of Cars May Face Race Starter https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2122320/1930_indianapolis_500_time_trials/ The Indianapolis News May 28, 1930 28 Newspapers.com April 2, 2015 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. Pos Position No. Car Number Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)3112USA 1912 Deacon Litz104.676106.070106.132106.157105.755328USA 1912 Babe Stapp104.834105.895104.118104.969104.9503324USA 1912 Dave Evans97.17197.43498.99396.68197.3423421USA 1912 Zeke Meyer orange R silver94.99795.47094.77796.19595.3573548USA 1912 Rick Decker92.14792.05392.14792.83192.2933644USA 1912 Bill Denver orange R silver90.68091.18590.12690.61690.6503728USA 1912 Roland Free orange R silver89.41989.55289.68689.90189.6393846USA 1912 Harry Butcher orange R silver86.60586.94887.13387.32887.003 37USA 1912 Fred Roberts orange R silver80.928   Incomplete 51USA 1912 Rollin May orange R silver77.640   Incomplete Source: The Indianapolis NewsThirty-Eight Qualify for Start of Big Race https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2122327/1930_indianapolis_500_time_trials/ The Indianapolis News May 29, 1930 10 Newspapers.com April 2, 2015 Starting grid RowInsideMiddleOutside1USA 1912 Billy ArnoldUSA 1912 Louis Meyer gold W silverUSA 1912 Shorty Cantlon orange R silver2USA 1912 Louis SchneiderUSA 1912 Chet Gardner orange R silverUSA 1912 Ernie Triplett3USA 1912 Russ SnowbergerUSA 1912 Phil ShaferUSA 1912 Leslie Allen orange R silver4USA 1912 Cy Marshall orange R silverUSA 1912 Frank FarmerUSA 1912 Lou Moore5CAN 1868 J. C. McDonald orange R silverUSA 1912 Joe Caccia orange R silverUSA 1912 Chet Miller orange R silver6USA 1912 Claude Berton orange R silverUSA 1912 L. L. Corum gold W silverUSA 1912 Johnny Seymour7USA 1912 Charles Moran orange R silverUSA 1912 Tony GulottaUSA 1912 Peter DePaolo gold W silver8USA 1912 Bill Cummings orange R silverUSA 1912 Mel Kenealy orange R silverUSA 1912 Jimmy Gleason9USA 1912 Wilbur ShawUSA 1912 Joe Huff orange R silverUSA 1912 Speed Gardner10ITA 1861 Baconin Borzacchini orange R silverUSA 1912 Marion Trexler orange R silverITA 1861 Letterio Cucinotta orange R silver11USA 1912 Deacon LitzUSA 1912 Babe StappUSA 1912 Dave Evans12USA 1912 Zeke Meyer orange R silverUSA 1912 Bill Denver orange R silverUSA 1912 Rick Decker13USA 1912 Roland Free orange R silverUSA 1912 Harry Butcher orange R silver  Alternates First alternate: noneThe Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004 Failed to qualify Rollin May (#51) – Incomplete qualifying attempt (Too slow) James Klemos/Fred Roberts (#37) – Incomplete qualifying attempt (Engine failure) Sam Greco (#49) – Incomplete qualifying attempt (Engine failure) Rick Decker (#31) – Engine failure Doc MacKenzie (#43) – Did not attempt to qualify Fred Fansin (#53) – Withdrawn/Car did not arrive Juan Gaudino (#52) – Withdrawn/Car did not arrive Duesenberg (#47) – Withdrawn/Car did not arrive Sources: Race recap First half Louis Meyer in his 16-cylinder Miller grabbed the lead at the start, out-dueling polesitter Billy Arnold on the first lap. Meyer led laps 1 and 2, then Arnold took the lead on lap 3. Arnold would not relinquish the lead the rest of the afternoon. On the grid, Rick Decker's engine failed to crank, and he did not start the race. When the crew finally got his car running, it lasted only 8 laps. Chet Gardner was out on the first lap after he spun and brushed the wall on the north end, damaging his left front wheel. Gardner became the first driver in Indy history to drop out of the race without completing a single lap. A huge crash broke out on the leader's 23rd lap. Fred Roberts (driving relief for Pete DePaolo) lost control and crashed in turn three. He collected the car of Deacon Litz, who suffered a broken arm. Litz's riding mechanic Lloyd Barnes suffered a cut to the head. The cars of Johnny Seymour, Babe Stapp, Lou Moore, and Marion Trexler also got caught up in the incident.Record Crowd Gets All Kinds of Thrills https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153857/1930_indianapolis_500_100_mile_report/ The Indianapolis News May 30, 1930 1 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 Stapp's car rode up the wall, but he was not seriously injured. Jimmy Gleason's car suffered damage driving through the debris, and he drove back to the pits. He dropped out with what was discovered to be broken timing gears. After leading early, Louis Meyer was forced to make a pit stop on lap 22 to repair a broken throttle connection. He lost over four minutes in the pits, and dropped as far down as 13th place. He returned to the track, and started charging back up the standings. On the leader's 31st lap, Cy Marshall wrecked in turn three. The driver was pinned under the wreckage, but survived. His brother, riding mechanic Paul Marshall, was thrown from the car, and died of a fractured skull. Second half Billy Arnold won over second place Shorty Cantlon by a margin of over seven minutes (about 4 laps). Arnold was not challenged by any of the other competitors in the second half. During a pit stop on lap 111, Arnold did not request relief help, and managed to drive the entire 500 miles without relief. Arnold led a total of 198 laps (laps 3–200) to set an all-time Indianapolis 500 record for most total laps led (198), and most consecutive laps led (198). Second place Shorty Cantlon was relieved by Herman Schurch for laps 97 through 151.Cantlon's Good Run https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2153952/1930_indianapolis_500_information/ The Indianapolis News May 31, 1930 14 Newspapers.com April 6, 2015 Louis Meyer worked his way back into the top five by lap 140, but was unable to close the gap on Arnold. Meyer held fourth place over the final 50 laps, and finished sixteen minutes behind. Box score FinishStartNoNameEntrantChassisEngineQualRankLapsStatus114USA 1912 Billy ArnoldHarry HartzSummersMiller113.2681200 100.448 mph2316USA 1912 Shorty Cantlon orange R silver(Herman Schurch Laps 147–200)William S. WhiteStevensMiller109.8103200+7:17.463423USA 1912 Louis SchneiderLouis F. SchneiderStevensMiller106.1076200+11:25.49421USA 1912 Louis Meyer gold W silverAlden Sampson IIStevensMiller111.2902200+16:18.355226USA 1912 Bill Cummings orange R silver(Freddie Winnai Laps 113–149)Peter DePaoloStevensDuesenberg106.1734200+21:56.3963324USA 1912 Dave EvansDavid E. EvansStevensMiller97.34224200+25:24.787815USA 1912 Phil ShaferPhil ShaferColemanMiller102.27913200+31:17.658722USA 1912 Russ SnowbergerRussell SnowbergerSnowbergerStudebaker104.57711200+37:47.249925USA 1912 Leslie Allen orange R silver(Fred Lecklider Laps 51–115)(Stubby Stubblefield Laps 116–200)Leslie AllenMillerMiller101.91914200+51:11.7910172USA 1912 L. L. Corum gold W silverMilton JonesStutzStutz94.13029200+52:52.37111638USA 1912 Claude Berton orange R silverIra VailOaklandOakland95.08728196Flagged123042ITA 1861 Letterio Cucinotta orange R silverLetterio Piccolo CucinottaMaseratiMaserati91.58434185Flagged131541USA 1912 Chet Miller orange R silver(Paul Bost Laps 95–160)Thomas J. MulliganFord TFronty-Ford97.36023161Flagged143846USA 1912 Harry Butcher orange R silverHarry M. ButcherBuickBuick87.00338127Flagged152310USA 1912 Mel Kenealy orange R silverJ. Talbot Jr.WhippetMiller103.32712114Valve163421USA 1912 Zeke Meyer orange R silverZeke MeyerMillerMiller95.35726115Rod17617USA 1912 Ernie TriplettAllen GuibersonWhippetMiller105.6189125Piston181335CAN 1868 J. C. McDonald orange R silver(Johnny Krieger Laps 105–112)William H. RichardsStudebakerStudebaker98.95321112Fuel tank leak193728USA 1912 Roland Free orange R silverJulius C. SladeChryslerChrysler89.6393769Clutch20209USA 1912 Tony GulottaJ. Talbot Jr.WhippetMiller100.0331879Valve211133USA 1912 Frank FarmerM. A. YagleMillerMiller100.6151769Crash223544USA 1912 Bill Denver orange R silverGabriel NardiDuesenbergDuesenberg90.6503541Rod232634USA 1912 Joe Huff orange R silver(Ted Chamberlain Laps 8-27)(Speed Gardner Laps 28–48)Herman N. GaussCooperMiller101.1781548Valve24253USA 1912 Wilbur ShawEmpire State MotorsSmithMiller106.135554Wrist pin251429USA 1912 Joe Caccia orange R silver(Rick Decker)William AlbertiDuesenbergDuesenberg97.6062243Crash261036USA 1912 Cy Marshall orange R silverGeorge A. HenryDuesenbergDuesenberg100.8461629Crash T3271932USA 1912 Charles Moran orange R silverDu Pont Motors, Inc.Du PontDu Pont89.7333622Crash T328247USA 1912 Jimmy GleasonThomas J. MulliganMillerMiller93.7093022Timing gears291214USA 1912 Lou MooreColeman Motors CorporationColemanMiller99.8672023Crash T3303112USA 1912 Deacon LitzHenry W. MaleyDuesenbergDuesenberg105.755822Crash T331328USA 1912 Babe StappA. S. DuesenbergDuesenbergDuesenberg104.9501018Crash T3321839USA 1912 Johnny SeymourHerman N. GaussCooperMiller93.3763121Crash T333215USA 1912 Peter DePaolo gold W silver(Fred Roberts Laps 8-20)Peter DePaoloStevensDuesenberg99.9561920Crash T3342945USA 1912 Marion Trexler orange R silverM. M. Lain Jr.AuburnLycoming92.9783219Crash T3352719USA 1912 Speed GardnerW. H. GardnerMillerMiller95.5852514Main bearing362826ITA 1861 Baconin Borzacchini orange R silver(Jimmy Rossi Laps 4–7)Alfieri MaseratiMaseratiMaserati95.213277Magneto373648USA 1912 Rick DeckerClemons Motors, Inc.MercedesClemons92.293338Oil tank38518USA 1912 Chet Gardner orange R silverJames H. BoothDuesenbergDuesenberg105.81171Spun T1 Indianapolis 500 1930 http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19559 Ultimate Racing History 16 January 2012 https://archive.today/20130205104236/http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=19559 5 February 2013 live The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle Publications International, Ltd. Rick Popely L. Spencer Riggs 1998 0-7853-2798-3 Lincolnwood, Illinois Note: Relief drivers in parenthesesChampCarStats.com https://www.champcarstats.com/races/193002.htm International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1930 gold W silver Former Indianapolis 500 winner orange R silver Indianapolis 500 Rookie Note: Cars not finishing were awarded positions in the order in which they left the track, regardless of lap count Statistics 30% Lap Leaders Laps Leader1–2 Louis Meyer3–200 Billy Arnold 70% Total laps led Laps LeaderBilly Arnold 198Louis Meyer 2 Race details For 1930, riding mechanics were required.Blazier, John E. Rollings, Tom Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics 1994 It was the first time since 1922 that riding mechanics were mandatory. This was the first Indy 500 to utilize the green flag to signify the start of the race."The Talk of Gasoline Alley" – 1070 WIBC: May 6, 2002 Previous years had used the red flag, before the development of standard uniform traffic guidelines and protocol as defined by the MUTCD and AASHTO. This was the first 500 after the stock market crash of 1929, and the first to be held under the Great Depression. Chet Miller One of the most famous nostalgic stories of Indianapolis 500 lore occurred with driver Chet Miller during the 1930 race. Just short of the mid-way point, Miller was in for a pit stop in his Fronty-Ford. The car, which was made up mostly of Model T parts, was discovered to have a broken right front spring. Race officials would not let Miller return to the track until repairs were made, so the crew began a search for suitable replacement parts. Within a short time, the crew spotted an unattended Model T, that ostensibly belonged to a spectator, parked nearby in the infield. With the owner nowhere in sight, the crew proceeded to remove the spring they needed, and subsequently installed it on Miller's race car sitting in the pit area. After a stop of over 41 minutes, Miller was back out on the track with the borrowed spring, and drove to a 13th-place finish. Following the race, with the vehicle's owner still not located, the crew went back to the infield and re-installed the spring on the unknown spectator's Model T. It is believed that the owner of the car was never aware of the entire situation.Davidson Donald Donald Davidson (historian) Autocourse Official History of the Indianapolis 500 https://books.google.com/books?id=CeCxyf0BpgUC&q=chet+miller+1930+springs&pg=PA70 Autocourse 2006 70 9781905334209 June 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 6, 2007 Notes Works cited Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site References Indianapolis 500 1930 1929 French Grand Prix 1930 Belgian Grand Prix 1929 Indianapolis 500 1931 Indianapolis 500 Category:Indianapolis 500 races Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 Category:1930 in American motorsport Category:May 1930 sports events in the United States