Silent Reel: 1940 Indy 500

In addition to joining Louis Meyer as a three-time winner, Wilbur Shaw became the first person to win the “500” in consecutive years. It was his third triumph in four starts, his only “defeat” during that period having been a second-place finish to Floyd Roberts in 1938.

A light drizzle kept the caution flag out for the final 100 miles, preventing anyone from improving his position. Second and third place finishers Rex Mays and Mauri Rose had shared the front row with Shaw, Mays winning the pole for a record third time and Rose starting from the outside. This was the first and only occasion on which the front-row occupants had gone on to place one–two–three in the race.

Because the race was halted as soon as the leaders completed the distance, Ted Horn, one lap behind in fourth place, was prevented from completing the full 200 laps for what would turn out to be the only time in his nine consecutive starts (1936–41 and 1946–48).