1942 Indianapolis 500
Encyclopedia
The 1942 Indianapolis 500 was scheduled for Saturday May 30, 1942 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
. It was to be the 30th annual running of the famous automobile race.
Ticket order forms were available for the race in November 1941. Less than a month later, the Attack on Pearl Harbor
launched the United States into World War II
. Days later, in mid-December 1941, the 1942 Indy 500 was cancelled. Unlike during WWI
, all automobile racing was banned in the United States, primarily due to rationing
. The Speedway gates were locked, and the facility was abandoned. The race would not be held from 1942-1945. The golf course on the premises, however, did operate for at least some time during the war.
During the period in which the track was closed, it fell into a terrible state of disrepair. Grass and weeds overwhelmed the brick racing surface, and the old wooden grandstands became frail and unsuitable for use.
Towards the end of the war, Firestone
received permission from the U.S. government to conduct a tire test at the Speedway. On or approximately November 25, 1944, Firestone tested several passenger cars at the track. On November 29, 1944, Wilbur Shaw
tested a race car, driving a full 500 miles, averaging about 100 mph. A second similar test was reported in the spring of 1945.
The track was sold to Tony Hulman
in November 1945, and reopened in 1946. The 30th Indianapolis 500
was held May 30, 1946.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
. It was to be the 30th annual running of the famous automobile race.
Ticket order forms were available for the race in November 1941. Less than a month later, the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
launched the United States into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Days later, in mid-December 1941, the 1942 Indy 500 was cancelled. Unlike during WWI
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, all automobile racing was banned in the United States, primarily due to rationing
Rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time.- In economics :...
. The Speedway gates were locked, and the facility was abandoned. The race would not be held from 1942-1945. The golf course on the premises, however, did operate for at least some time during the war.
During the period in which the track was closed, it fell into a terrible state of disrepair. Grass and weeds overwhelmed the brick racing surface, and the old wooden grandstands became frail and unsuitable for use.
Towards the end of the war, Firestone
Firestone
-Harvey Firestone family:*Harvey Samuel Firestone , founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company*Harvey Samuel Firestone, Jr., son of Firestone founder*Elizabeth Parke Firestone, daughter-in-law of Harvey Firestone and mother of Martha Firestone...
received permission from the U.S. government to conduct a tire test at the Speedway. On or approximately November 25, 1944, Firestone tested several passenger cars at the track. On November 29, 1944, Wilbur Shaw
Wilbur Shaw
Warren Wilbur Shaw was a noted American racing driver and president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 until his death. Shaw was the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine...
tested a race car, driving a full 500 miles, averaging about 100 mph. A second similar test was reported in the spring of 1945.
The track was sold to Tony Hulman
Tony Hulman
Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana who rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and made the Indianapolis 500 popular....
in November 1945, and reopened in 1946. The 30th Indianapolis 500
1946 Indianapolis 500
Results of the 1946 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Thursday, May 30, 1946....
was held May 30, 1946.