Merrill "Doc" Williams was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 racecar driver.

Williams attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...

 every year from 1933 to 1941 but only succeeded in qualifying in 1936, 1940, and 1941. When the race returned in 1946 after World War II, Williams again failed to qualify. In 1947 he qualified a Novi

Novi engine

The Novi engine was a dual overhead cam supercharged V8 engine used in the Indianapolis 500. It was designed by Bud Winfield and Leo Goossen and built by Fred Offenhauser.-Early years:...

 powered Kurtis but it was driven by Herb Ardinger

Herb Ardinger

Herb Ardinger was an American racecar driver.Ardinger competed in eight AAA Championship Car races from 1934 to 1939, including the 1934, 1936, 1937, and 1938 Indianapolis 500 races...

, who finished 4th, completing all 200 laps. He qualified again in 1948 but was knocked out of the race after 19 laps. He failed to qualify in 1949 and it was the end of his Champ Car career. Williams did not attempt to qualify for any Championship Car races other than the Indy 500.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1936 1936 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1936 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Saturday, May 30, 1936.... 54 23 112.837 26 16 192 0 Out of gas 1940 1940 Indianapolis 500 The 28th running of the Indianapolis 500 took place on May 30, 1940. The winner was Wilbur Shaw in the number one car Maserati 8 CTF, the same car Shaw had driven to victory in 1939. Shaw became the first driver in the history of the race to win in consecutive years. It also marked Shaw's third... 36 19 122.963 15 25 61 0 Oil line 1941 1941 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1941 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Friday, May 30, 1941.Notes*Floyd Davis was the starting driver for the #16 car. On lap 72, Davis came in for a pit stop, and was relieved by Mauri Rose. Rose had started the race in another car and dropped out earlier. Rose went on to... 36 5 124.014 9 24 68 0 Radiator 1947 1947 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1947 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Friday, May 30, 1947.Late in the race, Lou Moore teammates Bill Holland and Mauri Rose were running 1st-2nd. The pit crew displayed a confusing chalkboard sign with the letters "EZY" to Holland, presumably meaning for him to take the... 54 4 120.733 Did Not Start 1948 1948 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1948 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Monday, May 31, 1948.... 74 6 124.151 20 29 19 0 Clutch Totals 340 0

Starts 4 Poles 0 Front Row 0 Wins 0 Top 5 0 Top 10 0 Retired 4