Shaw pulled ahead of the feld by inches in the early minutes of the race but by the end of the first 2% mile lap, Jimmy Snyder and Lou Meyét were practically tied for the lead.
Snyder, who holds the all-time one lap speed.gecord on the treacherous Indianapolis track, took the lead during the second lap and held his position for 75 miles until he was forced into the pits for repairs.
Shaw then took the lead and held it until the 100 mile níark had been passed. Snyder had returned to the track but was in fifth place. Shaw was leading again at the 125 mile marker and held his lead almost unti} the half way mark when Snyder again jockeyed into first place.
Shaw stayed up among the leaders until the 425-mile marker was- passed and then was forced into the pits. He was back on the track quickly. however, and opened up a burst of speed which brought him home ahead of the feld.
Shaw also won the classic in 1937 with an average speed of 113.580 miles per hour.
The average qualifying time for today's race was 123.547 miles an hour.
Only five men turned in times less than 120 miles an hour.
Louis Meyer. only three-time winner of the race, was the favourite 'n the betting. The fans backed him because of his experience and ability and because he qualified in the excellent time of 130.067 miles an hour Jimmy Snyder, however, turned in a new recoind for qualifying times with 130.138 miles an hour Kelly Petillo, 1935 winner, registered under 125 miles an hour in qualifying, and was a strong favourite to win. Some experts believed his car could travel much faster than it did in the qualifying round.
The trade has been modernized yearly since 1935, when it was wholly made of brick. Since last year, the entire back stretch has been done over in special asphalt. Only the home stretch remains the original brick track—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.