The 1939 Indianapolis 500 was the 27th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The event was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, United States on Tuesday, 30 May 1939. Jimmy Snyder started on pole position and Wilbur Shaw was the race winner.
1939 Indianapolis 500 Race Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Started | Laps | Total Time | Laps Led | Status | Avg. Speed | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Wilbur Shaw | Maserati | Maserati | Firestone | 3 | 200 | 4:20:47.390 | 51 | Running | 115.035 | $27,375 |
| 2 | 10 | Jimmy Snyder | Adams | Sparks | Firestone | 1 | 200 | +1:48.22 | 65 | Running | 114.245 | $16,100 |
| 3 | 54 | Cliff Bergere | Miller-Ford | Offenhauser | Firestone | 10 | 200 | 0 | Running | 113.698 | $7,400 | |
| 4 | 4 | Ted Horn | Miller | Miller | Firestone | 4 | 200 | 4 | Running | 111.879 | $4,750 | |
| 5 | 31 | Babe Stapp | A.R.-Weil | Alfa Romeo | Firestone | 16 | 200 | 0 | Running | 111.23 | $4,225 | |
| 6 | 41 | George Barringer | Weil | Offenhauser | Firestone | 15 | 200 | 0 | Running | 111.025 | $2,800 | |
| 7 | 8 | Joel Thorne | Adams | Sparks | Firestone | 20 | 200 | 0 | Running | 110.416 | $2,150 | |
| 8 | 16 | Mauri Rose | Shaw | Offenhauser | Firestone | 8 | 200 | 0 | Running | 109.544 | $2,150 | |
| 9 | 14 | Frank Wearne | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | Firestone | 17 | 200 | 0 | Running | 107.806 | $1,800 | |
| 10 | 26 | Billy DeVore | Weil | Duray | Firestone | 33 | 200 | 0 | Running | 104.267 | $1,600 | |
| 11 | 62 | Tony Gulotta | Stevens | Offenhauser | Firestone | 27 | 200 | 0 | Running | 103.938 | $1,000 | |
| 12 | 45 | Louis Meyer | Stevens | Winfield | Firestone | 2 | 197 | 79 | Accident | $3,200 | ||
| 13 | 18 | George Connor | Adams | Offenhauser | Firestone | 12 | 195 | 0 | Stalled | $650 | ||
| 14 | 51 | Tony Willman | Lencki | Lencki | Firestone | 26 | 188 | 0 | Fuel pump | $620 | ||
| 15 | 58 | Louis Tomei | Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | Firestone | 30 | 186 | 0 | Running | $590 | ||
| 16 | 15 | Rex Mays | Adams | Sparks | Firestone | 19 | 145 | 1 | Rings | $685 | ||
| 17 | 9 | Herb Ardinger | Wetteroth | Miller | Firestone | 9 | 141 | 0 | Clutch | $680 | ||
| 18 | 35 | Kelly Petillo | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | Firestone | 24 | 141 | 0 | Pistons | $600 | ||
| 19 | 49 | Mel Hansen | Shaw | Offenhauser | Firestone | 14 | 113 | 0 | Accident | $595 | ||
| 20 | 38 | Harry McQuinn | Blume | Brisko | Firestone | 32 | 110 | 0 | Ignition | $590 | ||
| 21 | 3 | Chet Miller | Summers | Miller | Firestone | 5 | 109 | 0 | Accident | $635 | ||
| 22 | 25 | Ralph Hepburn | Stevens | Offenhauser | Firestone | 13 | 107 | 0 | Accident | $605 | ||
| 23 | 1 | Floyd Roberts | Wetteroth | Offenhauser | Firestone | 23 | 106 | 0 | Accident | $650 | ||
| 24 | 37 | Ira Hall | Nowiak | Studebaker | Firestone | 18 | 89 | 0 | Head gasket | $570 | ||
| 25 | 21 | Russ Snowberger | Snowberger | Miller | Firestone | 25 | 50 | 0 | Radiator | $590 | ||
| 26 | 17 | George Bailey | Miller | Miller | Firestone | 6 | 47 | 0 | Valve | $610 | ||
| 27 | 56 | Floyd Davis | Miller | Offenhauser | Firestone | 29 | 43 | 0 | Shock absorber | $555 | ||
| 28 | 42 | Al Miller | Adams | Offenhauser | Firestone | 28 | 41 | 0 | Accelerator | $575 | ||
| 29 | 29 | Frank Brisko | Stevens | Brisko | Firestone | 11 | 38 | 0 | Air pump | $570 | ||
| 30 | 44 | Emil Andres | Stevens | Offenhauser | Firestone | 21 | 22 | 0 | Spark plugs | $540 | ||
| 31 | 32 | Bob Swanson | Stevens | Sampson | Firestone | 22 | 19 | 0 | Rear axle | $510 | ||
| 32 | 47 | Shorty Cantlon | Stevens | Offenhauser | Firestone | 7 | 15 | 0 | Bearing | $605 | ||
| 33 | 53 | Deacon Litz | Maserati | Maserati | Firestone | 31 | 7 | 0 | Valve | $525 |