The 26th Indianapolis 500, held on May 30, 1938, was won by Floyd Roberts, who delivered a dominant and methodical performance driving the Burd Piston Ring Special, completing the 500 miles in 4 hours, 16 minutes, 36.00 seconds at a then-record average speed of 117.200 mph. Starting from the pole position, Roberts became the first pole-sitter to win the race since 1930, leading 92 of the 200 laps. He took command of the race with 55 laps remaining and steadily pulled away to defeat Wilbur Shaw, who finished second, while Rex Mays placed third. The race featured intense competition early, with extended lead exchanges between Roberts, Shaw, and Jimmy Snyder, but mechanical reliability and pit strategy ultimately determined the outcome.
Tragically, the event was marred by a fatal spectator accident early in the race. On lap 45, Emil Andres crashed, and a detached wheel was thrown into the grandstand, fatally injuring Everett Spence, a 33-year-old spectator. Despite this tragedy, the race itself was completed without any driver fatalities. The 1938 edition is historically significant for producing record-breaking speeds, highlighting major advancements in chassis and engine performance, and for marking the final Indianapolis 500 victory for Floyd Roberts, who would be killed the following year during the 1939 race.
