Leader of the pack

For a car that wasn’t around all that long, La Salle had a strong, impressive history at the Indianapolis 500, serving as pace car three different times – its first year, 1927; in 1934 and here, for the silver anniversary race in 1937. A couple of images from the vast Indianapolis Motor Speedway archives help to tell the story. As the field is gridded on race morning, the great Ralph DePalma, winner of the 1915 race, poses in the La Salle 37-50 roadster.  To the rear of him, in order of the starting position from right, is the front row of Wild Bill Cummings, Wilbur Shaw and Herb Ardinger.

DePalma leads the field toward the green on the 1937 pace lap. The stock-based formula, which mandated a driver and riding mechanic, was still in force at Indy. When the race was over, Shaw had captured the first of his three 500 wins, over Ralph Hepburn and Ted Horn, the latter being one of the best drivers who never won Indianapolis. Shaw, who was president of the speedway after World War II until his death in a 1954 plane crash, could conceivably have accomplished an unassailable six wins in the 500.  He finished second in both 1933 and 1935, and was leading in 1941 when he crashed. Had he won, it would have given Shaw three straight wins, something that nobody’s ever done in the Hoosier classic.