Wilbur Shaw’s three wins (1937, 1939, 1940)
Three wins, two back-to-back, one legend of the Brickyard.
Driving for the Boyle Racing Headquarters team, Shaw's wins came during a transitional era when the race evolved from its board-track roots to a more modern, high-speed spectacle.
- Character
- Wilbur Shaw
- Role
- Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner
- Affiliation
- Boyle Racing Headquarters
- Status
- Retired (deceased)
Lore & Background
Driving the No. 7 Boyle Special, a Maserati 8CTF, he led for much of the race but lost the lead late when his car's brakes failed. Shaw's margin of victory was just over two minutes, a testament to his relentless pace. His three wins placed him in an elite club alongside legends like Louis Meyer and Tommy Milton. Shaw's legacy extends beyond driving; after World War II, he became president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, overseeing its revival and modernization. His three wins remain a cornerstone of Speedway lore, embodying the grit and skill that defined the early years of American open-wheel racing.
In Their Own Story
The air was thick with the smell of burnt castor oil and hot rubber as Wilbur Shaw eased the Boyle Special into the pits. 'She's shaking like a leaf,' he told his crew, wiping sweat from his goggles. They waved him out, and he rejoined the fray, his hands dancing on the wheel as he coaxed every ounce of speed from the wounded machine. On the final lap, the crowd roared as he crossed the line, a victor not by luck, but by sheer will. Three years later, he'd do it again—and again—becoming the first man to win back-to-back 500s, a feat that wouldn't be matched for six decades.
Reader's Guide
The late 1930s saw the Speedway recover from the Great Depression, with car counts rising and speeds climbing. This era defined the '500' as a test of endurance and strategy, not just speed. For fans, these wins are a reminder of the sport's golden age, when drivers were both mechanics and daredevils, and the Brickyard was a crucible for legends. Shaw's legacy endures as a bridge between the early pioneers and the modern era, a three-time winner whose name is etched into the Speedway's soul.
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