The Official Blog of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Frank Lockhart, who two years later would lose his life in an attempt to break the World Land Speed Record on the sands of Daytona Beach, showed up at Indianapolis as a 23-year-old unknown. He secured an assignment as a potential relief driver for Bennett Hill, but just a few days before the race, driver/owner Peter Kreis had to be hospitalized with pneumonia. Lockhart took over the Kreis car and immediately began to travel quickly, setting a one-lap track record of 115.448 mph on an incomplete qualifying attempt. He eventually started back in 20^th position but was two laps ahead of the second-place car when the rain-interrupted race was halted for the second and final time at 400 miles. This was the first of four years for engines limited to only 91 ½ cubic inches.