The growing city of Indianapolis had a population of around 400,000 people in 1941 and a bustling downtown that included Hook's Drugs and Thom McAn. Those looking for new ideas for their homes had not one, but three model homes to tour at the Home Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
By now the city also boasted its first drive-in theater at Pendleton Pike.
Race fans driving to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 29th Indianapolis 500 had no idea they were in for a long day.
Before the race even started, a raging fire broke out in the garages. Sparks from a welder set fumes on fire as a nearby car was being refueled.
The fire delayed the start of the race by a couple hours.
Defending champion Wilbur Shaw hoped to drive his way into the history books, looking for his third win in a row and his fourth overall.
But he crashed while in the lead on Lap 152.
History was made for a different reason.
Car No. 16 made its way around the track with two different drivers.
Floyd Davis started the race, but car owner Lou Moore replaced him with Mauri Rose on Lap 72. Rose drove the car to victory and for only the second time in race history there were co-winners.
Davis and Rose appear side-by-side on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Then the track went silent for four years, as America focused on World War Two.
MORE ON THE ROAD TO 100
1940 | 1939 | 1938 | 1937 | 1936 | 1935 | 1934 | 1933 | 1932 | 1931 | 1930 | 1929 | 1928 | 1927 | 1926 | 1925 | 1924 | 1923 | 1922 | 1921 | 1920 | 1919 | 1916 | 1915 | 1914 | 1913 | 1912 | 1911 | Special Section: Road to 100 | Enter to win tickets to the Indy 500 | Start your engines: 100 stories in 100 days
Tune in to RTV6 News at 6 p.m. every night for our Road to 100, where we take a look back at each of the races leading up to the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
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