Floyd Roberts is a former Championship Car racing driver from Jamestown, North Dakota

Jamestown, North Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,527 people, 6,505 households, and 3,798 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,246.7 per square mile . There were 6,970 housing units at an average density of 559.6 per square mile...

. He won the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...

 in 1938 with a record speed of 117.2 mi/h. He led for 92 laps. The following year, 1939, driving the same car, he was killed in a crash on the backstretch after hitting a wooden fence at near 100 mi/h. Roberts was the first former winner and defending champion of the race to have been killed while competing. According to reports, Roberts intended to retire following the race.

The Crash

With Roberts on lap 109, the car driven by Bob Swanson

Bob Swanson (driver)

Bob Swanson was an American racecar driver.Swanson won the first Turkey Night Grand Prix midget-car race in 1934. At the 1939 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in the accident that killed defending champion Floyd Roberts...

 lost control and went sideways. Roberts' car contacted Swanson's, causing Swanson's car to flip over and catch fire ejecting Swanson, and Roberts' car went through the outer wall and went headfirst into a tree. Chet Miller's

Chet Miller

Chet Miller was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a crash in the south turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500. During his long Indy career, Miller earned the nickname "Dean of the Speedway"...

 car went into the debris field, flipped, and went into the inner wall. Two spectators were also injured by flying debris. The three drivers were taken to hospitals, while it took over 30 minutes to clear the burning wreck of Swanson's car from the track. Roberts' death due to brain injuries was announced before the race was completed.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1935 1935 Indianapolis 500 The 1935 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Thursday, May 30, 1935. Despite attempts to improve participant safety by requiring crash helmets and installing green and yellow lights around the track, the event that year would prove to be one of the worst in terms of fatalities.-Pre-race and... 22 3 118.671 3 4 200 0 Running 1936 1936 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1936 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Saturday, May 30, 1936.... 4 15 112.403 29 19 183 0 Out of gas 1937 1937 Indianapolis 500 The 25th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1937.Late in the race, Wilbur Shaw held a comfortable lead, and had lapped second place Ralph Hepburn. With about 20 laps to go, however, Shaw's car had been leaking oil, and had nearly lost... 62 17 116.996 30 13 194 0 Flagged 1938 1938 Indianapolis 500 The 26th running of the Indianapolis 500 took place on Monday, May 30, 1938. The race was won by the number 23 car driven by Floyd Roberts. Roberts' car started in the pole position, and was the first car to win from that start since 1930. Roberts led 92 laps, posted an average speed of 117.200... 23 1 125.681 2 1 200 92 Running 1939 1939 Indianapolis 500 The 27th Indianapolis 500 took place May 30, 1939. The race was won by the number two car of Wilbur Shaw, who started in the third position. The race was notable for a three car accident on lap 109, when Floyd Roberts the reigning champion, was killed when his car went through the wooden outer wall... 1 23 128.968 5 23 106 0 Crash BS Totals 883 92

Starts 5 Poles 1 Front Row 2 Wins 1 Top 5 2 Top 10 2 Retired 2