Bill Cummings

Bill Cummings (November 11, 1906 Indianapolis, Indiana – February 8, 1939 Indianapolis, Indiana) nicknamed "Wild Bill", won the 1934 Indianapolis 500. Cummings died driving a passenger automobile on State Road 29 in Indianapolis, when he hit a guard rail and plunged 50 feet (15 m) into Lick Creek. Cummings was pulled from the water by passers-by while still alive,^[1] but died in the hospital two days later .^[2]

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1930 6 22 106.173 4 5 200 0 Running 1931 3 2 112.563 4 28 70 4 Oil line 1932 10 12 111.204 19 19 151 0 Crankshaft 1933 5 1 118.530 1 25 136 32 Radiator 1934 7 10 116.116 6 1 200 57 Running 1935 1 5 116.901 6 3 200 0 Running 1936 2 13 115.939 14 33 0 0 Clutch 1937 16 1 123.343 3 6 200 0 Running 1938 7 16 122.393 7 24 72 0 Radiator Totals 1229 93

Starts 9 Poles 2 Front Row 3 Wins 1 Top 5 3 Top 10 4 Retired 5

References

1. Associated Press, as published in the Albuquerque Journal, February 8th, 1939, page 2.
2. Injuries Kill Cummings Associated Press, as published in the New York Times, February 8th, 1939.