Friday 30th May 1947

Bill Holland led 143 laps of the Indianapolis 500 before being overtaken by team mate Mauri Rose. The team had displayed an ‘EZY’ signal, telling the drivers to hold station to the finish. Holland thought Rose was a lap behind and let him past. Rose won again but on sheer pace next year and Holland finally won in 1949. Rose was fired by the team after the 1949 race when he again ignored orders and tried to pass Holland, only for his car to fail. Only 30 cars started the 1947 race because of a union dispute.