Shaw held off Hepburn at the checkered flag by 2.16 seconds, the closest finish in Indy history to that point.
During the time trials held on May 28, the car of Overton Phillips burst into flames when his crankshaft broke and punctured the gas tank.
[4] * Bill Cummings' tenth lap of 125.139 mph was a one-lap Speedway track record at the time.
Johnson, who also rode with 1931 winner Louis Schneider, became the second two-time Indianapolis 500 winning riding mechanic.
Starting in the 1938 Indianapolis 500, riding mechanics were made optional, and would no longer be utilized in the race by any entrants.
[11] Late in the race, Wilbur Shaw held a comfortable lead, and had lapped second place Ralph Hepburn.
Shaw and his riding mechanic John "Jigger" Johnson were both suffering from burns due to the leaking oil.
As the car went in and out of the turns, the oil pressure was rising and dropping, and Shaw was calculating how much time he could give up per lap and still maintain the lead.
On the final lap Hepburn pulled to within a few seconds, and by the last turn he was directly behind Shaw and looking to pass him for the win.