The Disaster in Las Vegas

Why on earth did anyone think it would be a good idea to run a 34 car field on a mile and a half oval? That's half again as many open wheel cars as are usually run on that size of track.

Edit: I was sitting here trying to think of the last time the winner of the Five Hundred didn't live until the end of the season. I think it was George Robson in 1946. He was English also. Curiously enough, he was driving the same car that Floyd Roberts was killed in in 1938, the previous winner not to last out the season.