American race driver and former President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He was born in Shelbyville, Indiana and competed in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1927.
He won the Indianapolis 500 race three times (1937, 1939 and 1940), becoming the second racer to win the event three times and the first to win in back-to-back seasons.
He was married to Cathleen Stearns.
He developed a friendship with World War I fighter ace Eddie Rickenbacker.
