After seeing the performance of the European Grand Prix cars, Wilbur Shaw said he could guarantee a “500” victory using one. Team owner, Mike Boyle, took Shaw at his word and purchased a Maserati, sight unseen. The car that arrived was not the one he thought he had purchased. Boyle thought he was buying a supercharged, straight-eight car. What he got was a 91 cubic inch, supercharged, six-cylinder version of the car. Disappointed, Shaw backed out of the deal. Mauri Rose, future three-time 500 winner, agreed to drive the car, qualifying it on the third row. Rose made a respectable showing, running with the leaders for 165 laps until the Maserati’s supercharger gave out.
