George Bailey (racing driver)

George Vernon Bailey (September 25, 1900 – May 7, 1940)[1] was an American racecar driver active in the 1930s. He was killed in a crash during practice for the 1940 Indianapolis 500, when his gasoline tank exploded. He lost control of his car and skidded sideways into a concrete wall. It spun back across the track and hit the inside guard rail, causing the gasoline tank to explode. Bailey died shortly after.[2]

Bailey became the first competitor to drive a rear-engined car in the Indianapolis 500 when he contested the 1939 race in a Gulf-Miller.[3]