Sept 30, at the Sheepshead Bay Speedway), and the 1916 Harkness Trophy Race (100 miles, Oct 28, also at Sheepshead Bay). Aitken is credited as co-winner of the American Grand Prize race, which was held at the Santa Monica Road Race Course on Nov 18, 1916. He started the race, but was the first driver to drop out, when his car suffered a broken piston after one lap. On Lap 21, he took over the car which had started the race being driven by Howdy Wilcox. Aitken drove that car for the remainder of the race, completing 28 of the total 48 laps, finishing first. Aitken, therefore, was credited with both first and last place. (Such scoring would not take place under the current rules of most racing series.) Aitken died on October 15, 1918 of bronchopneumonia from the Influenza pandemic of 1918. Indianapolis 500 results References Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; . Galpin, Darren; A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I. http://www.motorsport.com/stats http://www.champcarstats.com Dill, Mark; "A Forgotten Classic;" 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Official Program; Indianapolis Motor Speedway. External links 1885 births 1918 deaths Racing drivers from Indianapolis Indianapolis 500 drivers Indianapolis 500 polesitters Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic in the United States AAA Championship Car drivers