# 1915 Indianapolis 500

The 5th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1915. The traditional race date of May 30 fell on a Sunday, but race organizers declined to schedule the race for Sunday. The race was set for Saturday May 29, but heavy rains in the days leading up to the race flooded the grounds and made some roads leading to the track impassible. Officials decided to postpone the race until Monday May 31 in order to allow the grounds to dry out. Speedway management would maintain their policy to not race on Sundays until 1974.
After a loss in 1912, Ralph DePalma succeeded in victory for 1915. DePalma was accompanied by riding mechanic Louis Fountaine.

## Starting grid

| Row | Inside | Inside | Inside Center | Inside Center | Outside Center | Outside Center | Outside | Outside |
| 1 | 1 | Howdy Wilcox | 2 | Ralph DePalma | 3 | Dario Resta R | 4 | Earl Cooper |
| 2 | 5 | Gil Andersen | 6 | Jean Porporato R | 8 | Bob Burman | 9 | Art Klein |
| 3 | 10 | Tom Alley R | 14 | Harry Grant | 15 | Eddie O'Donnell R | 12 | George C. Babcock R |
| 4 | 17 | John DePalma R | 7 | Noel van Raalte R | 18 | Joe Cooper R | 19 | Billy Carlson |
| 5 | 21 | Tom Orr R | 22 | Ralph Mulford | 24 | John A. Mais R | 23 | Eddie Rickenbacker |
| 6 | 25 | C. C. Cox R | 26 | George Hill R | 27 | Louis Chevrolet R | 28 | Willie Haupt |

## Box score

| Finish | Start | No | Name | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Qual | Rank | Laps | Status |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | Ralph DePalma | E. C. Patterson | Mercedes | Mercedes | 98.580 | 2 | 200 | Running |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | Dario Resta R | Peugeot Auto Import Company | Peugeot | Peugeot | 98.470 | 3 | 200 | Running |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | Gil Andersen (Johnny Aitken) | Stutz Motor Car Company | Stutz | Stutz | 95.140 | 5 | 200 | Running |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | Earl Cooper (Johnny Aitken) | Stutz Motor Car Company | Stutz | Stutz | 96.770 | 4 | 200 | Running |
| 5 | 11 | 15 | Eddie O'Donnell R | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 88.93 | 11 | 200 | Running |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | Bob Burman | Bob Burman | Peugeot | Peugeot | 92.400 | 7 | 200 | Running |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | Howdy Wilcox | Stutz Motor Car Company | Stutz | Stutz | 98.900 | 1 | 200 | Running |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | Tom Alley R | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 90.000 | 9 | 200 | Running |
| 9 | 16 | 19 | Billy Carlson (Hughie Hughes) | United States Motor Company | Maxwell | Maxwell | 84.110 | 16 | 200 | Running |
| 10 | 14 | 7 | Noel van Raalte R | Sunbeam Motor Car Company | Sunbeam | Sunbeam | 86.870 | 14 | 200 | Running |
| 11 | 24 | 28 | Willie Haupt | R. E. Donaldson | Emden | Emden | 80.360 | 24 | 200 | Running |
| 12 | 10 | 14 | Harry Grant | Fortuna Racing Team, Inc. | Sunbeam | Sunbeam | 89.29 | 10 | 184 | Loose mud apron |
| 13 | 17 | 21 | Tom Orr R (Billy Carlson) | United States Motor Company | Maxwell | Maxwell | 83.550 | 17 | 168 | Axle bearing |
| 14 | 6 | 6 | Jean Porporato R | Sunbeam Motor Car Company | Sunbeam | Sunbeam | 94.740 | 6 | 164 | Piston |
| 15 | 15 | 18 | Joe Cooper R | E. E. Miles & J. W. Gwin | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 85.550 | 15 | 154 | Crash SC |
| 16 | 18 | 22 | Ralph Mulford (Billy Chandler) | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 82.720 | 18 | 124 | Rod |
| 17 | 12 | 12 | George C. Babcock R | Peugeot Auto Import Company | Peugeot | Peugeot | 89.46 | 12 | 117 | Cylinder |
| 18 | 8 | 9 | Art Klein (Billy Chandler) | Art Klein | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 90.450 | 8 | 111 | Smoking |
| 19 | 20 | 23 | Eddie Rickenbacker | United States Motor Company | Maxwell | Maxwell | 81.970 | 20 | 103 | Rod |
| 20 | 23 | 27 | Louis Chevrolet R | Louis Chevrolet | Cornelian | Sterling | 81.010 | 23 | 76 | Valve |
| 21 | 13 | 17 | John DePalma R | James E. Watson | Delage | Delage | 87.040 | 13 | 41 | Loose flywheel |
| 22 | 19 | 24 | John A. Mais R | John A. Mais | Mais | Mercer | 81.970 | 19 | 23 | Left course |
| 23 | 22 | 26 | George Hill R | C. W. Fuller | Bugatti | Bugatti | 81.520 | 22 | 20 | Water pump gear |
| 24 | 21 | 25 | C. C. Cox R | Edward D. McNay | Cino | Mercer | 81.520 | 21 | 12 | Timing gears |
Note: Relief drivers in parentheses
W Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie

### Race statistics

Lap Leaders :
| Laps | Leader |
| 1 | Dario Resta |
| 2–6 | Howdy Wilcox |
| 7–32 | Gil Andersen |
| 33–61 | Dario Resta |
| 62–127 | Ralph DePalma |
| 128–134 | Dario Resta |
| 135–200 | Ralph DePalma |
Total laps led :
| Laps | Leader |
| Ralph DePalma | 132 |
| Dario Resta | 37 |
| Gil Andersen | 26 |
| Howdy Wilcox | 5 |

## Race details

* For 1915, riding mechanics were required.
* When about 2,000 unsuspecting fans showed up on May 29 for the race (which had already been rescheduled to May 31), Ralph DePalma entertained the fans with a tire changing exhibition.

## Gallery

* 1915 winning car
* Composite image showing the front row at the start of the 1915 Indianapolis 500
* Ralph DePalma at the 1915 Indianapolis 500