Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-19
is HOOOIER RACE TOO LONG2
Experts Of Opinion that Drivers Will
Not Stand Strain.
PoMT To PREvIoUs FAnUREs
occasion when Machines Left the
Track Under weakened Control
Of pilots Used as Horrible
Example.

NEW YORK. March 1S-The importance
that the Indianapolis speedway's 5oo-mile
race has attained is causing motorists TO
figure out its every angle. Indisputably
it will be the big event OF the pre-autumn
season. Il viii attract the fastest cars in
this country and many foreign machines;
II will carry the highest prize money that
has ever been offered for an automobile
race meet and IL will be the longest con-
test OF its kind ever attempted on speed
way. 1t Is this latter phase that has
caused lively discussion among racing folks
for the last few days.
The general opinion appears to be that
the promoters have made the distance too
long: that it is too great strain on man
and machine. 1t is doubted II either viii
be able to stand up under the terrific rack
ing of 500 miles at faster than a mile to
the minute. The American Automobile
Contest association is considering the
danger to drivers, the manufacturers to
their cars.
Won't Split Money.
Last year there was a rule to the effect
that a driver could not be at the wheel
longer than five hours at a time. Esti-
mates place the running time OF the GOO
mile race at seven hours. In compliance
with the requests of drivers that they be
allowed to keep their seats from start to
finish, a new rule has been drawn by the
American Automobile association. 1t is 20
] the effect that the referee will judge a
drivers fitness TO remain in the race after
the five-hour mark. The entrants wanted
some rule of this sort. They did not feel
/ like sharing the prize money with some
other pilot II it possibly could be avoided
AS a consequence there are going on
the assumption that they will be able to
stand the strain of seven hours at the
steering wheel 1t is doubtful II any will
be able to perform the feat.
Speaking on this subject a racing author
ity said.
In my opinion, that 5OO-mile race at
Indianapolis will never be finished. You
will remember that they tried to run a
SOO-mile contest at indianapolis last year.
They had to stop It. The cars were veer-
! ing off the track crashing through fences
and into crowds After a certain dis
lance of driving a track the drivers
lose control. II they could not finish a
SOO-mile race. what will happen in this 500
mile contest? Consider, also, that the
speed will be much higher than was the
case in the SOO-mile event. This. Of course,
means a greater physical and mental
strain.
Question of Eye strain.
''why are drivers unable to complete
long distances on a speedway when they
are in road contests? That seems hard,
! but it's an easy one to answer. Imagine
YOU are a driver. You let out your car
in a long race on the speedway. For a
time everything goes we'll. Your car is
wEirling round and round and the scenery
sweeps past i'm monotonous blur. At 200
miles this blur commences to affect you.
| There is nothing for the eye but the band
of track, trimmed by the monotonous blur
Of white. Gradually this affects the eyes.
| The car commences to streak erratically
from its course More attention is de-
manded on the steering wheel. Later the
mind becomes dazed and the sight dulIed.
| The steady whirl has caused II. There are
only two ways for your semi-conscious-
ness to be relieved. Either the car will
shoot off the track or the referee will
save your life by stopping the contest.
This is what happened to most of the