New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-30
SPEED MAD CROWDS
GATHER FOR BIG RACE
Thousands Throng INDIANAPOLIS
on Eve of Great Auto Fixt.
ure on the Speedway.
TWENTY-SEVEN TO ENTER
Fabulous Prices Paid for Seats
by Spectators, Who Have
Come from All Parts Of
the United States.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune.


Indianapolis, May 29.-Twentv-seve,
cars. the fastest speed creations a,
America and Europe, will start at "A
o'clock tomorrow morning IN the annual
5O0-mile race on the motor speedway
This was the official announcement this
evening after the last Of the qualifying
laps had been finished. Originally therA
were thirty-one entries. but the field was
reduced by the withdrawal Of the
Stearns- Knight Deltal Smada and Sham
baugh. none Of which could be prepared
in time 10 go 10 the line.
Never in its history has the Hooaer
capital housed 50 many strangers az
tonight In spite OF the fact that AZ.
commodations have been greatly in.
creased i'm the last year there have been
no rooms available in any OF the hotels
for the last three nights. and Thousands
Of citizens have thrown open their homes
70 relieve the situation. Since early this
afternoon the roads leading 10 the city
have been damned with automobiles car
rying enthusiasts from all parts Of the
country. and as the local garages cannot
take care or the crush, the downtown
streets have been utilized as parking
spaces. walk Of two blocks IN any di.
rection shows the license tags Of nearly
every state I'm the Upion, even the Pacific
Coast sending its quota Of visitors 1ho
travelled overland in their machines
At the headquarters OF the Speedway
company throughout the day ticket buy
ers stood in rows three deep willing TO
pay practically any price for choice seats
and unable to get what they wanted. II
Is estimated that the race will be watched
by from 5000 10 5000 persons, AT an eI-
pense Of not less that $4,000 FOR seats
alone.
No one can see the race from a seat FOR
less than 81. and the prices range from
that I'd 70 So. Parking spaces are selling
from s. 10 SIS. and almost any amour,
could be obtained from late corners FOR
points along the homestretch.
The last four cars qualified to-day BY
making a circuit Of the two-and-a-hall.
mile track at rate Of speed equal to
seventy-fve miles an hour or more. They
were Ralph de Palma's Mercer which got
out on a slippery track in the morning and
was nursed carefully on the turns Ietz'
LARS Isotta. Grants Isotta and Knippers
Henderson. None Of the quartet ap-
proached the best time OF the earlier
speeders. The honor Of the fastest time
i'm the trial spins goes 70 Jack Towers
Mason. which negotiated the distance az
a speed OF more than eighty-sevcn miles
an hour.
A year ago to-day Ralph De Palma was
a decided favorite for the great prize. DIS
mount then being a Mercedes This year
he drives a Mercer. and curiously enough
is not, even expected 10 be a strong con
tender. II he is il vii he an eleventh
hour miracle. FOR Ralph has had nothing
but trouble for the last week. The climax
came Yesterday when his motor heated
badly.
II was pulled down to-day, disclosing
frozen wrist pin. The crew VII. work d.
top speed tonight on tie car. which VIII
also be fitted with p pair % new Cyl
inders. and the chances are sreap
against its going through 10 way 10 oe
formidable. Braggs and Wisharts cars
however. arc IN beautiful shape The ue
pendence OF the Trenton team appears 10
lie in Wlshart's car. baby IN size a.
compared with the other two.
There is plenty Of open bettins N u'1
city. and the bettors have no stFohs
favorite. on actual figures the choios
goes 10 the Mercer trio. largely on a''
count Of the prominence OF IT'S drivers
The second place OF honor Is occupied 0,
the Stutz trio, followed by the French
Pugeots. The Mason cars, the lsot'aA
Bob Burman's Keeton. Guyots sunbeam
the three Cases and Billy Knipper's Hen
derson are also attracting support WIN
nearly all Of the others The hettor 90
write his own price and the hooSmaAs"
are willing 70 allow It.