The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-06-05
GOUX IS WINNER
OF 5OO-M|LE RACE
Frenchman Averages 1889
Miles an Hour.
WINS $4,000 IN CASH
WIshart and Msrx Are Second and
Third, Respectively - Latter
Rides Last Lap With
Car Abiaxe.
WINS $4,000 IN CASH

indianapolis, June France gain
ed a sporting victory over America
ON the Indianapolis Speedway Friday
when Goux. driving Peugeot car.
won the 500-mile motor race. Wish
art. in an American Mercer, was
second. Merz, In an American-made
Stutz. captured third place.
His time was six hours 81 minutes
A3:45 seconds. an average of 1853
ternational honors. cash prizes worth
1896, 900, including the $4,000 cash
prize offered by the management Of
the speedway for the winner Of the
race, kiss from a dirt-covered me-
chanician, and q shower of champagne
made of grapes that grew in the coun-
try whence he came.
The worst wishes of the crowd were
with Goux throughout the race. Few
of the 100000 spectators who saw him
hoped he would carry the honors. cash
and trophies back to France. But
when his car flashed across the line, at
the end of the long grind he was
cheered as heartily as any OF the
American drivers would have been II
they had met the success the throng
was wishing for them.
Spencer Wishart. who drove Mer.
Ger car into second place at the finish
of the race. was given a kissless and
champagneless reception at the Mercer
pits, but his two hands. worn out by
the steady work at the wheel Of his
car. were shaken wildly by hundred
admirers He was lifted upon the
shoulders Of his pit men and cheered
with the enthusiasm equal to that &C
corded to the Frenchman. Last night
he was given a check for $4,000.
One OF the most remarkable bits OF
race car driving was staged by Charles
Merz In his Stutz car. when he drove
three and one-half miles, more than
one lap around the course, with his car
ablaze beneath the engine. and his me-
chanician and himself hardly able to
keep their seats on account Of the
flames that were licking at their legs
Merz was watched on his last lap by
the GREATNESS thousands who feared
his car would explode or that he would
be driven from the wheel by the
flames. Displaying almost unbelievable
nerve. he waved acknowledgment Of
the green flag flashed over him by
Starter Root as he crossed the finish
line for the next to the last time and
settled into the hot seat OF his car for
the final lap
Spectators remaining in tie grand
stands and bleachers were on their
feet straining for a glimpse of the IN
trepid young indianapolis driver as he
rounded the last curve and started
down the final stretch with tongues of
flames squirting from under the hood
Of his car, He could not have made
another lap. His car would have gone
to pieces in another mile. But it re.
manned intact and continued to do his
bidding until it limped across the fin
ish line and Merz was $4,000 weather.
Pit men had extinguishers ready and
extinguished the fire that soon would
have destroyed the car. Charles
Merz's father Is an indianapolis police
credit.
The other drivers who finished with.
in the prize money were, in order:
Theodore Pillette. in Mercedes
Knight.
Howard Wilcox, in Gray-Fox.
Special.
Ralph milford, In a Mercedes.
Louis Dsbrow, in a Case.
G.. II. Clark, in Tulsa
w. Haupt, in a Mason.