The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-06-03
GOUX LANDS FIRST
FRENcHMAN CAPTURES 5oo-MiLI:
AUTO RACE AT INDlANAP-
OILS SPEEDWAY.
WINS $4,000 CASH PRlzI 1
,WIshert and Merz Are Second and
Third RespectiveIy-Lstter Drives
Full Lap With Head Of Machins
Wrapped in Flames.

E
Indianapolis, June 2.--France won
sporting victory over America Friday
on the Indianapolis Speedway when
Goux, driving Peugeot car, won the
500-mile motor race. Wishart, In an
American Mercer, was second Merz,
in an American-made Stutz, captured
third place.
Goux's time was six hours 81 min
utes 43:45 seconds, an average of
1859 miles on hour. His rewards were
international honors, cash prizes
worth $4,000, including the $4,000
cash prize offered by the management
of the speedway for the winner Of the
race, kiss from dirt-covered me
chanician, and shower OF champagne
made of grapes that grew in the coun-
try whence he came.
The worst wishes of the crowd were
with Groux 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
CASSIC0 d6 ASdIIllg CD ally VI $hO
American drivers would have been II
they had met the success the throng
was wishing for them.
Spencer Wishart, who drove a 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
80 oka Il at fhn xuho Of 17ic
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. 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-haif miles. more than
one lap around the course, with his car
abIaze beneath the engine, and his me
chanician and himself hardly able te
keep their seats on account OF the
flames that were licking at their legs
Merz was watched on his last lap by
the breathless thousands who feared
his car would explode or that he woult
be driven from the wheel by the
flames. Displaying almost unbellev
able nerve, he waved acknowledgment
of the green flag flashed over him b.
Starter Root as he crossed the frisi
line for the next to the last time ant
settled into the hot seat Of his car fc
the final lap.
Spectators remaining In the gran'
stands and bleachers were on thei
feet straining for glimpse of the In
trepid young indianapolis driver as h.
rounded the last curve and starte'
down the final stretch with tongues o
flames squirting from under the hoo
of his car He could not have mad
another lap. His car would have gon
to pieces in another mile. But 1t re
rnained intact and continued TO do hi
bidding until 1t limped across the fir
ish line and Merz was $500
weather.. Pit men had extinguisaer
ready and extinguished the fire tha
soon would have destroyed the cal
Charles Merz's father is an IndianaI
oils policeman with record for bra,
cry to his credit.
Another Frenchman, Delbert Grlyo
driving an English made car. the Sur
beam, drove a consistent race t
fourth place and a prize OF $3,600 H
was more of favorite with the crow
than Goux on account of numerou
brushes he had with other cars |
front of the main grandstand, wher
he showed wonderful control OF hi
mount and left trail of smoke fo
the other cars to travel in.
The other drivers who finished will
in the prize money were. in order:
Theodore Pillette, in Mercedes
Knight
Howard Wilcox, In Gray-Fo
Special
Ralph Mulford, in a Mercedes.
Louis DisbroW, in Case.
G. H. Clark, in Tulsa.
W. Haupt. in Mason.
Another year went into motor ra
Ing history with a 5Q0-mile race wit
out the loss of a life. Only one acc
dent marred the racing. Jack Towe
driving Mason Special and Lee GU
ming. his mechaniciar, were throw
from the car on the southeast turn
the course and the car oVerturne
Towers leg was broken and GuTn1n
suffered three fractured ribs. Neiths
was In danger of dying. according
an official report by the speesiwa
management