Imperial Valley press., 1914-05-30
THOMAS LEADING
IN SPEED CONTEST
Omitted Press Day service)

|
bile race on the Speedway started at
9:59. Chessagne, Tetzlaff and Will
cox started first. Gilsooley drove the
Isotta instead Of Da Palma and Goux
was favorite at betting. Wilcox COW
cred the first lap at an average Of
"a miles an hour. Chassagne over
turned in the first lap, but he and his
mechanician escaped unhurt and con-
tinued the race.
! Gilhooley overturned in the forty
first lap, and Dawson was upset at
the same time. The management re-
ported King, the latter's mechanician,
badly injured, and Dawson slightly.
Other reports that Gilhooley also was
hurt.
Thomas is leading the first 100
miles in 1:OO:39.9, a new worlds rec
ord.
oldfeld crossed the tape last in the
first lap. During the first fifteen min
utes many drivers were forced to stop
on account of tire trouble due to heat
In the tenth mile, Christisens, driving
an Excelsior, led. In the fifteenth
lap Goux took the lead, closely fol-
lowed by Thomas. The lead alternated
in the next twenty laps, until the
hundredth mile, when Thomas led, Du-
ray Guyot, Christisens, Wishard and
Bragg following in order.
At the end of 800 miles Thomas was
leading. At the end of $50 miles more
than half of the drivers were out.
Indianapolis, May 30.-The greatest
aggregation of automobile pilots ever
gathered for one race spun around
the speedway oval five abreast just
before 10 o'clock today behind the
pacemaking car of Carl Fisher, wait
ing for his signal to dash forward
into the 5OO-mile motor race de luxe
Thirty drivers chosen with extreme
care from the worlds best, manned
powerful racing machines that had
been prepared in every possible way
for the 200 laps, which might mean
fame or death. The annual Speedway
is recognized as the worlds greatest
motor event. Entries this year
eclipsed those of all former years.
Two foreign drivers, at the wheels
of foreign cars which under their
guidance have captured every Euro
pean trophy of much value, were most
| feared by the American contingent.
These were GouX and Boillot, drivers
of Peougeot cars-the flower of
France in drivers and machines. GouX
won the race last year, but shared with
his racing partner the distinction of
being today's favorite, for Boillot is
the premier driver Of France.
Ranking close to the two French
men, and far overtopping them in
popular favor were Bob Burman the
worlds speed king" holder until re-
Gently of the Speedway lap record,
is driving his own car; Barney Old
field, the dean of the auto racing game
and most widely known of them all;
Spencer Wishart, New York million
aire sportsman who finished next to
Goux last year; Joe Dawson, Speed
way winner in 1912; Ray Harroun,
Speedway winner in 1911; Earl Coop
err, American road-racing champion;
Gil Anderson, eastern road champion;
Teddy Tetzlaff, holder of the worlds
road record, and Howard Wilcov, hold
er of the worlds mile stock straight
away. Ralph De Palma and Ralph
milford, prominent American drivers,
also were entered.
For the first time since the Speed
way was opened, every winner OF this
event in past years is in the race
today. Ray Harroun, silent and un-
communicative, kept secret until the
last moment his determination to
drive the third Maxwell. He won the
first 5OO-mile Speedway race since
| 1911 with the Marmon Wasp. This
is his first Speedway race since that
time. He had decided to retire, but
remained active as chief Of the Max
well spad. When one by one the big
drivers were chosen for this race and
none was left for his third racer
Ray decided that rtaher than take one
of the fifteen eliminated men he would
drive the car himself.
Joe Dawson, winner with National
in 1912, is driving Marmon today.
His steady driving allowed him to
snatch the laurels from De Palma
when the latter's engine went bad in
| tho Ia ST two 1apS Dawson recently