Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-29
Five Nations to Contend
for Honors on Indian
apolis Course.
FRANCE HAS FAv0RITE
81 Machines Are Ready to Start
in Gasoline Battle for Dec
oration Day Money.
Especial to The Argus.)

! Especial to The ArgusD
Indianapolis, Ind, May 29.-With 80
of the worlds fastest cars in line, the
annual 500 mile race on the Indian
apoiis motor speedway, tomorrow, only
needs good weather to make it perfect.
| Concerning the latter contingency Carl
| Fisher, head of the organization stag
| ing the event, says he has no fear, his
old stand by, DeVoe's weather al
manac, having predicted clear sky.
De Voc has never played him false.
Fisher says, and, therefore, ne is will
ing to gamble on his judgment, despite
the assertion of meteorological experts
who declare it is impossible to tell
anything about the matter more than
"a hours ahead.
All of the races held on the speed
way to date have been run under most
favorable circumstances, even though
bad weather was common in the i'm
mediate vicinity. On one occasion 1t
rained as close as 25 miles around, the
scene of the race, however, remained
undisturbed.
Almost as important as fair weather
is the temperature, as on this de-
pends very largely whether the pres
ent record, held by Dawson, is broken
or not. Tires stand up well only IL
kept cool. The amount of heat gen.
Grated by the track, therefore. is vital.
Heat Held a Handicap.
On this subject De Voc again has to
impart some very interesting infor-
nation, predicting a hot, sultry con-
test, with lots of warmth both before
and after. If this representation
should hold good, Dawson's mark is
liable to remain untouched, even
though the aspirants to his crown are
much faster.
Speed on a hot day may go so far
as to prove handicap, rather than a
help, tempting a driver to travel fast
er than he ought, and thus fetching
him to the pits for tire changes much
than necessary. During one
of these moments a more conservative
is liable to slip ahead and
win.
The crowd at the contest seems as
sured, advance seats sales being about
40 per cent ahead of last season.
though ther are still a good many
uSSlTdDlo iOCdllOHS W DS udu Ap-
100000 people are expect
ed.
Indianapolis hotel and rooming IA
cilities are ample to take care of every
even in the event of post
ponement to the following Monday, the
speedway and the newspapers cooper
ating to accommodate all visitors. None
need roam for want of place to lay
his head.
Even so, there will be many to deco
rate the streets the entire night be-
fore the contest, many old timers prid-
ing themselves on their ability to stay
up and greet the dawn the morning
Of the race, fresh as daisies, and ready
for the time of their lives. -
From All Parts of Compass.
A more cosmopolitan gathering is
seldom seen at a sporting event From
all parts of the world they come. Lon
don, Calcutta and Swayaee. High and
low mingle in motely throng that is
unrivaled anywhere in the world for
color and brilliancy. Motor cars by
the thousands are parked in the speed
way enclosure. 1t is the largest annual
display of automobiles on the face of
the globe
The field is altogether the most for.
midable brought together for a gaso-
ine contest. five nations being repre-
sented among the cars, and four
among the drivers. Prior to the elimi-
nation trials. Wednesday, there were
six, the detection of Italy's hope. the
sofia, being responsible for the reduc-
ion.
Chances In the race are thought to
,e evenly divided among Peugeot. sun
,eam, Delage, Maxwell and Mercer.
With a slight shade. perhaps, in favor
f the first named. because of their
uperior showing in practice. Max
Iell's lap of 1:33:40. registered by
'etzlaff. Tuesday. easily placed 1t
mong the leaders, odds dropping at
phenomenal rate against 1t.