The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
NATIONAL CAR
HOLDS RECORD
Leads List Of American En-
tries in Famous Speed :
way Events.
DAWSON SHOWS SPEED
Made Extra Lap Faster Than Others
Just to Exhibit Real Speed Be-
fore Great Crowd.

indianapolis. May 2.-Unusual interest
ID being evidenced in the matter Of rec
ords and the nationalities Of the contes-
tants for the coming 500-mile raceS here.
more than ever before the nationality Of
the drivers and the cars is being dis
cussed. This undoubtedly Is because
the foreign countries are now In the
hmeiight as never before.
Inat an American car will win is be-
ing fervently prayed for by racing enthu-
siasts
National Tops List.
The one car that has stood undefeated
the longest in the International Speed
way 5o0-mile race is the National No. s
that won the 1912 event. breaking the
1911 record. 1t held its international
record against the attacks of the for
eign invaders in the 1918 race when
Jules Goux In his French Peugeot car
captured first place. And No. s still
holds the record for made in L. S. A."
cars
There may never be another race run
with such dramatic features as the one
in which Dawson won. 1t was a battle
royal between the foreign car, Mercedes.
driven by Ralph De Palma, and the for
eign Fiat car driven by Teddy Tetzlaff
third. the American defender. was hem
med in between terrific competition.
Many thought that De Palma had the
race won easily. but there were actually
several engineers in the repair pits who
all along claimed that the car Ralph was
could not stand the pace. No one would
detract an iota from the glory of what
De Palma did. but his performance is
not part Of the official records, as the
race Is for 500 miles, no less. and no
matter how we'll a car may go for a part
of It. the officials recognize nothing but
those who finish. 1t Is also interesting
to learn from the National factory
that 1t was the car made almost entirely
OF stock parts that won the first place
for the National builders and upheld the
glory Of the stars and stripes.
showed Crowd Real Speed.
The National men who managed the
race were criticised by some because of
their conservative tactics in not making
Dawson beat it, more during the race.
But they are credited with having figured
out pretty well that the speed to win
would be just about that which Dawson
and held fast to their con-
viction.
1t was spectacular to see Dawson make
an extra lap-two miles and a half
after he had won the race. letting his
mount out to almost the limit just to
show the crowds that 1t is there
The National Company. although not
having entered any races since. has been
in all the succeeding events.
John Aitken managed the repair pits and
signal instructions to Jules Goux. who
won in 1919, and also the Peugeot pit last
year when the Peugeot car. driven by
Boilet. was putting up such a desperate
bid for first place, only to be deferred
by an unfortunate accident.
In addition to Athens work at the
track, the National factory has always
been generous in extending assistance to
all contenders who were In need of fac
tory help. Last year about nine cars
we're at one time or another worked upon
1t the National factories. Most of these
we're foreigners. who were far from their
base Of supplies" This year among
hose who are availing themselves of the
equipment and racing experience of the
National factory are Porporato. with his
English Sunbeam: Barney Oldfeld. with
he Italian Busgati; De Palma. with the
French Delage, and Resta, with the
French Peugeot