Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-31
AUTO SPEED DEMONS
SMASH RECORDS IN
GREAT 5OO-MILE GO
Anderson, in Stutz, Beats
Best 50-mile Run and
r e S t a Tops 100-mile
Mark-Peugeot in Lead
at $50 Miles.

SPEEDWAY. indianapolis. Ind, May
Sl.-The fifth international 500-mIle
sweepstakes automobile race started
promptly at 10 a. M today under weather
conditions most favorable for speed. Only
"a cars started. This small number,
coupled with the cool weather and the
fact that the racers had In preliminary
tests averaged faster than for any pre-
vious race, indicated that past records of
the gasoline derby" would fall,
In the front row were the four cars
that made the fastest time in the elim-
nation tests. They were, in the order
named, Wilcoxs Stutz, De Palma's Mer-
cedes, Restas Pugeot and Cooper's Stutz.
They represented the best bets" from
the grandstand viewpoint.
De Palma was the favorite, with Will
cox and Resta following close. The three
Stutz cars and De Palma We'd with each
other for popularity in the stands.
The Stars and Stripes were in the same
line with the German flag and the ban
ners of France and England when In
diana guardsmen marched In parade be-
fore the stands There was only scatter
ing applause. The International aspect of
this race wis borne in upon the watchers
Resta's Peugeot, No. g. distanced Will
cox and De Palma by few yards in the
first lap, but the StutZ and De Palma's
German racer passed him on the second.
The order of the first five cars In that lap
was WlcoX's Stutz, De Palmas Mer-
cedes Resta's Pnugeot; Cooper's Stutz
and Rickenbacker's Maxwell. The time
of the first lap was 1:39:2o, or an aver
age of 80 miles an hour.
The three leaders at % miles were gill
Anderson in Stutz; Resta and Porpor
alto. Ralph De Palma was fourth.
A new record was hung up by Anderson
for the so miles which he negotiated in
33:2l:9O, an average of s9.91 miles an hour.
The former record for 80 miles was made
on this course last year by Thomas, the
Delage driver, at S6 miles an hour.
Cox was declared out of the race after
l3 laps, his pump gear breaking.
Hills's Buggatetti car was the first of
the foreign makes to drop out. He was
forced TO quit on the back stretch on ac-
count of engine trouble.
Gil Anderson. still leading the race Is
miles, had made the distance In 50:O2:77,
an average of 1921. Behind him came
Resta, Ralph DePalma, Porporato, Cooper
and Rickenbacher.
Just after he had finished the 10 miles,
Anderson was forced to change two tires.
He accomplished this in Al second and
was away, the SHOUTS OIL inc CTOWu
drowning the thunderous popping OF his
motors.
Resta's Peugeot, leading at the 10O-mile
mark. had broken all records for that
distance, He made the forty laps in 1907
30.l4. an average OF SS,SS miles. The best
previous average was $3.50.
The order of leading cars at the 100
mile mark was: Resta's Peugeot, De
Palma's Mercedes Cooper's Stutz, Por-
-. fotra
well, Van Raalte's Sunbeam, Anderson's
stutz. Grants Sunbeam and Burman's
Peugeot.
At 15O miles go laps) Resta's Peogeot
was leading, followed by De Palma's
Mercedes. Van Raaltes Sunbeam. Rick
enbacker's Maxwell and Anderson's
Stutz. Resta's average was S9.43 miles.
A neck-and d-neck brush between De
Palma's Mercedes and Resta's Peugeot
resulted unfavorably for the Italian
driver. He was forced to draw into the
pits to change tire. He lost one min
ute. Resta gained nearly a lap.
On his 44th lap Porporato in the Eng
lish Sunbeam stopped at the pit and
changed three tires in SS seconds. a new
record.
An aevrage speed of 1913 miles an hour
was being maintained at the end of l2h
miles. The leaders were running In the
following order: Resta, Ralph DePalma
and Wilcox.
on account of a loose hywheel. John
DePalma was forced to withdraw at the
10th mile post,
At the end of 1S5 miles Resta led, but
De Palma was only Is feet behind These
two stars were driving The most thrilling
race ever seen here. After the first 25
miles never more than so yards separated
them. At the end OF his 67th lap Resta
was forced 20 stop to change two tires
and take on water and gasoline. He had
been driving without a stop. Resta was
back in the race with only a slight loss
OF time. but the stop cost him the lead,
De Palma having snatched It from him
by more than a mile,