South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-01
Two Drivers and a MeChani-
clan Killed, Two Others
Are Injured.
WILCOX TAKES EARLY LEAD
Race Most Spectacular Ever
Held on Indianapolis Speed
Way--ReCOrdS Shattered
By Associated Press

By Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, May 81
Howard Wilcox OF Indianapolis. to-
day won the seventh annual inter-
national sweepstakes race of 500
miles at the motor speedway. his
time for the distance being 5:44:2I
go. Two drivers, Arthur Thurman
and Louis Lecocq, and a mechani-
clan, X. Bandini, were killed during
the contest, and two others were in
5ured
As a result of his victory. Wilcox
wins prize OF 100000. Fifty thou
sand dollars was divided among the
first 10 drivers. The other prize
winners finished in order named:
Hearne. Goux. Guyot, De Palma.
=. Chevrolet. Vail, G. Chevrolet and
Thomas
Wilcox and Guyot were team
mates. Wilcox assumed the lead as
the contest approached the half
way mark, and drove consistently
throughout. He had two stops, once
FOR a tire change and on the other
occasion to take on gasoline, oil.
knuckle. His average was SIZE
miles an hour.
skaters All Records.
All records for the Indianapolis
speedway were shattered by Ralph
be Palma for the first 200 miles.
Long stays in the pits. however, put
the Italian driver almost entirely out
of the running, and il only was by
terrific speed that he managed 10
finish sixth. He barely nosed out
J.. Chevrolet
Arthur Thurman, driving a car he
had assembled himself, was killed
when his machine turned over on
the back stretch before the race had
progressed $50 miles. He was dead
when found. His mechanician re-
ceiyed a fractured skull and was
rushed 10 a hospital. where ne was
operated on Immediately.
Louis Lecocq and his assistant.
r. Bandini. were burned 10 death
when their car turned over and
caught ire. The accident happened
on the treacherous north turn and
the machine rolled over three times
before il stopped. pinning both
driver and mechanician under IT,
Frcnchmen Are Disappointment.
The showing OF number of
Trenchmen. made favorites at the
start because of their sensational
work in practice. was a disappoint-
ment TO a crowd estimated at 125,-
OOO. The terrific pace at the start
however, in which they were con-
sistently among the leaders. resulted
in many stops
wilcox has partaken in every 500
mile race held at the indianapolis
speedway. IL was his first victory.
however. OF the six half-thOusand
mile grinds-the seventh interna-
tlonaI sweepstakes was Tor "A dis
lance OF 500 miles-three local
drivers have finished first. Ray Har-
roun won in 1911 and Joe Dawson
in 1912.
The race was one of the most SEN
sationai ever held here. Broken
steering knuckles. the loss of which,
two cars overturning without serious
injury and the loss Of exhaust pipes
kept the crowd on edge from start
70 dnish. The electrical timing
device was broken when one car.
pulling In minus front wheel
caught the wire and tore II from It's
connections. This happened IN the
last so miles OF the race.
Al no time was the held strung
out. not more than two minutes sep
aratins the winner and the second
man. The remainder OF the fieid
was proportionstely punched.