The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-30
FAMOUS DRIVERS
To- COMPETE FOR
SPEEDWAY HONOR
French and American Drivers
Predominate in Automobile
Race Contenders Saturday.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. May 30.-The
stage u Get for the greatest automobile
races ever held at the Indianapolis
Speedway, Saturday. Never In the
history Of the racing ventures has
such huge assemblage of drivers Of
international tame competed u rae
ing carnival.
The galaxy OF star drivers Tar ex-
ceeds expectations and promises to
produce some record breaking speed
most drivers Of the new and old world
win compete for international honors.
Only one other race ever eQuailed the
sise OF the Indianapolis race, the Grand
Prix Of France which has been inter.
dicted this year until 1890.
Among the gasoline contenders. the
French and Americans will predomi-
nate. The French drivers who will ap-
pear on the tracks are Rene Thomas,
jules Goux, Andre Boillot, Louis -Wag-
ner. Paul Bablott and Albert Guyot.
AL Of the French maryels won honors
IN the late wars. Jules Goux fought
four years ~ lieutenant and Andre
Boillot II the French ace, with q count
Of - Boohe planes. He In the young
est driver entered.
RIoksnhaeker 10 Referee.
Among the American contenders
Lieut.. Arthur Klein who was an avia-
tor, Ralph DePaimA and George Blu
zane who assisted In designing the IA.
nous Liberty motors. Joseph Boyer,
Jr.. though . millionaire, enlisted as
. private and P. W. Monahan served
as doughboy.
The biggest American who served IN
the war will not be driver but an Of
ficial-Eddie Rickenbacker. Americas
Ace OF Aces. Rickenbacker returns to
his former scene Of triumphz as ref
cree OF the great event. II Is expect
ed that he will receive the greatest
ovation In racing history when he
steps on the track.
DePalma 10 Favored.
The driver who stands highest In
America II Ralph DePalma. The big.
gest bet Of the European drivers Is
heralded as Jules Goux. Durope's en-
try this year comprises every racer OF
fame who survived the war, and while
Americas entry list surpasses Eur
opes in size. the Fasteners are ex-
pected to make 1t up in speed. Goux
was the first pilot ever to win a Hoos-
Ter race. Goux will drive Q speedy
Peugot this year
The Ballot team Is being viewed
with some anxiety. It Is composed Of
Rene Thomas who led In the elimina-
ton races. Albert Guyot, Louis Wag-
ner and Paul Bablott. Thomas won
the Indianapolis event in 1914 and
Guyot finished third at the same time.
All have won on American tracks
Saturday the racers will tune up
ready for the start and at II o'clock
Saturday morning the 33 contestants
win be off for the five or six-hour
grind that will require each driver to
be in excellent physical and mental
shape besides having a reliable speed
car
Track Clear Today.
None of the drivers of the 33 auto
mobiles qualified for the 500-mile
Sweepstake races at the Indianapolis
speedway here today were permitted
on the track today. The qualification
trials having been completed last
night, workmen today were securing
all oil and dirt from the tracks, and
the drivers were putting finishing
touches to their cars. The race is
scheduled to start at II o'clock Satur.
day morning and the qualification
trials indicate an averaeg speed of
more than 80 miles an hour is possible.
Rene Thomas, winner of the 1914
race, made the best speed in the quail.
ffication events, driving his car at a
speed of 104.7 miles an hour. Seven
of the 33 machines made better than
100 miles an hour in the elimination
trials.