The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-14
RESTA'S TITLE
 MAY BE SEIZED
 IN AUTO EVEN l

Indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 14.-The stars of the speed world will resume the battle for the national driving championship with the race on the new Los Angeles Speedway February 21, and endeavor to lower the coIors of Dario Resta, crowned "King" in 1916, This will be the first champion ship since the war. It is decided up- on a point basis and the award is made by the A. A. A. Contest Board. the governing body of major league automobile racing. The rules gov- erning the championship control the amount of prize, money offered by setting a minimum per mile. It is a1- so provided that the five leading driv- CTS during the season must compete lin a. championship event. This will prevent 8 star from picking his fa- vorite courses, unless he is below the fifth man at the time.
 An~honor which Is held in even | greater esteem than the championship medal is to win the Indianapolis 500 mile event. This will be a champion
 ship race and figure n the award but | the individual driver would gladly sell | his championship chances if assured l the Indianapolis victory.
 There are several reasons for this attitude. The rich purse of $5O,000 is factor but not in the same pro- | portion as the fame that goes to the l victor for the race rs international | in reputation as well as in name and | has been won with a foreign car since I1912. Another reason for a driver to 1 be envious of this claim to fame is i that the victory Is hard earned. Driv- ing 500 miles on the bricks at Indian apolis is equivalent to 1000 miles or the average board speedway, because it takes driving skill and brute strength to keep a car on the Indian apolis course. Winning where it is a battle of wits and competing witf the best European drivers makes the Indianapolis event a choice plum. I is also noticeable that no man who has had skill, ability, or was iu pos
 ition when the opportunity offered tt
 step out and win, has lost his life
 the seven winners will not compete
 but the five who are still active il
 racing will be present May 31st.
 The race itself will be watched witl
 interest the world over. In this coun
 try it will be studied by engineers fo
 it is the first major event in whicl the small engines of 1S3-cubic inche or under. will compete. The spec l this year will be a topic for many "hot stove league" when baseball
 dope pales, for it is not unlikel that the small cars will show as mucl speed as the big cars did on tn
 bricks. However, this can only b
 proved after the race is run, but ca
 be accurately guaged in the tim
 trials, where the driver must do te instead of the conventional 2 1-2 mile
 to qualify
 e European engineers have long az t voiced the praises of the small hig ; speed engine and the little motor = have been tested in events across tn e water. Europe will be interested i n the race from this standpoint, as we q as the performance of the cars it wi = send.
 t. Because it is the longest race Y the year on any track, which wi v conduct championship races under l e A. A. supervision, the Indianapol Il winner is bound to be a factor an '- the points awarded Will go a long wa
 toward determining the victor. Whi
 Los Angeles started the title race, u
 real battle for leadership will nt
 get under way until the starter droI 6 the flag for the. 33 drivers successf
 in getting a chance at the $50,000 ar a niche in the 'tspeed' Hall of Fam SS May 31St