Arizona republican., 1920-06-01
AMERICAN WINS
 OVER BIG FIELD
 AT INDIANAPO POLIS
Gaston Chevrolet, Driving
 American-Made Car, Nos-
 es Out Victory In Last 25 Miles - Hard Luck Jinx Follows De Palma-Many Accidents, Few Injuries
IRepubIioan A. p. Leased Wirel

lRSpubllCan A. P. Leased WIrGl
 INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. May S1-In the most spectacular finish witnessed on the Indianapolis speedway, Gaston Chevrolet, driving an American de- signed ear, rode to victory in eighth renewal of the 500-mile automobile race today before a record breaking crowd of 125,000. The time was 5:40:16.14, an average of SS.16 miles an hour, the second best in the history of the event.
 Tn addition to winning S2O.0O0 first prize, Chevrolet also won approximate ly $5,500 more in lap prize competi- ton and cash prizes offered by access sorry firms. Rene Thomas got second place covering the distance in 5:43:0229. His average was S7.45 miles an hour. Tommy Milton made third and Jimmy Murphy, winner of the santa Monica road race. fourth.
 De Palma Game to Last
 All thrills came in the last 90 miles when Ralph De Palma. the favorite, with a lead of 10 miles, seemed certain of winning But with victory within grasp his car burst into flames on the north turn of the two and a half mile course shortly after the car driven by Joe Boyer, who led the first 250 miles, skidded. overturned and crashed into a brick retaining wall a few feet away. Neither Boyer nor his mechani- CAcfl was SEtAOuSiN AtAJUASAt
 The accident which snatched victory from De Palma was tragic. The noted Italian was racing at brealzneck speed when a sheet of flame licked it's way to his gasoline tank. While his mechan- ician heroicalIy fought the flames, De Palma, broken hearted, ran to the pits a mile away for fresh supply of gaso- line.
 Undaunted. De Palma resumed the grind, but aiter going another mile his car caught fire again. Aided by his mechanician, De Palma plucIily eS- tinguished the flames and managed to finish the race fifth He was given tremendous ovation.
 Misfortune trailed De Palma from the start. He had the favored position at the pole, but the bonh of the starter caught him unawares and he was among the last to get away. Then on the first lap he was driven into the pits with a flat tire.
 Joe Boyer held the lead 250 miles, closely pursued by Jeane Chassagne, Gaston Chevrolet and Rene Thomas. With the race half over, Boyer made his first stop at the pits and De Palma shot into the lead. which he main tained until the fire.
 Accidents Many-lniuries Few
 There were a half dozen accidents, but the drivers and their aids miraeu- lously escaped death- While speeding around the treacherous north turn Ar thur Klein hit the side wall, damaging his car so badly it was withdrawn. Louis Chevrolet designer of the car which his brother piloted to victory. 1 also was in a smashup. His car sl5idded off the course when a steering connec- ton broke. Chevrolets back was in jured and he withdrew.
 Roscoe Sarles smashed up two cars. He wrecked his own entry in skidding I off the track and while driving as re- lief for Bennie Hill a steering knuelSle broke and he crashed for the second time.
 | Chevrolet drove consistent race and never was below fourth place. Most of the time he was either in second or third. He trailed De Palma from the $50 mile point and took the lead when De Palma had to stop.
 Four winners of former races tried tc repeat. Rene Thomas and De Palma, 1914 and 1915 winners, respec- lively. came in within the money. Jules Goux, who won in 1913, was forced out after 435 miles. Howard Wilcox, last years winner, had engine trouble and quit after 165 miles.
 How They Finished Of the g cars starting only II fin ished. The others were forced out by l engine trouble or accidents. The fol- 1 lowing is the order of finish and time: Driver Time Mi. per Prize