Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-06-08
CHEVROLET WINS
IND|ANAP OILS RACE
Drives American Car to Victory
Time: 5:40:16.
De PELMk'S CAR IN FLAMES
italian Forced to Give Up Lead in
43Ith Lap-Thomas Second and
RaiIton Third-125, 900 Wit
ness Contest

indianapolis Speedway, June l.
CASTOR Chevrolet drove an American
car to victory in the International
sweepstakes before a cheering multi
tude of $4,000 spectators Chevrolet,
plotting a Monroe special. made the
500 miles in hours, 40 minutes and
1914 seconds, an average of SS.16
miles an hour. His is the first Ameri-
can-nade car to win the event in
seven years. Rene Thomas in a Ballot
(French) finished second, three min
utes behind the winner, and Tommy
RailtOn in a Duesselberg was third
with running time of 5 :46 1888.
Jimmy Murphy, in a second Duesen-
berg, finished fourth, his time being
5 % :31.37.
De Palma Finishes Fifth.
But it was Ralph De Palma, who
came in fifth in his Ballot, that fur
nished the sensation of the race. The
famous Italian, driving at top form,
led the field during most of the race.
but with victory within his grasp his
car burst into flames, which were not
extinguished until he had lost eleven
laps. From then ON De Palma drove
one of the most daring races of his
daring career in vain effort to regain
the lead. When he came limping across
the finish line in his cream-colored car
a spontaneous cheer burst from all Of
the thousands within view-a tribute
TO the Italians plucky fight
De Palma average time for the
course was 82.12 miles an hour.
Winner Gets $21, 300.
ChevrOlet's victory brings him in
hard cash ST, 300, his share of the
100000 purse being $4,000 for first
place. The 81 300 is his for making
the best time for Is laps.
Rene Thomas winnings are $1,000
for second place. plus seven lap prizes
of 500 each. De Palma won SO lap
prizes, which, with his share of the
purse, netted him $1,000
Contrary to expectations the track
record of 1884 miles per hour did not
fall, due probably to Cheyrolet's I'M
willingness TO risk losing first place
for the sake of lowering the mark.
Each Driver cheered
Each driver came IN for his share
of cheers as he took his position. Bar
ney Oldfield, in big yellow bus, with
the ever-present Havana, paced the pi-
lots around the trial lap.
Hard luck rode with De Palma from
the starting gun. Despite his front
row position, his Ballot developed
balky streak and was the last to leave
the tape. AS the cars came down the
home stretch on the first lap Joe Boy
ct, millionaire Detroit sportsman
pushed his FrOntenac into the lead. He
held first place until re turned 81
miles, when De Palma's cream-colored
ear hove into view and passed the
brown FrOntenac on the back stretch
Then Thomas Ballot led the rest of
The field for a few laps, when De Pal
ma took the lead again.
Here commenced the most spectacu-
Tar driving of the race. Pushing into
one Of the famous spurts that have
brought him victory on many another
rourse. the daredevil Italian soon led
the pack ny two laps, and the experts
In the press stand leaned back with
the unanimous verdict: It's all over"
For almost hundred miles their
verdict seemed justified. With the half
way mark behind him, De Palma held
grimly tn his two-lap lead. But at the
fatal 437th mile the luck turned. First
DE Palma was forced to make a 12-Sec-
ond stop for tire changes. This lost
him nothing, but on the back stretch
his gasoline supply gave out and his
mechanic was forced to walk to the
pits and back with fresh fuel After
travelling little over mile his car
burst into flames, which were extin-
Euished without any damage, but not
before he had lost II laps.
Easy for Chevrolet.
CASTOR Chevrolet had things his own
way after the 437th mile, when he
brushed into number one position. He
joy-rided around the course to the fin
ISh. stopping for gasoline once without
erdongering his lead.
Mechanical troubles asserted them.
selves in some of the weak sisters as
early MS the seventeenth lap. lean Por.
porato's Greguire did everything hut
throw shoe. His car was ruled of
us being unsafe
Willie Haupts Meteor dropped a
wheel. After il was replaced Willie
turned his mount over To Bill Barton
who shared POrporato's fate due To q
broken rear spring
Gene Ch9SSaSne in q French Ballot
car went out of the race in the final
stages due 10 sprung aNleS on his car
He was occupying fourth place at the
time. with less than 81 miles 10 90.
Joe Boyer. in Il Frontenac. won the
first prize money Of the race. 500, hy
leading at the first lap His team
mate. Art Klein. was second. The tim,
was 40 :5S. average 1913 miles al
hour
The first car to Succumh to the pace
killing grind was Andre Bofllot'S Peu
got. He went out of the race on the
fifteenth lap. due To motor tralhle