The Washington herald., 1921-05-31
TAKES
5OO-MILE RACE
AT89PERHOUR
De Palma Goes Out After
Leading for Half of
Distance.
MACHINES SUFFER
BY TERRIFIC SPEED
Big Event Run Without
Serious Mishap to
Any Entrants.

ANY EHCIdHtS.
SPEED WAY, INDIANAPOLIS,
May so.-Tommy Milton. worlds
speed king. earned new laurels to-
day when he won the ninth an
nual 500-mile race here. His time
was 5:34:44.65. Average Ss.s2 miles
an hour Last years average $3.50
The st. Paul milkman put the race
on ice when Ralph De Palma was
forced out at ESQ miles after lead
ling all the way to that time Time
after time Sarles and other leaders
challenged the purple leader during
the latter part OF the race. but Mil
ton was never headed.
Milton was two laps ahead OF
Roscoe Sarles. his nearest competi-
tor, when given the checkered flag,
Makes Fastest Time.
The fastest time on the track
was made by De Palma in 1916
sss4. -arIes finished second In
Duesenberg. sarles' time was
5:3s:343o.
His average time was ss.s1 miles
an hour.
The pace for the first $50 miles
was the fastest ever seen on the
| indianapolis speedway. 1t was made
so by De Palma pushing his Ballot
to the limit Of its speed. Milton
drove a Frontaic.
After the first half of the race
the strain began to tell on steer
ing gear and connecting rods. Car
after car dropped by the wayside.
At 800 miles only eight cars were
left in the race. Prizes were
awarded to only those cars which
finished.
Prizes for the last place. not won
by car finishing. was divided
among those drivers who did finish
The race was featured by lack Of
accidents. No one was even hurt
seriously. Louis Fontaine's head
was bruised when his Junior Spe-
cfal went through the wall.
Get Rig Prize Money.
BY his victory Milton won the
speedway officials and approxi-
mately 100000 additional prizes o.
lap money and speciality prizes.
The victory of Milton was a
popular one with the crowd. After
De Palma went out their sympa-
thies Immediately switched to the
man out ahead.
The Frontaic which Milton was
driving is an Indianapolis built car.
Milton hit the win column on 90
laps. He won $4,000 in lap money.
De Palma won s10.650 on lap prizes.
Used Car Carefully.
The victor drove a new car. which
had Travelled less than 100 miles
before he started the race. He kept
it going steadily. but not at a sen
sational pace, for the first 100
laps. trying II out. After he had
found out what il would do he was
never headed but once-in the sew
enteenth lap-when Roscoe Sarles
took the lead for a short distance.
Every bearing in Milton's car
was changed Saturday and Sunday
night in preparation for the race
He and his mechanicians worked
throughout two nights getting the
car in condition. Milton was al
most exhausted as he was lifted
from his seat after winning the
race.
Gets Big Ovation.
The old luck was with u.s." he
said. He Immediately asked for
his wife, and kissed her as they
rushed to seclusion in the garage
with Louis Chevrolet. maker of the
machine He was given a tremen-
dous ovation by the great crowd
of $4,000 racing fans, the largest
throng that ever witnessed a motor
race.
The weather was excellent,
though hot There wasn't a cloud
in the sky. and the sun beat down
with burning heat on the brick
track.
The race was remarkable for its
close finish. Sarles, who finished
second, was less than a lap behind
Milton during the last 100 miles.
Jules Ellingboe was right be-
hind Sarles. Ellingboe relieved
Percy Ford, the Chicago amateur
driver. after his own car was
forced out of the race He drove
careful, consistent race. and was
well UP toward the front through
out.
The real test was when the other
drivers forced Ralph de Palma to
drive his car to pieces.
Forced De Palma Out.
De Palma, setting a pace close
to "a miles an hour, led from the
start to the 25oth mile. with the
exception of two early laps. 1t
looked as though De Palma was
going to be able to pull through
successfully as one by one his chal-
lengers fell out. but two connecting
rods gave way, and he was forced
to give IL up. He won $10.650 in
prizes. however, for winning the
laps.
Milton and Sarles were constantly
challenging De Palma Milton
stopped only twice during the en-
tire 500 miles. He was in the pits
only a few seconds each time. He
needed oil and gas, and changed
tires as a precaution.
~