The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-31
DE PALMA SET
TERRIFIC PACE
FOR ESQ MILES
Was Forced to Abandon Track
On Account Mechanical
Trouble.
RACE WAS WORTH NEARLY
$4,000 TO THE WINNER
DePaIma Had Won $4,000 in
Lap Prizes Before Be
ing Forced Out.
RACE WAS WORTH NEARLY
$4,000 TO THE WINNER

] INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, May 3d.
Tommy Milton, world champion speed
racer. today piloted an American car
| TO the finish line first in the ninth re-
l.newal of the international racing clas-
sic. the five hundred mile
dash around. the Indianapolis speed
way Millions victory came through a
beautifully driven race which was won
after Ralph de Palma, popular favor
ite for, the victory, had set a terri
fic pace during the first $50 miles that
all except one of the foreign made cars,
including his own, were forced from
the track. through mechanical troubles
or minor accidents, OF the twenty
three entrants only eight completed
the 500 miles and seven of these We're
American made machines, Ralph Null
ford, driving another American built
machine was awarded ninth position
without finishing, after all the others
had dropped by the wayside. Milton
established new track record for cars
of not more than 1873 inches piston dis
placement by completing the 500 miles
in five hours, "a minutes and 44.65 Sec
onds for an average of 1892 miles per
hour The fastest time ever made in
the speedway races was but twenty
hundredths OF mile faster per hour,
this mark being made by DePalma in
1915.
The victory brought Milton nearly
$50, 900 in prize money, $4,000 for
first place. $4,000 in lap prizes and the
balance in special prizes given by ac-
cessory companies.
Less than four minutes behind Mil
ton came Roscoe Sarles who had fought
bitter race with DePalma in the
early hours and held second position
most of the way.
The race began with DePalma at the |
pole and he soon jumped into a lead. |
His ruthless speed kept him well to the
front, although Sarles and Joe Boyer |
forced him into a terrific pace during |
the early laps. Boyer soon dropped
behind through loss of time at the pits, |
but Tom Alley a last minute entry |
jumped to the fore and helped Sarles i
rush DePalma. Gradually Italy's rep
increased his lead, however,,
and at the half way point, he was
more than two laps to the good.
Boyer, however, who raced along
side of DePalma although actually six
laps from behind from the fiftieth lap
taxed DePalma's car to keep in front /
and at the 101st lap DePalma swung
into the pits. His engine had been
missing for several laps, but after a
quick change of plugs he rushed back
on the bricks still ahead of Milton, who
had forged up to second.
Another trip to the pits lost more
ground, a third visit left him on almost
II, IL
leader swung to the side Of the track
and with q characteristic smile or
dered his car to the garage, where it
was found connecting rod was bro
ken. DePalma had won $10,600 in lap
prizes before being forced out. Milton
quickly swung to the front and never
lost his lead. He previously had made
one trip to the pits for a change of
tires and signalled his mechanics that
he would make one more for gas. His
second stop was timed SO nicely that
he was off the speedway only % Sec
onds and did not lose the lead.
Sarles made desperate efforts to ov-
ertake the speed champion, but Milton
began. to let his car out In the final
laps and gradually stretched his quar-
ter lap lead to three laps. The ter
TlIlc pace set Dy oe1alIlld WHICH eS- II
tablished- new track records up to the
first 100 miles. was given by experts
as the reason for so many cars being
forced out. Accidents were frequent /
and none was serious, but car after car
fell by the wayside with mechanical
trouble which could not be remedied
The work of young Ellingbee attracted I
considerable attention. The Crockston
MINI pilot, driving on a brick track
for the first time, made a great show
ing until forced out in the 10th lap.
Later he replaced Percy Ford and |
brought the latter's car from tenth
position to third at the finish. He was
nine laps behind the winner. The car
driven by him was rebuilt from the
one in which CASTOR Chevrolet won 4
last years race and later was killed H
while driving on the Pacific coast.
The other finishers crossed the line in II
the following order:
Tommy Murphy replaced by Eddie
Miller, fourth: Ora Haibex fifth Joe
Boyer (replaced Guyot) sixth: Ira vail,
seventh; Bonnie HILL eighth; Ralph
ninth; Haibaux's English II
built car was the only foreign machine
TO finish. >tsA