Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-28

from position midway back in the field,
while all the proud possessors of first
line rank either were In the ditch or
were limping in several miles astern.
DRIVERS BATTLE FOR
FRONT LINE PLACE.
And yet the drivers fight hard for
this front rank honor In the long run
it really makes little difference whether
a car gets away In the first or last line,
for there are at the most only few
hundred yards between them, and no
race has vet been decided by that mar
row margin. But just the same the driy-
ers want in that first line, for it means
a flying start for that 500 lap prize,
and the first few laps at least usually
go TO front line machines. That this lap
money Is not a triiing affair Is shown
by the fact that IN 1920 Joe Boyer in
his Frontenac went out of the race with
a broken steering knuckle long before
the end but, regardless Of that he took
away $1,000 in cash as a result os lead
ing the procession for ninety five of the
200 laps.
From the speed De Palma AMI his
Ballot showed on the first qualifying day
there seems to be little doubt that he
has definite and sinister designs on just
as much of that lap money as he and
his Ballot can get away with.
Speaking of De Palma, winner in 1915,
calls up the matter of the jinx rule, that
no winner shall repeat on the Speedway.
Many winners have tried and all have
failed Last year Rene Thomas winner
in 1914, managed to finish second, but he
missed the coveted first position. The
jinx has had lot of fun with De Palma.
Last year 1t kidded him along for 2S7
laps, and when he was six miles ahead
Of his nearest competitor, with only
twenty seven and one-half miles to go,
Ralph's car caught on fire and was out
of all consideration for first place. Then
away back In 1912 De Palma missed q
victory by only a little more than three
miles, when with lead of twelve miles
and only three to go, his motor broke
down and he was forced to see Joe
Dawson run away with the race.
PLACE FAITH
IN HOWDY'S PEUGEOT.
Dario Resta, winner in 1915 gave De
Palma battle royal in 1918, but the jinx
beat him to It, and he was forced TO
slow up with a damaged steering gear
and drift along into second place. How
dy Wilcox, another winner entered this
year. has a fine sturdy looking Peugeot
to manage this time, and there Is strong
feeling around the Peuegot camp that
this is the time the jinx is going to get
knocked for one great big loop.
indianapolis is well represented with
twelve indianapolis made ears, divided
equally between Deusenbergs and Louis
Chevrolets Frontenacs. The new From
tenac eight, piloted by Tommy Milton.
has shown a speed in practice about
equal to that Of De Palmas Ballot and
great portion Of the Frontenac hopes
will be carried by Milton and Ralph Null
ford driving a twin brother to Millions
car
More or less under cover and worked
carefully and conservatively the two sun
beams and the Talbot Darracq, the
French brother of the Sunbeam. must be
watched Louis Coatelen French de
signer Of the English built cars, made
wonderful record as a builder Of sea
plane motors during the World War, and
he has worked carefully and earnestly
over these three cars which will be driven
by Dario Resta, Andre Boiliot and Rene