Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-25
SPEED TRIALS
FOR 5OO-MILE
ENTRANTS OPEN
Drivers Strive for Best Time
and Choice Places for
Race Start.
LEADING PILOTS READY

Elimination trials for the 5OO-mile
speed chase at the indianapolis Motor
Speedway Monday were to open at
O'Clock this afternoon, and the drivers
were ready to mark the opening OF the
qualifications with some of the most re-
markable speed ever made in the ten
miles Of running to see who's who"
It is necessary for a car to travel ten
miles -four laps of the big brick OvaD
at an average speed of eighty miles per
hour, or better. Any car on the track
can easily bat off the required speed,
but this is not at all the big object. The
car making the fastest time in the elimi-
nations VIII be the pole car IN the big
race, and all others will get positions
according to their speed, so it is the aim
Of the drivers to cut loose with every
thing they have and grab the choice pO-
EitiODs for the start.
Up until the time trials started this
afternoon, nothing on wheels at the
Speedway had been able to show Ralph
De Palma and his blonde Ballot how to
travel, but yesterday was a day Of work
for every mechanic and driver at the
speed plant, and there were rumors Of
plentiful dark horses" before the heats
opened this afternoon. Ralph COPIED the
POST position in his Ballot last year, but
the rival pilots are determined that he
VIII know what opposition means before
the last car has been qualified for the
1921 event.
Tom Hay was to act as official starter
IN the trials, with Charles Root as his
assistant Tho brake tests Will be con-
Quoted Saturday afternoon by F. E Ed
wards DR.. II. r. Allen, Speed way sur
geon, has his hospital rugged up in fine
style, and will conduct physical examina-
ton Of the drivers, relief drivers, mocha
nicians and relief mechanicians, starting
this afternoon.
They were few Of the drivers out yes
terday afternoon, that is, few OF those
who have been around the place long
enough to get real line on their cars.
De Palma and his little family worked
hard on the Ballot all afternoon without
even casting their eyes in the direction
Of the track.
Wilcox and Chassag ne were net seen
around the track, neither were they out
Monday. The Peugeot team evidently is
''sittin' pretty and ready to qualify at
any time.
Andre Boillot was the only member Of
the Sunbeam team out for a little spin,
pulled in. The Frenchmen didn't say
what the trouble was. but they were not
very excited, sothe chances are that 1t
was just some minor difficulty.
Joe Thomas was out pounding the
socks on his Junior Special all the way
around throughout the afternoon, and
had the satisfaction of going just wee
bit faster than at any other time since
he has taken the blue beauty under
his wing Joe didn't crack any rec
Ords, but he finished up fast enough TO
let the other boys know they will have
to figure him in when the big drive
starts Joe cant hit a mean clip on the
stretches and coast on the turns he
hasn't got the speed. But the hard-work-
Ing pilot is taking the turns wide open
and seems to be getting along In hne
style.
While all other members Of the Bonnie
Hill team were working like a lot of
Trojans on the Duesenberg, Gentleman
Jerry" Wonderlich was around the pits
telling the boys to watch our smoke the
next time we come out" Bennie's at
ease" assistant says they have damned
a thorn under the saddle of the old boat,
and that she's going to be good for
much better time from now on
Jules Euingboe was out again in his
Frontenac and turned a few laps with
disc wheels. They make the job look
pretty snappy, but Jules has not yet de-
cided whether or not he will use them.
Ralph Milford smiled his way to the
city yesterday afternoon and announced
himself ready to qualify today. Louis
Chevrolet has had Ralph's eight-in-a-row
Eronrenac ready Tor several Ad4s
Roscoe Sarles had his -4esenberg out
again. but was content to travel at a
comfortable pace.
Albert Guyot was presented with the
Duesenberg that he is to drive, and lost
about three seconds in getting ready for
his initial spin. He opened up after
few tame laps and Immediately went
down as one Of the drivers deserving of
some little consideration. Guyot handles
his car nicely and seems to know the
track about as well as the next one.
Percy Ford, the noted amateur driver
from Chicago. came near meeting with
serious accident yesterday when his left
rear wheel came OF Ford was tearing
down the back stretch at a good clip
and hit the turn wide open. He threw
the entire wheel which headed down the
track so fast he had TO turn out to let
Il by The wheel ran on fully three
hundred yards farther before coming to
a stop. Ford retained his presence Of
mind and his control OF the Chicago
Frontenae he was driving, bringing it to
q stop, but not before the flying wheel
had hoped up and struck him on the
left elbow, rendering a nasty flesh
wound Ford limped into the pits with