The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-31
JIMMY MURPHY ONLY
RACE DRIVER HOLDING
z PREMIER CROWNS
tBy Associated Press)

fBy Associated Press)
INDIANAPOLIS. May 81 Jimmy
Murphy, the smiling, boyish Los
Angeles, Calf, youth. today holds the
distinction of being the only driver
In the world to win the premier auto
mobile races of two continents-the
French Grand Prix and the 500 mile !
race over the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway here yesterday. This is |
Murphy's second year as a driver, as
he only graduated from the grade Of |
mechanician two years ago. By |
strange coincidence it was Captain :
Eddie Rickenbacker who gave Muir !
ply the checkered flag in token of
victory yesterday-the same Murphy !
who rode beside Rickenbacker as a !
mechanician in the race here six
years ago.
Some of the glory and also some of
the prize money that Murphy was gen.
orally believed to have gained yester
day slipped away over night. however.
Murphy was credited with holding the
lead throughout the race and winning
all of the prizes offered for leader
ship in the various laps of the contest.
Speedway officials early today an
nounced that there had been some
miscalculations and that apparently
Harry HartZ, another Los Angeles
racer who finished second, had held
the lead during part Of the race and
was entitled to some OF the lap
prizes.
Question Arises.
There was some question as to the
authenticity Of Murphys record time,
which had been announced as 5:17:-
S0:79, which is sixteen minutes better
than the record established by Ralph
DePalma, in winning the event here
il 1915 DePalma's time then was
5:33:55:5J.
Much confusion existed among the
Judges and timers at the 200th mile
yesterday, and announcement was
made that HartZ had gone into first
place. This announcement later was
withdrawn, but when the official tab
ulation was started at the close Of the
race, the possibility that Murphy
might have been displaced as leader
for a time again was brought forward.
Officials said they expected to com
nlete the tabulation some time today
II was not expected that it would
make any changes in the standing
Of the winners, but it might effect
Nfurphy's record and also the distri-
button of lap prizes, which amount to
$50 for each lap.
Great Cooperation
The Californian was given remark
able cooperation by his pit men. He
drove the entire distance, making only
three stops to change tires and replen-
ish his fuel tanks. On his third stop
gasoline was dumped into the tanks
and a rear wheel was changed in 20
seconds. On previous stop his assist
ants dumped in oil and gas and chang
ed two front wheels in % seconds.
Murphy knew Just what his car was
capable of doing and he pushed it to
the limit, always maintaining a record
breaking speed and never making an
unnecessary stop.
Harry Eartz. another Los Angeles
racer, who finished second, also is a
former mechanician. Hartz drove a
race second only to Murphys. He
drove into second place shortly after
the sixtieth mile and from then on
to the finish he gave Murphy desper
ate fight TO maintain the lead.
According to officials of the speed
way there were $4,000 paid admis
SionS, the largest crowd that ever VIII
messed a race at the Indianapoli!
course. Although official figures were
lacking the total receipts are expected
to reach the 100000 mark. The gen
eral admission was 81, which totalleC
S270.0O0 and besides this there wer'
extra charges for grandstand, automo
bile parking spaces and inffeld priv
ileges.
Murphy was the only driver injure,
during the race, although two car
were in smashups. 1t was all the faul
of an inflated rubber cushion, whic
exploded while Murphy was tearin
along over the brick course. After tn
race was over Murphy climbed out c
his car and limped painfully TO a sea
What's the matter, Jimmy" he wa
asked
He smiled and said
Il had one of those air cushions /
the seat of my car. Well, it buste
somewhere along the line and l rod
the bare boards until the finish of III
race. That was the longest part {
the grind for me-"