The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-01
RALPH DE PALMA, HERO OF RACE
FANS BECAUSE OF MISFORTUNE.
ENTERS 5OO-INILE EVENT AGAIN

Indianapolis, Ind, April l.
Ralph DePalma, who became the
darling of the speed fans through
his ever recurring misfortune,
which he terms "dago luck" has
entered the lists for the tenth an
nual 500-mile international sweep
stakes, on the Indianapolis motor
speedway, next Memorial day.
Although he had won many
events and had earned the title of
dirt track champion, it was the
loss of race that gave Raphael
DePalma world fame. Victory has
made many men famous but few
have been able to cash in on mis-
fortune. The entry of DePalma
means much to the average speed
fan among the 10000 who attend
the 500-mile race.
DePalma has endeared himself to
the followers of the speed game
through his ability to accept defeat
with the same sangfreid that ne
enjoys victory; through his ability
to outguess his competitor and to
furnish more thrills for the fans
than any other driver in the little
more than five hours of annual
competition; through his regard
for the neatness of his equipment
and the spotless array and ma
chinelike activities of his pit crew.
Not only does DePalma delight the
fans at Indianapolis with his meth
cd and manners on the course but
the same is true of the appearance
of the famed Italian-American on
the tracks, roads and speedways
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
on the road course of France and
Italy.
Has American Car.
In the coming 500-mfle race De-
Palma will pin his hopes of victory
on an American built racing ma
chine-one of Fred Duesenberg'
"straight-eight" cars. 1t will not be
the first time that Ralph has driv-
en- a "duesy" in competition but it
will be the first time that he has
used this brand of race car in the
greatest race of the year
DePalma has competed in eight
of the preceding nine races and in
three has had American-made
rope. He has been more successful
with the foreign cars, having won
the 1915 race with a German Mer-
cedes and finished fifth with the
French Ballot in 1920. With the
Yankee racers he was fifth in 1911
at the wheel of Simplex and sixth
in 1919 with the Packard Twin. i"
One American and three foreign
machines have failed him.
Cheers for Loser.
He gained his place in the hearts
of the fans on one of the hottest
days in the history of the 500
milers, when in 1912 his German
Mercedes failed him with two laps
to go after he had shattered all
records and set killing pace
the day, leading almost
every lap. Since that time no driv-
err has eQualled the game fight that
DePalma made for the victory and
flock Of records. Dawson, the
winner, was miles in the rear when
DePalma wrecked his engine and
slowly pushed his car half way
around the brick oval to the pits.
The cheers that greeted the van
quished were. greater in volume
than those accorded the victor and
the tribute of the fans brought
tears to the eyes of the debonair
DePaima
He repeated. in a measure, this
experience in 1920, when with the
race in his hand his Ballot caught
fire near the finish and the precious
minutes lost relegated DePalma to
fifth place, but none of his misfor-
| tunes have ever wiped the ready
smile from his face and dimmed
his ardor to win a five century. Be-
ing one OF the eight living drivers
to gain the honor of a 500 victory