South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-31
All
Records For
Speed Grind
Hartz, Hearne and De Palma
Finish Two, Three and Four
at indianapolis.

winner of the 1921 French grand
Prix. carved mis- name further in
the hall OF motor fame Tuesday
when he flashed across the wire a
winner OF the 500 mile automobile
race at the Indianapolis motor
speedway before a record breaking
crowd OF 135, 900 spectators
Murphy smashed all records for
the distance to smithereens clip
ping more than sixteen minutes of
the best previous record. His time
was 5-17:3O-79. an average OF 94-4s
miles an hour, against the old rec
ord OF 5:33:55:51. or 1884 miles
an hour. made by RALPH De Palma
in 1915. Murphy did something
which had never been accom- plished
here before, and to the best knOwl-
edge of racing experts never before
in a race OF major Importance. He
shot into the lead az the start ana
never relinquished ii during one
instant Of five hours Of thrilling
driving First away, he was first
over the line at the completion OF
the first lap, and was first over the
wire when Capt Eddie Rickenbach-
I er waved the flag for his victory.
The Los Angeles driver made only
. three stops during the entire 500
miles. He made his first stoE AZ
/ lS5 miles. pulling up at the pits
/ for two minutes TO change all tires
| and replenish the fuel tanks With
a lead OF about ten miles. Murphy
/ pulled into the pits for another tire
/ change and for more gasoline and
oil % l. - IL q % = .
/ The assistance Of his pit men was
nothing short of marvellous. 1t
/ took them just % seconds to change
I a right front tire and provide him
with fuel enough to assure his fin
\ ishing
Hartz Shows Fight
While major honors went to Muir
Ehy. Harry Hartz. also of Los An
geles. who finished second, drove
a remarkab BILE race He Jumped
into second place sixty miles after
the start, and held il throughout,
always making a desperate fight 20
catch the leader Hartz' time was
I 5:20,S4:59, an average OF 1854
miles per hour. which ais was
t far in advance Of the record Ed
I die Hearne, a veteran racer piloted
I a French car 10 third place in 81
22:26:06, for an average of 1905
I miles an hour. while Ralph De
i Palma one OF the favorites. was
! fourth in 5:S1:O4:65. an average OF
\ 9O.56 miles an hour. Jerry Won
/ derlich was sixth in 5:57:52:s4. an
average of sS.79 miles an hC~-. I
+ +. Fetterman finished seventh in
5:40:55:44. an average OF s7:9s
miles an hour. Eight place went
10 Ira Vail in 5:50:07:42. an aver
age OF $3.50 miles an hour Tom
/ Alley was ninth in 5:57:36:I3. an
average of $3.50. Joe Thomas An
/ ished tenth in 6:05:O1:47. for an
/ average OF S2.19
Confusion among the Judges and
+ timers resulted in the erroneous an
/ nouncement shortly before the two
/ hundredth mile that Murphy had
I lost the lead and Hartz had gone
into first place Signals were rass-
/ ed TO the drivers that Hartz was
leading and even Murphy thought
/ the check was correct. as he be
+ gan TO force a much faster pace
/ In his fight to regain the lead. He
I Jumped the average Of 1882 for
/ 200 miles 20 94.41 for 275 miles
and then ag,in TO 94.54 miles.
As winner Of the event. Afu~,S1v
+ VIII receive approximately sS5 0O0
Twenty thousand dollars was award
cd hrst place and $4,000 as prize lap
money. In addition. automobile ac-
+ cessory companies provided cash
/ prizes which will bring Murphy's
total up TO the $4,000 mark. Hartz
got $4,000 for finishing second.
Hearne in third place. $4,000: De
Palma. In fourth. $4,000: Haibe. So
+ 600; Wonderlich. $4,000: Fetterman.
S17s0O; Vail. $1,000: Alley. $1,000:
and Thomas, S1.4OO
Barney Oldfield. a retired star Of
the racing world with the customary
f cigar in the corner Of his mouth
paced the field OF starters for the
first lap. bringing them 20 a flying
start az speed OF about 20 miles an
1 hour Then Murphy stepped out in
front. with Leon Duray and Ralph
De Palma following.
Howard Wilcox. OF INDIANAPOLIS
was the first driver forced out. his
+ car breaking A valve spring after
travelling 17ia miles. Jules Filing
Doe furnished the first zig thrill
when he threw a right roar wheel
on the south turn. The speeding
machine turned completely around
and crashed into a concrete retain
Ing wall. Euinsboe and his mechan-
.tcian remained in the car mad neither
was injured
Wilbur D'Alene furnished a sec
ond thrill when his car caught fire
on the back stretch and quickly
burst into flames. D'Alere and his
mechanician jumped and escaped
with a slight singing. The FIRE was
extinguished but the car was elimtn-
I ated from the race. This was DIAL
+ ere's second narrow escape from
death by fire. His previous expert
ence was at the Chicago speedway
In 1917 when his machine caught fire
and his mechanic was burned 10
I death. D'Alene escaped with slight
burns
Milton Forced out
Tommy Milton, 1921 speed cham
pion and winner of the 500 mile
race here last year. was among the
drivers forced out OF the race early
( A leaking gas line caused his with
/ Continued on Page Four)