Arizona republican., 1922-04-09
De PALMA SIGNS
UP FOR BIC
SPEEDWAY EVENT

.NDIANAPOLIS, April Z. = (Spe-
ciaD Ralph DePalma, who became
the darling of the speed fans through
his ever-recurring misfortune, whlcn
he terms "dago luck" has entered the
lists for the tenth annual 5O0-m mile
international sweepstakes on the IN
/ dianapolis motor speedway next Me-
AHoriaI day.
Although he had won many events
and had earned the title of dirt track
champion, il was the loss Of race
that gave Raphael DePalma world
fame. Victory has made many men
famous but few have been able 70
cash in on misfortune. The entry or
DePalma means much to the average
speed fan among the 10000 who at
tend the 5o0-mile race.
DePalma has endeared himself TO
the followers of the speed game
through his ability to accept defeat
with the same sang froid that ne
enjoys victory: through his ability
to outguess his competitor and 10
furnish more thrills for the fans than
anv other driver in the little more
than five hours of annual compeu-
ton: through his regard for the
neatness of his equipment and the
spotless array and machine like ac-
tiyities of his pit crew. Not only
does .DePalna delight the fans at
Indianapolis with his methods ana
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.
In the coming 500-mile race De
Palma. will pin his hopes of victory
on an American built racing machlne
-one of Fred Duesenberg's straight
eight cars. 1t will not be the first
time that Ralph has driven 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 mounts, and
in six. cars from Europe. he mas
been more successful with the for
eiRn cars. having won the 1915 race
with a German Mercedes 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" One American and three
foreign machines have failed him.
He gained his place in the hearts
of the fans on one of the hottest DAYS
in the history Of the 500 miiers, wnen
in 1912 his German Mercedes failed
him with two laps to go after he
had shattered all records and set
killing pace throughout the day. lead
ing almost every lap. Since that
time no driver has equalled the game
fight that DePalma made for the VIC
tory and a 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
uutshed were greater in volume than
those accorded the victor and the
tribute Of the fans brought tears to
the eyes Of the debonair DePalma.
He repeated. in a measure, this ex-
perience in 1920, when with the race
in his hand his Ballot caught fire
near the finish and the precious min
utes lost relegated DePalma to fifth
place. but none of his misfortunes
have ever wiped the ready smile from
his face and dimmed his ardor TO win
a five century. Being one of the
eight living drivers to gain the honor
of a 500 victory. along with Cham
pion Tommy Milton DePalnla aspires
to repeat and be the first to win a
PAIR OF i've centuries anu t4S At~At
purse that goes TO the victor.
The car DePalma will use for the
coming race is similar to the one
that Roscoe Sarles drove to second
place a year ago. 1t has eight cylin-
ders in line, the same type of power
ptant that DePalma has been driving
in the French Ballots since 1919. De-
Palma is grooming the car in Califor-
MIA where he is now competing IN
the series of races, but does not ex-
pect TO appear at the wheel of his
new speedster in any race until the
En0- mile