The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-16
Heated JOStle
for Pole Spot
on Saturday
Pilots to Shoot for High
Speed Marks in Open
ing Trials.
BY VERN BOXELL

A spirited struggle for the No. /
spot in the May 80 starting lineup
of the 5OO-mile Speedway classic Is
promised Saturday. when 10 or more
OF the So entrants open the battle
for places in the 33-car field.
An avowed candidate for the pole
position, and a favorite to retain
MS laurels if his new car can stand
the pace. is little Kelly Petillo, fly
ing California italian who shat
tered four track records last year IT.
topping the first day field with d
mark of 1899 miles an hour.
He Likes No. l
Kelly likes a clear vision ahead
and that NO. l spot is his pet. Me-
chanical trouble which developed
early handicapped Petillo in the big
grind last year, and he spent IS
minutes in the pit, and still nm
ished the race.
Kellys chief threats appear to
be two of his old coast buddieS, Rex
Mays and AL Gordon. These three,
aided by Harris Insinger, have been
keeping West Coast racing fans on
their collective ears with thrilling
struggles.
Mays is the Pacific Coast cham
pion and the youngest pilot IN the
field. He's at the wheel of the
speedy job which Al Gordon quail
fed at ia miles an hour last year
and then cracked into the wall dur
ing the race. The job has a new
and faster motor this year, Rex
claims, and his goal is 100 miles an
hour IN Saturdays tests.
Gordon Goes Into Skid
Husky Gordon will aim at 119
miles an hour, he said yesterday aft
er a wild practice dash around the
oval in which he provided the first
major thrill of the 1885 season.
Gordon, wheeling Bill Whites classy
job which Cliff Bergere qualified at
lis miles an hour, slammed into the
south curve at lit miles an hour
and encountered trouble keeping his
back wheels where they belonged.
His car careened down the bricks
sideways, but masterful handling by
big AL soon brought everything UNI
der control The White car is one
OF the speediest at the track.
Cummings May Slow Up
The one-two men at the end of
last years five-century grind also
have their eyes on high places in the
starting field. Mauri Rose has the
swift Four Wheel Drive all ready tor
Saturdays tests. Frank BriSko got
in with a 1864 average last year,
and Rose claims the buggy will go
places in quicker time this year.
Wild Bill Cummings. 1884 cham
pion, and the peoples choice, may
not elect to go after the pole, but
if he does he'll leave high mark
for the boys to shoot at Bill had
the No. l spot in 1888. Last year
he passed the 116-mile -an-hour
mark in his 'front.' wheel Boyle
Valve Special. He's likely to bet
ter that mark this year.
All Set to Go
Tony Gulotta, the veteran who
will pilot Leon Duray's classy job
also will take the wheel Saturday
Owner Leon wouldn't say just what
he expected his car to do, but Rose
placed in the second row last year
with 1904 and Tony probably
will come in with about the same
figure.
Louie Meyer, seeking his third
victory; Ralph Hepburn in his
sturdy mount; Floyd Roberts.
heavy-footed coast veteran; George
Barringer in one of the new Ford
V-8 Specials, and Doc Mackenzie IN
his Pirrung Special, are others who
definitely have announced their in
tentions to go" Saturday.
Barringer also reported that foul
more of the new Harry Miller Ford