The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-15
FRIDAY. MAY IS, 1898.
SPEEDWAY

THE Indianapolis Motor Speedway apparently is
gearing its 1895 program to the nation wide
campaign for safety. The Speedway corporation has
improved the track and placed restrictions
drivers. Captain E. v. Rickenbacker and T. E. Pop
Myers operators Of this biggest ne-day sports event
In America, say the track now is the safest high
speed racing course in the world
Memorial Day this year also will see continued
trend back to the original purpose Of the race
proving ground for the sutomotive industry
Those who have seen the practice sessions are
optimistic about the new safety factors. The
dangerous south has been widened and
Snoothed The treacherous bumps which gave it
the title of death curve" are gone.
The inside retaining wall has been removed so
disabled may pull in without being in the line
OF traffic The overhead wooden bridge at the north
end has been torn down to aid visibility Wash
board ridges in the brick runway have been smoohed
and patched with asphalt Changes have been made
in the track slope and the outer retaining wall in
an effort to keep wild from hurting over the
wall.
The inside OF the has been widened so feet,
giving more room and reducing the danger of a
averted serious cracxup the other day when he
lost control on the curve He had plenty of room
TO spin and came out safely
THE Speedway classic as spectacle draws more
than 100000 spectators and makes the event the
biggest occasion of the year for Indianapolis But
the Speedway as proving ground has produced re-
suits for the automobile industry in the past
Four-whee brakes, balloon tires, front-wheel-
drive passenger and many other improvements
were developed from experiments first made on the
Speedway under high-speed racing conditions
For time, however it seemed that this function
was submerged and the chief attraction was the
spectacle of dangerous thrills. The high casualty
rate drew criticism.
Now, more than in many years, there is an effort
to do something tangible in the way of scientific
improvement.
Gasoline for the 500 miles is limited to 37h gall
Ions, In an effort 10 produce higher gasoline mileage
Last year 1t 42h gallons and Kelly Petillo the
winner averaged about Is miles gallon at an
average speed of more than LOG miles hour. We
remember when the racing used five carburetors
and burned all the gasoline they could.
The popularity among race drivers Of the Jour-
cylinder car might concevsbly aid the development
of powerful, light and economical automobiles for
commercial use. Lifting of the restriction super
chargers might encourage experiments along an
other line
TN the preparations for the this year there are
= more hopeful signs for the everyday motorist
than there have been in years.
While approximately 100000 has been spent i'm
proving the track, the old wooden stands remain
Indianapolis hopes that Speedway officials will
slider the possibility of erecting modern concrete and
steel stands permanent investment.
The Times hopes the recent efforts of the Speed
way operators will result in safety record on
May &c. and that any which go out of the race
will do so because of mechanical defects and not
because of accidents.