The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-14

Bill finished directly behind Kelly
Petillo and Wilbur Shaw last year
Every one considers Bill one of
the outstanding contenders. Always
a tavorite and a daring driver, Bill
likes the new curves and believes
he can bear down more as he swings
into the banks. Aside from the sal
airy which accompanied the tour
which he completed this week, Bill
utilized it for a training excursion
to prepare him for approximately
five hours of hard driving MAY 80
Newcomer Tries Charger
Weather curtailed activities yes
terday, permitting mechanics to
grid and "wean" the cars for the
gasoline-limited qualifying trials
which start Saturday morning. Rex
Mays, throttle-presSing holder OF
the pole position last year, had his
Gilmore Special out for short drill
as did Frank Brisko, Roy Painter
and George Connors.
Al Putnam, a newcomer from Pa
cif1c Coast ovalS, was out for short
spin to prepare for his drivers test
tomorrow or Friday. The 27-year-
old dirt track driver, who has had
success on the Ascot, San Diego and
Oakland ovals, was accustoming
himself to the heavy eight-cylinder
Mikan Special which he is to drive
if he passes the Speedway driving
examination.
Two more cars equipped with new
OffenhauSer motors arrived yester-
day. The car driven by Jimmy Sny-
der in 1881 is entered by George
Lyon who has not selected his driv-
er. The other is the Burd Piston
Ring Special piloted last year by
Lou Tomei which will be in the
hands of Floyd Roberts who will
drive for Joe Lencki.
Roberts is the one driver with
reason to believe that he will ex-
perience no trouble with gasoline
shortage. He finished fourth last
year with a fuel consumption of So
gallons, and was the only driver to
meet the requirements which have
been placed on this years grind. In
finishing on the low amount of fuel,
Roberts completed the race at an
average speed of 1O3.227 miles an
hour
Foreign Oddly Here
st don't think this years winner
will go faster than the -mile-an-
hour average which Petillo set last
year, although it will be close to
that mark" Roberts stated yester-
day. ITO do that much this year
on five gallons less gas than We
were allowed last year, is equivalent
to ITO miles an hour"
Roberts must overcome the same
obstacle this year that he bettered
in 1885 when he took a car which
had not finished a race in five
years. His entry this year also has
been in five races without lasting
the distance, but with a new motor
he is confident of repeating last
years position. He will shoot for
one of the first lines when he at
tempts to qualify Saturday.
One Of the oddities that are seen
periodically at the Speedway, but
seldom pass the qualifications, is the
"wrong-side" drive entry which ar
rived from the West Coast yester-
day. 1t is the eight-cylinder Ettore
Bugatti Special entered by Overton
Phillips who also will pilot it in
qualifications. 1t is a foreign built
super charger with right-hand
drive which has not been driven
since 1882 when Tomei drove it on
the coast.
Time of Trials Listed
Ralph Hepburn's four cylinder
rear-drive charger also was brought
in from the coast yesterday and i'm
mediately locked in the garage to
be checked for the qualifications.
Owners of entries have been or
dered to name their cars and driv-
ers before Saturday when the Off
cial program goes to the printers.
Approximately half of the mounts
have not been named and owners
are seeking sponsors and drivers.
Qualifications are to open Sat-
urday morning at 10. On all other
days trials will get under way at
l p. m. and close at 7. In previous
years, shutdown" has been quitting
time, but since drivers often were
confused, the timing apparatus will
be locked at Z each evening. Trials
are to be held again Sunday and
will be discontinued until the fol-
lowing weekend.
Cars will be required to travel a
minimum of ITO miles an hour over
the 10 laps on two and one-half
gallons of gas. The SO fastest cars
will be eligible for the champion