1920 Indianapolis 500

Last updated
8th Indianapolis 500
1920 Indianapolis 500 program cover.jpg
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 31, 1920
Winner Gaston Chevrolet
Winning EntrantWilliam Small Company
Average speed88.618 mph (142.617 km/h)
Pole position Ralph DePalma
Pole speed99.150 mph (159.566 km/h)
Most laps led Joe Boyer (93)
Pre-race
Pace car Marmon 6 (Model 34)
Pace car driver Barney Oldfield
Starter E. C. Patterson [1]
Honorary referee Clifford C. Ireland [1]
Estimated attendance120,000 [2] (up 10k from previous year)
Chronology
PreviousNext
1919 1921

The 8th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1920.

Contents

Ralph DePalma held a two lap lead when the car stalled on lap 187. His riding mechanic Pete DePaolo ran to the pits to get a can of gasoline, thinking they were out of fuel. DePalma was able to get the car rolling again, and the two rejoined the race. However, during the delay, the lead went to Gaston Chevrolet. Chevrolet himself ran out of fuel on lap 197, but he was able to coast to the pits and refuel. Chevrolet held on to win. Seven months later, he was fatally injured in a crash at Beverly Hills.

Chevrolet won the race without a single tire change, a remarkable feat at the time. Chevrolet was accompanied by riding mechanic John Bresnahan. Chevrolet's victory was the last by a driver born outside of the United States until George Robson's victory in the 1946 running.

Time trials

The 1920 winning car Indy500winningcar1920.jpg
The 1920 winning car

Four-lap (10 miles (16 km)) qualifying runs were introduced in 1920. Previously one-lap runs were used. Ralph DePalma won the pole position at 99.65 mph (160.37 km/h). None of his four laps matched the track record (104.78 mph (168.63 km/h)) set the previous year.

Qualifying Results
DateDriverLap 1
(mph)
Lap 2
(mph)
Lap 3
(mph)
Lap 4
(mph)
Average Speed
(mph)
5/26/1920 Ralph DePalma 98.199.499.599.9599.65

Starting grid

RowInsideInside CenterOutside CenterOutside
1Pace car position2 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph DePalma  W 6 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Boyer 3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Chevrolet
226 Flag of France.svg Jean Chassagne 8 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Art Klein 4 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gaston Chevrolet 5 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Roscoe Sarles
37 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bennett Hill  R 31 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie Hearne 9 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Howard 10 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tommy Milton
429 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie O'Donnell 34 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willie Haupt 32 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg John Boling  R 12 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Murphy  R 
517 Flag of France.svg André Boillot 15 Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Pete Henderson 25 Flag of France.svg René Thomas  W 28 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Thomas  R 
618 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howdy Wilcox  W 16 Flag of France.svg Jules Goux  W 19 Flag of France.svg Jean Porporato 33 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Mulford
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Box score

FinishStartNoNameEntrantChassisEngineQualRankLapsStatus
164 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gaston Chevrolet William Small Company Frontenac Frontenac 91.5508200Running
21825 Flag of France.svg René Thomas  W Ernest Ballot Ballot Ballot 93.9505200Running
31110 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tommy Milton Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 90.20011200Running
41512 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jimmy Murphy  R  Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 88.70013200Running
512 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph DePalma  W  Ralph DePalma Ballot Ballot 99.1501200Running
6931 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie Hearne Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 88.05015200Running
7426 Flag of France.svg Jean Chassagne Ernest Ballot Ballot Ballot 95.4504200Running
81928 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Thomas  R 
(Art Klein Laps 105–115)
(Harry Thicksten Laps 116–125)
William Small Company Frontenac Frontenac 92.8006200Running
92333 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Mulford Ralph Mulford Mulford Duesenberg 200Running
101715 Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Pete Henderson
(Tom Alley Laps 93–20)
Revere Motor Car Corporation Duesenberg Duesenberg 81.15021200Running
111432 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg John Boling  R 
(Riley Brett Laps 99–199)
C. L. RichardsBrettBrett81.85020199Flagged
1226 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Boyer
(Ira Vail Laps 155–191)
Frontenac Motor Corporation Frontenac Frontenac 96.9002192Crash T3
13109 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Howard
(Aldo Franchi Laps 41–90)
Peugeot Auto Racing Company Peugeot Peugeot 84.60018150Camshaft
141229 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie O'Donnell Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 88.20014149Oil line
152116 Flag of France.svg Jules Goux  W  Jules Goux Peugeot Peugeot 84.30019148Engine trouble
161334 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willie Haupt
(Wade Morton Laps 55–111)
Meteor Motors Company Duesenberg Duesenberg 85.48016146Rod
1787 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bennett Hill  R 
(Roscoe Sarles Laps 75–115)
Frontenac Motor Corporation Frontenac Frontenac 90.55010115Crash T4
1833 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Chevrolet
(Salvatore Barbarino Laps 64–79)
(Jerry Wunderlich Laps 80–94)
William Small Company Frontenac Frontenac 96.300394Steering
192018 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howdy Wilcox  W  Jules Goux Peugeot Peugeot 88.8201265Engine trouble
2075 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Roscoe Sarles William Small Company Frontenac Frontenac 90.750958Crash T4
2158 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Art Klein Frontenac Motor Corporation Frontenac Frontenac 92.700740Crash
222219 Flag of France.svg Jean Porporato Jean Porporato Grégoire Grégoire 79.9802223Ruled off
231617 Flag of France.svg André Boillot Jules Goux Peugeot Peugeot 85.4001716Engine trouble
[3] [4]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses [5]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Statistics

Race details

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References

  1. 1 2 Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN   0-915088-05-3.
  2. "Crowd Put at 120,000, New Record Mark". The Indianapolis Star. June 1, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "Indianapolis 500 1920". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN   0-7853-2798-3.
  5. "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1920". ChampCarStats.com.
  6. Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
  7. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
1919 Indianapolis 500
Howdy Wilcox
1920 Indianapolis 500
Gaston Chevrolet
1921 Indianapolis 500
Tommy Milton