1914 Indianapolis 500

Last updated

4th Indianapolis 500
1914 Indianapolis 500 program cover.jpg
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 30, 1914
Winner René Thomas
Winning Entrant Delage
Average speed82.474 mph (132.729 km/h)
Pole position Jean Chassagne
Pole speedGrid set by blind draw
Most laps led René Thomas (102)
Pre-race
Pace car Stoddard-Dayton
Pace car driver Carl G. Fisher
Starter Thomas J. Hay [1]
Honorary refereeJohn A. Wilson [1]
Estimated attendance110,000 [2]
Chronology
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1913 1915

The 4th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1914.

Contents

René Thomas was the race winner, accompanied by riding mechanic Robert Laly.

Background

Race history

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909, and the first motorsport event at the track, a series of motorcycle races, was held in August of that year. [3] A series of automobile races were held in 1909, but concerns were raised about the condition of the course after numerous accidents, including a fatality. [4] The track was re-paved at a high-cost to Carl G. Fisher and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and further series of races took place in 1910. Fisher was worried about the dwindling attendances at these races, and decided to establish a 500-mile race; double the furthest distance of any previous race at the track. He went on to announce that the track would host no other races during the year, and that the prize for first place would be $25,000: more than 10 times higher than any other race. [5] The total prize-fund was $85,000. [6] Fisher's plans paid off, and at the 1911 Indianapolis 500, the inaugural event, newspapers reported that in excess of 80,000 people attended the race. [7] Each of the first two races were won by Americans; Ray Harroun in 1911 and Joe Dawson in 1912. In 1913, the large prize-fund attracted European teams and racers, and the race was won by Jules Goux in a Peugeot. [7]

Rule changes

During the 1913 race, Jules Goux and his riding mechanic had drunk 45 pints of champagne, [8] during each of his pit stops. For 1914, the consumption of alcohol during the race was banned. [9] Riding mechanics were mandatory for the 1914 race. [10] The maximum engine size remained unchanged at 450 cubic inches (7,400 cc) of engine displacement. [11]

Report

Elimination trials

Georges Boillot set the fastest time during the elimination trials, exceeding 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) along the straights. Georges Boillot at the 1914 French Grand Prix.jpg
Georges Boillot set the fastest time during the elimination trials, exceeding 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) along the straights.

There were 45 entrants for the race, but only the quickest 30 drivers during the elimination trials would qualify for the race. The first day of trials was completed on the Monday before the race, 25 May. Caleb Bragg set the fastest official time on the first day, recording 1:36.8, though it was reckoned that Howdy Wilcox went quicker, but his time was not officially recorded. Ralph DePalma, a crowd favourite, struggled in his Mercedes and could only manage a quickest time of 1:47.4, slower than the 1:45 that it was predicted drivers would have to beat in order to qualify. Only fifteen of the drivers ran on the first day, and they continued with two sessions on the Tuesday. [12] On the second day, three drivers set record times around the Speedway: first the 1912 winner, Joe Dawson, set an unofficial lap time of 1:34.8. Later in the day Teddy Tetzlaff completed a lap in 1:33.4, while Jules Goux finished the day as the fastest driver, with a time of 1:31.7. Tetzlaff's lap was completed in a Maxwell which was fuelled with a 50:50 mix of gasoline and kerosene; the other Maxwell, driven by Billy Carlson, set a time of 1:36.6 fuelled by a combination of kerosene and lucubrating oil, with no gasoline. [13] Ray Harroun, who had won the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911, designed the Maxwell car, and was given $10,000 (equivalent to $314,000in 2024) by the company's president as a reward for the cars qualifying with sub-1:37 times. [14]

By the end of the second day, 21 drivers had completed speed trials, and all but DePalma and Eddie Pullen had times below 1:45. Hughie Hughes's car suffered a broken crank case, preventing him from being able to set a qualifying time. [15] On the final day of the trials, DePalma managed to make significant improvements in his Mercedes, and qualified with the twentieth fastest time overall, in 1:42.12. Georges Boillot set the overall fastest time, edging out his teammate Goux by completing a lap in 1:30.13, exceeding 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) along the straights. [14] The slowest of the thirty qualifiers was Harry Grant in a Sunbeam, with a lap time of 1:44.09. [16]

Build up

The 1914 winning car, now located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum Indy500winningcar1914.JPG
The 1914 winning car, now located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum

After the rigours of the elimination trials, DePalma withdrew from the race, claiming that his car had been vibrating so heavily that his engine would not survive the race. His place was taken by Ray Gilhooley in the Italian-built Isotta car. [17] Gilhooley was known as a fearless, and sometimes erratic, driver who was feared by his peers, as they considered him unpredictable. DePalma claimed that he had twice seen Gilhooley "tear through a wooden fence at full tilt" on occasions when Gilhooley risked overtakes on dangerous corners. [18] The bookmakers made the 1913 race winner, Goux, the favourite, followed by his Peugeot teammate Boillot. [17] Although the Frenchmen were accepted to be driving the quickest cars, there was some belief in the American press that their English tires might not be as durable as American tires, which could improve the chances of the American drivers. [19]

Race

The starting lineup for the race was determined by random draw the night before the race amongst the qualified drivers. Frenchman Jean Chassagne drew pole position, while Teddy Tetzlaff and Howdy Wilcox completed the front row. Wilcox led the first lap of the race, but the European drivers dominated the day, with five of the top six finishing positions going to them. René Thomas, driving a French-made Delage, led 102 laps en route to victory, setting a new record average speed of 82.47 mph (132.72 km/h). Belgian Arthur Duray finished second after leading 77 laps, roughly 6 minutes 38 seconds behind Thomas. Barney Oldfield finished as the highest place American in fifth placed. [20]

Classification

Elimination trials

PosNo.DriverTime
17Flag of France.svg  Georges Boillot  (FRA)1:30.17
26Flag of France.svg  Jules Goux  (FRA)1:31.71
38Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Teddy Tetzlaff  (USA)1:33.4
416Flag of France.svg  René Thomas  (FRA)1:35.2
526Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Joe Dawson  (USA)1:36.2
625Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Billy Carlson  (USA)1:36.4
721Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Caleb Bragg  (USA)1:36.8
819Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Spencer Wishart  (USA)1:37.1
99Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Josef Christiaens  (BEL)1:38.67
104Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Howdy Wilcox  (USA)1:39.16
1124Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Gil Andersen  (USA)1:39.46
1217Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Bob Burman  (USA)1:39.55
1314Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Arthur Duray  (BEL)1:40
1431Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Billy Knipper  (USA)1:40.48
1543Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Willie Haupt  (USA)1:40.68
1610Flag of France.svg  Albert Guyot  (FRA)1:40.95
1712Flag of France.svg  Jean Chassagne  (FRA)1:41.01
1823Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Ralph Mulford  (USA)1:42.03
1942Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Eddie Rickenbacker  (USA)1:42.11
2018Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Ralph DePalma  (USA)1:42.12
212Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Earl Cooper  (USA)1:42.25
2248Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  S. F. Brock  (USA)1:42.47
2334Flag of France.svg  Ernest Friderich  (FRA)1:42.59
2438Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Billy Chandler  (USA)1:42.81
253Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Barney Oldfield  (USA)1:43.15
2613Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  George Mason  (USA)1:43.22
275Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Charles Keene  (USA)1:43.6
2815Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Art Klein  (USA)1:43.6
291Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Louis Disbrow  (USA)1:43.7
3027Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Harry Grant  (USA)1:44.09

Starting grid

The starting grid was determined by a random draw the night before the race.

RowInsideInside CenterOutside CenterOutside
1Pace car position12 Flag of France.svg Jean Chassagne  R 8 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Teddy Tetzlaff 4 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howdy Wilcox
238 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Chandler  R 25 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Carlson  R 23 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Mulford 9 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Josef Christiaens  R 
315 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Art Klein  R 21 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Caleb Bragg 14 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Arthur Duray  R 10 Flag of France.svg Albert Guyot
431 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Knipper 13 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Mason  R 2 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Cooper  R 16 Flag of France.svg René Thomas  R 
524 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gil Andersen 26 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Dawson  W 34 Flag of France.svg Ernest Friderich  R 6 Flag of France.svg Jules Goux  W 
649 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Gilhooley  R 48 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg S. F. Brock  R 17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bob Burman 42 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie Rickenbacker
71 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Disbrow 19 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Spencer Wishart 27 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Grant 5 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles Keene  R 
843 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willie Haupt 7 Flag of France.svg Georges Boillot  R 3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Barney Oldfield
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Box score

FinishNo.DriverEntrantChassisEngineLapsTime / retiredGrid
116 Flag of France.svg René Thomas  R  Louis Delâge Delage Delage2006:03:45.9915
214 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Arthur Duray  R  Peugeot (Jacques Munier)PeugeotPeugeot200+ 6:38.5010
310 Flag of France.svg Albert Guyot Delage (Albert Guyot)DelageDelage200+ 10:15.7611
46 Flag of France.svg Jules Goux  W  Peugeot (Jules Goux)PeugeotPeugeot200+ 13:38.2719
53 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Barney Oldfield  R 
(Gil Andersen)
Stutz Stutz Wisconsin 200+ 20:05.5530
69 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Josef Christiaens  R  Excelsior (Josef Christiaens)ExcelsiorExcelsior200+ 23:38.017
727 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Grant Sunbeam SunbeamSunbeam200+ 32:36.7126
85 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles Keene  R 
(C. L. Rogers)
Beaver Bullet (Charles Keene)KeeneWisconsin200+ 37:11.8327
925 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Carlson  R 
(Harry Goetz)
(Jack LeCain)
Maxwell / U.S. Motor MaxwellMaxwell200+ 58:56.615
1042 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie Rickenbacker Duesenberg DuesenbergDuesenberg200+ 59:48.6023
1123 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Mulford Mercedes (E.J. Schroeder)MercedesMercedes200+ 1:07:34.016
1243 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willie Haupt Duesenberg DuesenbergDuesenberg200+ 1:26:12.0128
1331 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Knipper
(Bob Burman)
Keeton KeetonWisconsin200+ 1:32:56.0112
147 Flag of France.svg Georges Boillot  R  Peugeot (Georges Boillot)PeugeotPeugeot141Broken frame29
1534 Flag of France.svg Ernest Friderich  R  Ettore Bugatti Bugatti Bugatti134Drive pinion18
161 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Disbrow Bob BurmanBurmanWisconsin128Connecting rod24
1719 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Spencer Wishart Mercer MercerMercer122Cam gear25
182 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Cooper  R 
(Bill Rader)
Stutz StutzWisconsin118Wheel14
1921 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Caleb Bragg
(Eddie Pullen)
Mercer MercerMercer117Camshaft9
2015 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Art Klein  R King (Art Klein)KingWisconsin87Valve8
2138 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Chandler  R  Braender Bulldog Mulford Duesenberg 69Connecting rod4
224 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howdy Wilcox Gray Fox (Frank Fox)Fox Pope-Hartford 67Valve3
2313 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Mason  R 
(Lee Oldfield)
Mason Special Duesenberg Duesenberg66Piston13
2417 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bob Burman Bob BurmanBurmanWisconsin47Connecting rod22
2526 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Dawson  W  Marmon (Charles Ebstein)MarmonMarmon45Crash17
2624 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gil Andersen Stutz StutzWisconsin42Cylinder bolts16
2749 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Gilhooley  R  Isotta (G.M. Heckschew)IsottaIsotta41Crash20
288 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Teddy Tetzlaff Maxwell / U.S. Motor MaxwellMaxwell33Rocker arm2
2912 Flag of France.svg Jean Chassagne  R  Sunbeam SunbeamSunbeam20Crash1
3048 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg S. F. Brock  R RayMercerWisconsin5Camshaft21
Sources: MotorSport magazine, [21] Racing-Reference [22]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

Notes

    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. Hyman, Herbert R. (May 31, 1914). "110,000 Cheer Winner In Race". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    3. Kramer 2009, p. 29.
    4. Kramer 2010, p. 12.
    5. Kramer 2010, pp. 12–17.
    6. Blakely, A. S. (May 30, 1914). "America Endeavors Today to Regain Speed Honors". The Indianapolis Star . p. 1. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    7. 1 2 Kramer 2010, p. 18.
    8. Miller, Denny (2020). Indianapolis Motor Speedway- the Eddie Rickenbacker Era. AuthorHouse. p. 30. ISBN   9781665501446 . Retrieved June 3, 2022.
    9. Swan, Tom (May 2011). "Celebrating the Indy 500's 100th Anniversary: 100 Most Interesting Facts and Milestones". Car and Driver . Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
    10. Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
    11. "Who Will Share the $50,000 In Big Race Meet?". Bismarck Daily Tribune . May 29, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved December 26, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    12. Blankenbaker, R. M. (May 26, 1914). "Time Trials at Speedway Are Started". The Indianapolis Star. p. 7. Retrieved December 24, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    13. Blankenbaker, R. M. (May 27, 1914). "Three Racers Break Marks at Speedway". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    14. 1 2 Blankenbaker, R. M. (May 28, 1914). "De Palma Last To Qualify For 500-Mile Grind". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    15. Blankenbaker, R. M. (May 27, 1914). "Three Racers Break Marks at Speedway". The Indianapolis Star. p. 5. Retrieved December 24, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    16. "Starters in 500-Mile Race and Time in Speed Test". The Indianapolis Star. May 28, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved December 24, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    17. 1 2 "De Palma Out Of Big Race". New York Times. May 30, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved December 26, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    18. "Master Mind + Mechanics = Speed". The Ogden Standard. May 30, 1914. p. 11. Retrieved December 26, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    19. "Americans Rely on Tires; Hope To Win Classic". The Indianapolis Star. May 29, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved December 29, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
    20. Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN   0-7853-2798-3.
    21. "1914 Indianapolis 500". MotorSport magazine. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
    22. "1914 International 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 27, 2020.

    Bibliography

    1913 Indianapolis 500
    Jules Goux
    1914 Indianapolis 500
    Rene Thomas
    1915 Indianapolis 500
    Ralph DePalma
    Preceded by Record for the fastest average speed
    82.474 mph
    Succeeded by