1915 Indianapolis 500

Last updated

5th Indianapolis 500
1915 Indianapolis 500 program cover.jpg
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body AAA
DateMay 31, 1915
Winner Ralph DePalma
Winning EntrantE. C. Patterson
Average speed89.840 mph (144.583 km/h)
Pole position Howdy Wilcox
Pole speed98.90 mph (159.16 km/h)
Most laps led Ralph DePalma (132)
Pre-race
Pace car Packard 6 (Model 5-48)
Pace car driver Carl G. Fisher
Starter Thomas J. Hay [1]
Honorary referee A. R. Pardington [1]
Estimated attendance60,000 [2]
Chronology
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1914 1916

The 5th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1915. The traditional race date of May 30 fell on a Sunday, but race organizers declined to schedule the race for Sunday. The race was set for Saturday May 29, but heavy rains in the days leading up to the race flooded the grounds and made some roads leading to the track impassible. Officials decided to postpone the race until Monday May 31 in order to allow the grounds to dry out. Speedway management would maintain their policy to not race on Sundays until 1974.

Contents

After a loss in 1912, Ralph DePalma succeeded in victory for 1915. DePalma was accompanied by riding mechanic Louis Fountaine.

Starting grid

RowInsideInside CenterOutside CenterOutside
11 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howdy Wilcox 2 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph DePalma 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dario Resta  R 4 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Cooper
25 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gil Andersen 6 Flag of France.svg Jean Porporato  R 8 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bob Burman 9 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Art Klein
310 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tom Alley  R 14 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Grant 15 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie O'Donnell  R 12 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George C. Babcock  R 
417 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg John DePalma  R 7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Noel van Raalte  R 18 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Cooper  R 19 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Carlson
521 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tom Orr  R 22 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Mulford 24 Flag of the German Empire.svg John A. Mais  R 23 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie Rickenbacker
625 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg C. C. Cox  R 26 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Hill  R 27 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Chevrolet  R 28 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willie Haupt
R Indianapolis 500 rookie

Box score

FinishStartNoNameEntrantChassisEngineQualRankLapsStatus
122 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph DePalma [3] E. C. Patterson Mercedes Mercedes 98.5802200Running
233 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dario Resta  R  Peugeot Auto Import Company Peugeot Peugeot 98.4703200Running
355 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gil Andersen
(Johnny Aitken)
Stutz Motor Car Company Stutz Stutz 95.1405200Running
444 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Earl Cooper
(Johnny Aitken)
Stutz Motor Car Company Stutz Stutz 96.7704200Running
51115 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie O'Donnell  R  Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 88.9311200Running
678 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bob Burman Bob Burman Peugeot Peugeot 92.4007200Running
711 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howdy Wilcox Stutz Motor Car Company Stutz Stutz 98.9001200Running
8910 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tom Alley  R  Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 90.0009200Running
91619 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Carlson
(Hughie Hughes)
United States Motor Company Maxwell Maxwell 84.11016200Running
10147 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Noel van Raalte  R  Sunbeam Motor Car Company Sunbeam Sunbeam 86.87014200Running
112428 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willie Haupt R. E. DonaldsonEmdenEmden80.36024200Running
121014 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Grant Fortuna Racing Team, Inc. Sunbeam Sunbeam 89.2910184Loose mud apron
131721 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tom Orr  R 
(Billy Carlson)
United States Motor Company Maxwell Maxwell 83.55017168Axle bearing
1466 Flag of France.svg Jean Porporato  R  Sunbeam Motor Car Company Sunbeam Sunbeam 94.7406164Piston
151518 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Cooper  R E. E. Miles & J. W. Gwin Duesenberg Duesenberg 85.55015154Crash SC
161822 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Mulford
(Billy Chandler)
Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 82.72018124Rod
171212 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George C. Babcock  R  Peugeot Auto Import Company Peugeot Peugeot 89.4612117Cylinder
1889 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Art Klein
(Billy Chandler)
Art Klein Duesenberg Duesenberg 90.4508111Smoking
192023 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Eddie Rickenbacker United States Motor Company Maxwell Maxwell 81.97020103Rod
202327 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Chevrolet  R  Louis Chevrolet Cornelian Sterling81.0102376Valve
211317 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg John DePalma  R James E. Watson Delage Delage 87.0401341Loose flywheel
221924 Flag of the German Empire.svg John A. Mais  R  John A. Mais Mais Mercer 81.9701923Left course
232226 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Hill  R C. W. Fuller Bugatti Bugatti 81.5202220Water pump gear
242125 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg C. C. Cox  R Edward D. McNayCino Mercer 81.5202112Timing gears
[4] [5]

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses [6]

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Race statistics

Race details

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. Rankin, William H. (June 1, 1915). "Race Best Ever Says W.H. Rankin". The Indianapolis Star. p. 5. Retrieved June 3, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "Ralph De Palma, Noted Racer, Dies. Driver Triumphed in 1915 at Indianapolis. Elected to Sport's Hall of Fame". The New York Times . Associated Press. April 1, 1956. Retrieved October 2, 2012. Ralph De Palma, pioneer auto racer who probably won more races than any other driver in history, died today of cancer. His age was 72. ... De Palma, winner of the Indianapolis classic in 1915 and twice national champion in the era of Barney Oldfield and Eddie Rickenbacker, had been ailing for ...
  4. "Indianapolis 500 1914". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  5. Popely, Rick; Riggs, Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN   0-7853-2798-3.
  6. "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 31, 1915". ChampCarStats.com.
  7. Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
  8. Nussbaum, Lowell (June 1, 1967). "No Confusion In '15 Race Daly". The Indianapolis Star. p. 33. Retrieved June 19, 2019 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
1914 Indianapolis 500
Rene Thomas
1915 Indianapolis 500
Ralph DePalma
1916 Indianapolis 500
Dario Resta
Preceded by
82.474 mph
(1914 Indianapolis 500)
Record for the fastest average speed
89.840 mph
Succeeded by