1915 Indianapolis 500
 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
| Date | May 31, 1915 | ||||
| Winner | Ralph DePalma | ||||
| Winning Entrant | E.C. Patterson | ||||
| Average speed | 89.840 mph (144.583 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Howdy Wilcox | ||||
| Pole speed | 98.90 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 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
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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.
After a heartbreaking loss in 1912, Ralph DePalma succeeds in victory for 1915. DePalma was accompanied by riding mechanic Louis Fontaine.
Results
| Finish | Start | No | Name | Qual | Rank | Laps | Led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 |  Ralph DePalma [1]
|
98.580 | 2 | 200 | 132 | Running |
| 2 | 3 | 3 |  Dario Resta (R)
|
98.470 | 3 | 200 | 37 | Running |
| 3 | 5 | 5 |  Gil Andersen
|
95.140 | 5 | 200 | 26 | Running |
| 4 | 4 | 4 |  Earl Cooper
|
96.770 | 4 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 5 | 11 | 15 | Eddie O'Donnell (R)
|
88.93 | 11 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | Bob Burman
|
92.400 | 7 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | Howdy Wilcox
|
98.900 | 1 | 200 | 5 | Running |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | Tom Alley (R)
|
90.000 | 9 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 9 | 16 | 19 | Billy Carlson
|
84.110 | 16 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 10 | 14 | 7 | Noel Van Raalte (R)
|
86.870 | 14 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 11 | 24 | 28 | Willie Haupt
|
80.360 | 24 | 200 | 0 | Running |
| 12 | 10 | 14 | Harry Grant
|
89.29 | 10 | 184 | 0 | Loose mud apron |
| 13 | 17 | 21 | Tom Orr (R)
|
83.550 | 17 | 168 | 0 | Axle bearing |
| 14 | 6 | 6 | Jean Porporato (R)
|
94.740 | 6 | 164 | 0 | Piston |
| 15 | 15 | 18 | Joe Cooper (R)
|
85.550 | 15 | 154 | 0 | Crash SC |
| 16 | 18 | 22 | Ralph Mulford
|
82.720 | 18 | 124 | 0 | Rod |
| 17 | 12 | 12 | George C. Babcock (R)
|
89.46 | 12 | 117 | 0 | Cylinder |
| 18 | 8 | 9 | Art Klein
|
90.450 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Smoking |
| 19 | 20 | 23 | Eddie Rickenbacker
|
81.970 | 20 | 103 | 0 | Rod |
| 20 | 23 | 27 |  Louis Chevrolet (R)
|
81.010 | 23 | 76 | 0 | Valve |
| 21 | 13 | 17 | John DePalma (R)
|
87.040 | 13 | 41 | 0 | Loose flywheel |
| 22 | 19 | 24 |  John A. Mais (R)
|
81.970 | 19 | 23 | 0 | Left course |
| 23 | 22 | 26 | George Hill (R)
|
81.520 | 22 | 20 | 0 | Water pump gear |
| 24 | 21 | 25 | C. C. Cox (R)
|
81.520 | 21 | 12 | 0 | Timing gears |
| [2] | ||||||||
Race details
- For 1915, riding mechanics were required.[3]
- (Note 1) Louis Chevrolet is usually shown as American but his application for a US passport (available at [1]) reveals that he did not become a US citizen until June 1915.
- (Note 2) Ralph DePalma is usually shown as American but his application for a US passport (available at [2]) reveals that he did not become a US citizen until 1920.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1915 Indianapolis 500.
- ^ Associated Press (April 1, 1956). "Ralph De Palma, Noted Racer, Dies. Driver Triumphed in 1915 at Indianapolis. Elected to Sport's Hall of Fame". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
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 ...
- ^ "Indianapolis 500 1914". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.