1915 Indianapolis 500

5th 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
Starter	Thomas J. Hay
Honorary referee	A.R. Pardington
Estimated attendance	60,000
Chronology
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.

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

Results

Composite image showing the front row at the start of the 1915 Indianapolis 500.

Finish	Start	No	Name	Qual	Rank	Laps	Led	Status
1	2	2	Ralph DePalma ^[3]	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
^[4]

Race details

For 1915, riding mechanics were required.^[5]
When about 2,000 unsuspecting fans showed up on May 29 for the race (which had already been rescheduled to May 31), Ralph DePalma entertained the fans with a tire changing exhibition.^[6]
(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

^ ^a ^b 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.
^ 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.
^ Associated Press (April 1, 1956). "Ralph De Palma, Noted Racer, Dies. Driver Triumphed in 1915 at Indianapolis. Elected to Sport's Hall of Fame". The 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 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
^ Nussbaum, Lowell (June 1, 1967). "No Confusion In '15 Race Daly". The Indianapolis Star. p. 33. Retrieved June 19, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

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 94.484 mph (1922 Indianapolis 500)

[Illustrated-1] 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.

[3] Associated Press (April 1, 1956). "Ralph De Palma, Noted Racer, Dies. Driver Triumphed in 1915 at Indianapolis. Elected to Sport's Hall of Fame". The 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 ...

[4] "Indianapolis 500 1914". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.

[Riding_Mechanics-5] Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.

[Star05-01-1967pg33-6] Nussbaum, Lowell (June 1, 1967). "No Confusion In '15 Race Daly". The Indianapolis Star. p. 33. Retrieved June 19, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]