1915 Indianapolis 500
Appearance
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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[1] | ||||
Honorary referee | A.R. Pardington[1] | ||||
Estimated attendance | 60,000[2] | ||||
Chronology | |||||
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Ralph_DePalma_%281882-1956%29_at_the_1915_Indianapolis_500.jpg/220px-Ralph_DePalma_%281882-1956%29_at_the_1915_Indianapolis_500.jpg)
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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/1915Indianapolis500StartNewYorkTimes.jpg/250px-1915Indianapolis500StartNewYorkTimes.jpg)
Finish | Start | No | Name | Qual | Rank | Laps | Led | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 2 | ![]() |
98.580 | 2 | 200 | 132 | Running |
2 | 3 | 3 | ![]() |
98.470 | 3 | 200 | 37 | Running |
3 | 5 | 5 | ![]() |
95.140 | 5 | 200 | 26 | Running |
4 | 4 | 4 | ![]() |
96.770 | 4 | 200 | 0 | Running |
5 | 11 | 15 | ![]() |
88.93 | 11 | 200 | 0 | Running |
6 | 7 | 8 | ![]() |
92.400 | 7 | 200 | 0 | Running |
7 | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
98.900 | 1 | 200 | 5 | Running |
8 | 9 | 10 | ![]() |
90.000 | 9 | 200 | 0 | Running |
9 | 16 | 19 | ![]() |
84.110 | 16 | 200 | 0 | Running |
10 | 14 | 7 | ![]() |
86.870 | 14 | 200 | 0 | Running |
11 | 24 | 28 | ![]() |
80.360 | 24 | 200 | 0 | Running |
12 | 10 | 14 | ![]() |
89.29 | 10 | 184 | 0 | Loose mud apron |
13 | 17 | 21 | ![]() |
83.550 | 17 | 168 | 0 | Axle bearing |
14 | 6 | 6 | ![]() |
94.740 | 6 | 164 | 0 | Piston |
15 | 15 | 18 | ![]() |
85.550 | 15 | 154 | 0 | Crash SC |
16 | 18 | 22 | ![]() |
82.720 | 18 | 124 | 0 | Rod |
17 | 12 | 12 | ![]() |
89.46 | 12 | 117 | 0 | Cylinder |
18 | 8 | 9 | ![]() |
90.450 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Smoking |
19 | 20 | 23 | ![]() |
81.970 | 20 | 103 | 0 | Rod |
20 | 23 | 27 | ![]() |
81.010 | 23 | 76 | 0 | Valve |
21 | 13 | 17 | ![]() |
87.040 | 13 | 41 | 0 | Loose flywheel |
22 | 19 | 24 | ![]() |
81.970 | 19 | 23 | 0 | Left course |
23 | 22 | 26 | ![]() |
81.520 | 22 | 20 | 0 | Water pump gear |
24 | 21 | 25 | ![]() |
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
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1915 Indianapolis 500.
- ^ 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.