1915 Indianapolis 500

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5th Indianapolis 500
Indy500winningcar1915.jpg
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 31, 1915
WinnerRalph DePalma
Winning EntrantE.C. Patterson
Average speed89.840 mph (144.583 km/h)
Pole positionHowdy Wilcox
Pole speed98.90 mph (159.16 km/h)
Most laps ledRalph DePalma (132)
Pre-race
Pace carPackard 6 (Model 5-48)
Pace car driverCarl G. Fisher
StarterThomas J. Hay[1]
Honorary refereeA.R. Pardington[1]
Estimated attendance60,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1914 1916
Ralph DePalma at the 1915 Indianapolis 500

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 Entrant Chassis Engine Qual Rank Laps Led Status
1 2 2 Italy Ralph DePalma[3] E. C. Patterson Mercedes Mercedes 98.580 2 200 132 Running
2 3 3 United Kingdom Dario Resta  R  Peugeot Auto Import Company Peugeot Peugeot 98.470 3 200 37 Running
3 5 5 Norway Gil Andersen Stutz Motor Car Company Stutz Stutz 95.140 5 200 26 Running
4 4 4 United States Earl Cooper Stutz Motor Car Company Stutz Stutz 96.770 4 200 0 Running
5 11 15 United States Eddie O'Donnell  R  Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 88.93 11 200 0 Running
6 7 8 United States Bob Burman Bob Burman Peugeot Peugeot 92.400 7 200 0 Running
7 1 1 United States Howdy Wilcox Stutz Motor Car Company Stutz Stutz 98.900 1 200 5 Running
8 9 10 United States Tom Alley  R  Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 90.000 9 200 0 Running
9 16 19 United States Billy Carlson United States Motor Company Maxwell Maxwell 84.110 16 200 0 Running
10 14 7 United Kingdom Noel Van Raalte  R  Sunbeam Motor Car Company Sunbeam Sunbeam 86.870 14 200 0 Running
11 24 28 United States Willie Haupt R. E. Donaldson Emden Emden 80.360 24 200 0 Running
12 10 14 United States Harry Grant Fortuna Racing Team, Inc. Sunbeam Sunbeam 89.29 10 184 0 Loose mud apron
13 17 21 United States Tom Orr  R  United States Motor Company Maxwell Maxwell 83.550 17 168 0 Axle bearing
14 6 6 Italy Jean Porporato  R  Sunbeam Motor Car Company Sunbeam Sunbeam 94.740 6 164 0 Piston
15 15 18 United States Joe Cooper  R  E. E. Miles & J. W. Gwin Duesenberg Duesenberg 85.550 15 154 0 Crash SC
16 18 22 United States Ralph Mulford Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 82.720 18 124 0 Rod
17 12 12 United States George C. Babcock  R  Peugeot Auto Import Company Peugeot Peugeot 89.46 12 117 0 Cylinder
18 8 9 United States Art Klein Art Klein Duesenberg Duesenberg 90.450 8 0 0 Smoking
19 20 23 United States Eddie Rickenbacker United States Motor Company Maxwell Maxwell 81.970 20 103 0 Rod
20 23 27 Switzerland Louis Chevrolet  R  Louis Chevrolet Cornelian Sterling 81.010 23 76 0 Valve
21 13 17 Italy John DePalma  R  James E. Watson Delage Delage 87.040 13 41 0 Loose flywheel
22 19 24 Germany John A. Mais  R  John A. Mais Mais Mercer 81.970 19 23 0 Left course
23 22 26 United States George Hill  R  C. W. Fuller Bugatti Bugatti 81.520 22 20 0 Water pump gear
24 21 25 United States C. C. Cox  R  Edward D. McNay Cino Mercer 81.520 21 12 0 Timing gears
[4][5]

Race details[]

  • For 1915, riding mechanics were required.[6]
  • 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.[7]
  • (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[]

  1. ^ 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.
  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
  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.
  5. ^ Popely, Rick; Riggs, Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-2798-3.
  6. ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.
  7. ^ 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


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
Retrieved from ""