Indianapolis Speed

The grandstands were hot. The 2 1/2-mile brick speedway was baking. The audience of 160,000 sweltered. But around and around the track droned 33 little automobiles, each driven by a man cool of nerve and body, competitor in the annual 500-mile Memorial Day motor race at Indianapolis--longest, most racking of U. S. motor contests.

Twelve of the 33 finished. Ray Keech of Philadelphia won. His Simplex Piston Ring Special averaged 97.583 m. p. h. This was slow driving for Winner Keech, who in 1928 held the world's speed record by moving 207.55 m. p. h. at Daytona Beach, Fla. But it was not easy, for he took the notoriously low-banked, treacherous Indianapolis turns without lowering his throttle. His skilled chauffering won him about $40,000.

Louis Meyer of Los Angeles, victor in 1928, was second. His fellow townsman, Bill Spence, described a tragic arc out of his Duesenberg when it slithered into a wall. His was the first Indianapolis fatality since the 1919 race.

In addition to cash prizes, Indianapolis racers win awards for leadership in each lap, awards offered by accessory manufacturers for the successful use of their products--spark plugs, tires, gasoline, ignition. The prize total is high, there is frantic competition. In 1912 Ralph De Palma led for 499 miles, broke down, pushed his car the last mile, finished among the leaders, was disqualified. In 1925 Harry Hartz finished fourth, having driven the last half of the race with his car's frame sprung out of line, the front axle bent, the steering post torn loose from its bracket, a film of oil squirting in his face.

Mascots were plentiful. Peter de Paolo drove this year, as usual, with his small son's first pair of shoes wired to the front springs.