Text and photos compiled by motorracingistory.com, with courtesy of hathitrust.org / Digital Library, USA.
Motor Age, Vol. 47, No. 23, June 4, 1925
A Bulletined Story of the Race
The Thirteenth Indianapolis Derby’s Step-by-Step Progress as Seen by a Witness in the Press Pagoda
BY CLARENCE PHILLIPS
THIS is the „running story“ of the race. It deals with the contest as it progresses and is intended to give the picture of shifts, troubles and spectacular high spots as seen by a press stand witness.
It is not intended, however, to be an authentic record of happenings and it might omit some features that another witness would have jotted down. Everyone doesn’t see the same things at a contest of this nature, but the press stand observer has an advantage over thousands of others which enables him to draw on his impressions for a picture which is reasonably accurate and complete.
Indianapolis, May 30.
INDIANAPOLIS is all set for the thirteenth annual grind on the celebrated brick speedway. As usual, only more so, the city is packed with people from all points of the compass. The weather bureau promises good racing weather but likely it will be hot out here at the track. Last year when we saw Joe Boyer and L. L. Corum wheel a Duesenberg to victory it was chilly enough for light overcoats.
Right now, at 8 o’clock, you can hear any sort of speculations. Many questions are being put which only the end of the race will answer.
For one thing, people are wondering what the front wheel drive will do. It will be driven by Dave Lewis – the Junior Eight Special. While Lewis did not make anything like the time Duray, De Paolo and Hartz did in the trials, there’s an idea in some quarters that the front wheel drive will step up with or ahead of the flock in actual battle.
Then, here and there you find strong Fiat boosters. They think Bordino has more than a fair chance. Also-what about Duray?
Duray certainly showed a lead foot in the trials, grabbing the pole position at an average of 113.19 miles an hour. Right behind him by an eyelash in the trials Pete De Paolo, the Duesy flyer, made a strong bid for notice. Pete’s record makes him look good and it might be said that he is easily one of the high favorites. As for records, though, there are others in the race. Tommy Milton at last count stood at the head. of this year’s class on points. Up in the high group also were Cooper, Hartz and Bennie Hill.
The way the betting odds stand now you can’t do better than even money on any of the favorites. „That Fiat is really dangerous,“ an eminent technical man just hissed in my ear. Another for the Fiat.
Bordino’s red Fiat, No. 22, is the first race car out on the bricks. It is headed for the pit. Only 8:55 now. The fuss begins at 10-and sharp, according to tradition. Crowds are pouring in in spite of the fact that the place looks jammed already.
Airplanes are sailing overhead, and movie men are grinding their picture mills. Many thousands have lunch boxes with them – here for the day.
A rabbit scared up from somewhere is running down the track. He keeps on running on the bricks because there is no place for the poor devil to turn out and the whoops of the stands only make him set back his ears and beat it all the harder. „It’s the pacemaker,“ wheezes my technical friend.
He’s wrong this time, though, for the pacemaker, Eddie Rickenbacker, in a car bearing his own name comes in front of the press stand.
The announcer tells us that M. C. Jones will drive No. 7, the Skelly Special, with Fred Harder as relief driver. We’d like to have this thing start.
More information from the megaphone. The Super Ford Special, with Belt aboard, was scratched, as was the Smith Special, which was to be piloted by Harry Thickstein and Tom Alley’s Kess Line Special.
That leaves 22 starters. Last year 21, still it is a small field. It is small but it is high class. Crowd estimated now at 145,000, including the several gentlemen pushing me from behind.
Drivers Take Positions
There goes the first bomb. The race will be on in 20 minutes. The drivers are forming in position. Duray, in his Miller job, takes the pole.
Another bomb. Drivers and mechanics gather in center of the track to be photographed. Howard C. Marmon, of the board of judges, forecasts an average of 102 miles. Also, that the winning car will only have one tire change – the right rear.
The mechanics are cranking up. There is the roar of engines rearing to go and plenty of smoke. Not as much smoke, though, as in the old days.
Seth Klein, starter, comes out on his roost with the red flag.
The pacemaker starts – the pack is on his heels and the game is under way.
To add to the thrill of the start two airplanes are zooming over the stands.
Necks are stretched southward and the crowds yell as the drivers flash over the bricks past the stands. Peter De Paolo, in a Duesenberg, is in the lead, Duray in a Miller is next and then Harry Hartz in a Miller.
The leaders are close together and, of course, the entire crowd well bunched. No one was left at the post on the start. Pete De Paolo did have a hard time getting off and surprised the crowd when he leaped into the lead on one round after that handicap. The Jones-Whitaker, with Herbert Jones at the wheel, is tagging the crowd.
Elliott First to Pits
Frank Elliott in a Miller goes to the pit. First pit stop. The Skelly Special, handled by M. C. Jones, next to the pit. First lap was made in 1:26:65 at the rate of 104 miles an hour. Last year Joe Boyer reeled it off at 98.39 m.p.h. but. got into trouble as a consequence. The first two laps were made at an average of 104.80 m.p.h.
On the fourth lap De Paolo is well in the lead. Duray still second; Earl Cooper, in a Miller, third; Hartz, in a Miller, fourth, and Ralph Hepburn, in a Miller, fifth. The race is just getting well under way. Cooper is stepping out like he means business.
Cooper has passed Duray and taken second place. Earl is still going fast. The first 10 miles was clipped off in 5:45.04.
Bordino with the Fiat goes to the pits. His supercharger is the noisiest one on the place. De Paolo has a 200 yard lead and Cooper is hotly followed by Duray. Fred Comer, in a Miller, is coming up some.
Bordino is away from the pits again – stopped for 55 seconds, changed spark plugs. Cooper is increasing his lead on Duray. Frank Elliott to the pits for spark plugs.
De Paolo increases his lead over Cooper-Duray is about 100 yards behind Earl.
De Paolo is Leading
Announcer says the Jones-Whitaker stopped on a flag for instructions. The first 25 miles was reeled off in 14:24:09 – De Paolo leading. Skelly Special drops in on pitmen again – this time to change spark plugs.
Positions of leaders at end of first 25 miles: De Paolo, Cooper, Hartz, Duray, Lewis, Hepburn, Ellingboe, Shafer, Mil- ton, Mourre. Last year an average of 99.15 was made for this distance. They are galloping along five miles faster than last year.
De Paolo’s car is smoking some. Ralph De Palma, in his Miller, slows down at pit, points to a tire and goes on by. Next time around finds Ralph at pits. De Paolo laps Shattuck in a Miller, Pete now being on his 18th lap. De Palma spent 50 seconds at pit for shock absorber adjustment.
Moss is now driving Jones-Whitaker Special for Herbert Jones‘ relief. The first fifty was run at an average rate of 104.13 m.p.h. De Paolo laps Mourre. He is about 14 seconds ahead of Cooper. Pete is running like a watch. Hill to the pits.
Bordino, the Italian driver and only foreign entrant, is two laps behind De Paolo. Pete dashes by several of his competitors, the crowd cheers and Cooper seems to be gaining right now on De Paolo.
Bennie Hill goes to pits for shock absorber adjustment and is out in 1 minute and 25 seconds. Ellingboe goes into pits for same purpose and is off in 1. minute and 10 seconds.
First Car Out of Race
Ellingboe sheered a key, on the steering gear and his car, a Miller Special, is out of the race. First car to get out. The clash at this point is between De Paolo and Cooper. Harder has taken the helm of the Skelly, its second relief.
De Paolo lapped his Uncle Ralph at 75 miles. The positions at 75 miles of the first group: De Paolo, Cooper, Hartz, Lewis, Duray, Shafer, Hepburn, Mourre, De Vore, Milton.
Skelly again to pit. Cooper is closing the distance between himself and the leader. The fight is still between Pete and Earl. Neither has gained much additional advantage in some time, although they are seesawing considerably. Lewis in the front wheel drive is making a steady race. Now in fourth position and gaining on Hartz in third.
Ellingboe has relieved Hill in a Miller. The car is not in the first 10 of the field at this time. M. C. Jones again takes wheel of the Skelly.
The first 100 miles was zipped off in 57:44:94 at an average of 103.89. Last year’s average 98.35. They are traveling.
Positions: De Paolo, Cooper, Hartz, Shafer, Lewis, Duray, Hepburn, De Vore, Mourre, Milton.
De Paolo, Cooper and Hartz have been holding well to their present positions. Shafer has come from sixth place to fourth in his Deusy. McDonogh was sent to pits by broken truss rod and for gas. Shafer passes Cooper for second place. A race is on between Shafer and Pete, his stable mate. They are doing some interesting grinding.
Time for 125 miles: 1:12:12.18. Average 103.87 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.43.
Shafer Passes De Paolo
Shafer passes De Paolo and takes first position. The fans yell. Everyone watches to see how the case will stand on the next turn. They pass us, Shafer 75 yards ahead. The Duesenberg stable sits pretty at this period. Cooper, in third place, is a quarter of a mile behind. Bordino now three laps behind. Mourre goes to pits.
Time for 150 miles is 1:26:22 at an average of 104.20 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.36. Skelly to the pits again. Duray is slipping. Held fifth place for some time, but now in sixth.
Ellingboe, driving Bennie Hills‘ mount, turned around three times at north turn when right rear tire went flat. On 61st lap. Ira Vail visits pits.
De Paolo has jumped back into the lead amid howls from the stands. The boy is popular. Ellingboe put in 1 minute and 28 seconds at pits for tire, gas, oil and adjustments.
Bennie Hill driving No. 3 again. Vail passes out of the picture with the R. J. Special with broken rod. Skelly goes to pit.
Time at 175 miles: 1:40:47.26. Average 104.18 m.p.h. Last year 98.36 was the average. Order: De Paolo, Shafer, Hartz, Lewis, Cooper, Duray, Hepburn, Milton, Bordino, Mourre.
Cariens relieves Hill. Hartz goes from fourth to third place Lewis goes from sixth to fourth place. Cooper slumps from third to fifth. These changes in the last 25 miles.
Bordino goes to pit. Jones relieves Moss in Jones-Whitaker job. Shafer’s right rear tire flat. Cooper passes Shafer during former’s pit stop. Shafer off again but lost lap to De Paolo, who is leading. Right rear tire goes flooey for Pete Kreis in a Deusy. The right rears are catching it. That was predicted. The turns on these bricks are especially hard on them.
Bordino Given Relief
Mourre, who was relieved by Gleason, is driving for Bordino in the Fiat. Bordino injured hand and went to hospital.
Some excitement on the south stretch. It develops that the Jones-Whitaker car, driven by Herb Jones, hit the wall and caught fire, Jones jumping out and es- caping injury. The car is out of it.
There are 18 drivers in the race now out of 22 starters.
Time at 200 miles: 1:25:36.89. Average 103.79. Last year’s average 98.38. Looks like a track record again is on the way. Order at this time: De Paolo, Hartz, Lewis, Duray, Hepburn, Shafer, Cooper, Milton, Kreis, Gleason (driving for Mourre).
Hartz passes De Paolo on the 86th lap. In the last 25 miles Lewis has come up to third from fifth place. The front wheel drive is working well.
Now De Paolo passes Hartz and again takes first place. Elliott to pits. Tire trouble. De Paolo lengthens lead over Lewis. De Palma is six laps behind his flashing nephew, De Paolo.
Haibe takes Elliott’s seat on No. 27, a Miller.
Time at 225 miles, 2:10:12.2. Average 103.68 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.63.
Positions: De Paolo, Hartz, Cooper, Lewis, Hepburn, Duray, Shafer, Milton, Gleason, Kreis.
Right Rear Tires Are Going
Hartz goes to pits. Right rear tire. Shafer to pits. Ditto. Jerry Wonderlich now driving for Bennie Hill. Jones- Whitaker is back in race after the fire. Referee rules it can continue.
Time at 250 miles: 2:24:59.31. Average 103.45. Last year’s average 98.78.
Order: De Paolo, Lewis, Hepburn, Duray, Shafer, Hartz, Milton, Gleason, Shattuc.
De Paolo goes to pit for new right rear tire. Hartz hit wall at south turn, with blown right rear tire. Not hurt. Right rears continue to go. These are all balloon tires today. Their introduction at the Indianapolis track.
Lewis is now in the lead as De Paolo stops at pit. The Jones-Whitaker is out of the race.
Norman Batten is now driving for De Paolo, the latter having blistered his hands.
Hepburn is in lead at 108th lap. Wade Morton, now driving Mourre’s original mount, goes to pits.
Time at 275 miles: 2:41:36.48. Average 102.10 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.08. Order: Hepburn, Cooper, Shafer, Batten, Lewis, Hartz, Milton, Morton, Kreis, De Palma.
Comer relieves Duray. Eighteen cars still in race. The scene has shifted considerably in the front ranks. Gleason now driving the Mourre mount, Morton getting out. Schultz is driving for Earl De Vore in a Miller. De Palma goes to pits, followed by Hepburn on his 116th round. Milton to pits.
Corum Relieves De Palma
L. L. Corum, co-winner with Boyer last year, relieves De Palma in a Miller. Hepburn holds lead. Ellingboe in a Miller Special, originally driven by Bennie Hill, is out of race on 68th lap. Broke rear spring and had bearing trouble. Duray took on oil, gas and two tires in 30 seconds.
Time at 300 miles: 2:56:33.50. Average 101.95 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.17. Order: Hepburn, Cooper, Shafer, Batten (for De Paolo), Lewis, Hartz, Milton, Kreis, Gleason, Duray.
Hepburn loses lead to Cooper on 121st lap when former stops at pits for gas, oil and water – also right front and right rear tires. Off again in 35 seconds.
Cooper is leading nicely. Has not been to pit yet.
Cooper just hit the wall on the south turn – his 124th lap. Wasn’t hurt.
Lewis goes into lead, with Cooper out, followed by Batten in De Paolo’s chariot and Hepburn.
De Paolo is back in No. 12, replacing Batten, who relieved him. He is in third place.
Time at 325 miles, 3:12:51.97. Average 101.11 m.p.h. Average last year 97.77. Order: Lewis, Shafer, Hepburn, De Paolo, Hartz, Milton, Kreis, Gleason, Duray, Corum (for De Palma).
Pete Steps on It
De Paolo has come up to third place but Lewis has a long lead. De Paolo is moving ahead like a bullet. Kreis goes to pit.
Elliott, who was relieved by Haibe, is again driving the No. 27 Miller.
Time at 350 miles, 3:27:23.24. Average 101.26 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.01. Order: Lewis, Shafer, De Paolo, Hepburn, Hartz, Milton, Kreis, Gleason, Duray, Corum (for De Palma).
Bennie Hill is driving McDonogh’s Miller. De Paolo passes Shafer and chases Lewis.
Comer is in No. 5, his own mount. Hepburn gets third position temporarily but Shafer takes it from him. Hartz to fourth position. Tommy Milton crawls up a notch to fifth place. Lewis, the leader, is on his 149th lap.
De Paolo continues to gain on the front wheel drive. Shafer is a lap and a half behind Lewis, in third place.
Time at 375 miles: 3:42:01.15. Average 101.34 m.p.h. Last year average 98.34. Order: Lewis, De Paolo, Shafer, Hartz, Milton, Gleason, Duray, Kreis, Corum (for De Palma), Mourre (for Bordino).
Lewis had held lead since the 325 mile mark was reached.
De Palma now driving No. 8 again, Corum stepping out.
McDonogh now driving No. 14 again, replacing Bennie Hill, who relieved him.
Looks Like an Accident
Shafer goes to pits on 160th lap. Trouble of some sort at north end of track. People standing up and looking.
Time at 400 miles: 3:56:30.20. Average 101.48 m.p.h. Last year’s average 98.21. Lewis, De Paolo and Shafer still lead.
Morton driving No. 9 for Phil Shafer – a Duesenberg.
Bordino is again driving the Fiat.
Here’s the report of the accident that’s been bothering us. No. 23, a Duesenberg Special driven by Gleason as relief, hit a side wall. Car is out of the race, but Gleason is uninjured.
Elliott was in the pits 11 seconds for a tire change.
Time at 425 miles: 4:11:14.52: Average 101.49. Last year’s average 98.36. Lewis, De Paolo, Shafer, Hartz, Milton and Duray are heading the procession.
De Paolo Again Leads Pack
Lewis slows down as if to stop at pit but does not stop. Goes on around. Lewis stops at pit on 173rd lap and De Paolo again takes the lead.
Hill drives the front wheel job for Lewis.
Shafer goes to second place; Hill is third and Hartz and Milton next in order. Hill takes in after the two ahead of him, but he is little more than a lap behind Pete. It is warming up into a race. Hill is stepping on the gas with a heavy foot.
On the 181st lap Pete finds Bennie still fighting to overhaul him but Pete now widens distance. Bennie is some 150 yards behind Pete-plus a lap. The crowd is excited. It wants to see a good finish and the end is not far off now.
Time at 450 miles: 4:26:28.87. Average 101.32. Last year 98.18. Order: De Paolo, Hill (for Lewis), Morton (for Shafer), Hartz, Milton, Duray, Kreis, Shattuc, De Palma, Bordino.
Fifty more miles to go. The question Will the front wheel drive be able to overtake De Paolo in so short a distance? Pete has a lap to the good and is breezing along at a rapid clip.
But look at that Junior Eight! It certainly takes the turns beautifully. On the 184th lap the Junior Eight takes in considerable slack. It looks like an almost impossible thing for Hill to do the trick. A little pit trouble for Pete, how- ever, and it might be all off for him as to first place.
Hill nearly overtakes Pete in front of the stands. The fans are yelling again. They like this sort of stuff. Hill is about to go by Pete at the turn when the little Duesy driver ties a brick on his foot and shoots around the curve-ahead – and a lap to the good on Bennie.
A thrilling finish is in sight even if Peter has this lap to the good. On the 188th lap De Paolo and Hill continue the fight. Morton, driving for Shafer in third place, is about two laps behind.
Are Running Abreast
The people in the stands are on their feet, yelling. Bennie and Peter are about abreast. Around they come again. Now the Junior Eight is about 100 yards ahead of Pete and going at a terrific rate. Pete still has nearly a lap to the good on the 500-mile distance.
Again, they swing around in front of us. Not much change in relative positions, but both are moving mighty fast. Hill is gaining rapidly.
On the 196th lap De Paolo is only half a lap ahead of Hill. Hill goes by. It seems like Pete is a long while coming along. The suspense makes everything quiet, save for the zooming of the different cars as they rush past. You can’t keep from wondering if De Paolo has had trouble.
But by us he comes, his car apparently in good order. The answer to his late arrival is found likely in two places. First, in the high speed of the Junior Eight and next in possible signal from his pit to take it easy and not burn up his mount now. For, barring accident, he seems to have the race tucked away.
De Paolo starts on the 199th lap. Seth Klein, the starter, is ready with flags. De Paolo is given the green flag. More yelling. The last lap of De Paolo’s distance is started.
The checkered flag is waved as De Paolo dashes past the finish line. How they yell. Peter continues the grind as a safeguard against misunderstanding — then is given a big ovation as he drifts up toward Fred Duesenberg and the Duesenberg pits.
He made a new record for the Indianapolis speedway, stepping off the distance in 4 hours 56 minutes and 39.47 seconds. His average was 101.13 m.p.h. against 98.23 made last year by the Boyer-Corum team, also in a Duesenberg, the best previous record.
Hill, driving the front wheel drive Junior Eight for Dave Lewis, finished in 4:57:33.15 at an average of 100.82 m.p.h. Morton, driving a Duesenberg for Shafer, finished in 4:59:26.79, at an average of 100.18 m.p.h. Hartz finished with an average of 98:89 m.p.h. in fourth place and the first four beat the record made last year. Information about the other finishes will be found elsewhere in this issue of the magazine. It was a fine exhibition of speed and crafty driving. The next problem is to get out of this mob and back to the hotel.
Photo captions.
Page 18 – The checkered flag of victory waves for daring little Pete DePaolo, driving Duesenberg No. 12 over the finish tape.
Page 19 – Getting under way for the start of the record-breaking race. The speedy cars are going into the north turn on the first lap.
Page 20 – AT 9:10 A STRAY RABBIT ROMPED DOWN THE STRETCH, APPARENTLY AN OMEN OF GOOD LUCK FOR EVERYONE
Page 21 – So fast the camera could barely get it. A flash view of the speedy Miller front-drive car (Junior Eight) driven brilliantly to second place by Dave Lewis and Bennett Hill. Lewis (left) and Hill are shown talking it over after the race.
