After the first training sessions, it became clear that this year, fast cars would not only be the decisive element for a win. As written here: „Speed is only half of the battle“, meaning that durabilty is the second part. Particularly, the track appeared to be bumpy and a different kind of race driving would be required. technically, shock absorbers and steering parts were to be loaded much more that otherwise. It would be more like a „survival of the fittest“.
Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
MOTOR AGE – Vol. XXV 35, No. 22, May 29, 1919 (page 13 + 17)
Indianapolis 500-Mile Race Not to the Fleetest
Indianapolis Race Will See Survival of the Fittest Rather Than Fastest
Track Is Bumpy and Probably Will Cut Speed
By B. M. Ikert – Motor Age Editorial Staff
INDIANAPOLIS Speedway, May 25 – This year’s Indianapolis 500 mile race is not going to be won by the fleetest car. It is more than ever going to be a case of survival of the fittest, for while it is true we have faster cars than two years ago, it is equally true we have a rougher track. The drivers are one in saying the track is bumpy, and the majority of them are busy looking after their steering apparatus and shock-absorbing devices.
Yesterday and to-day were the first days the knights of the gasoline circuit could get out in force after a week’s siege of rain. Late in the afternoon Saturday De Palma in the Packard reeled off a lap in 1:31.8, or about 98 m.p.h. O’Donnell in the Duesenberg did a lap in 1:33, or a little over 96 m.p.h. Other drivers in Saturday’s and Sunday’s workout included Ira Vail, Hitke, Sarles, Hickey, Goux, Thomas, Guyot, Wilcox, Cooper, Klein, Buzane, Cotey, Brown, Kirkpatrick and Alley. No driver attempted to cut loose to the limit, for most of them were simply trying their mounts between adjustments. In many cases different makes of plugs were experimented with. De Palma and Cooper put up a real brush for five or six laps.
Monday morning the technical committee will start in measuring the bore and stroke of the various engines. This will be done when the drivers have their engines down preparatory to taking the elimination trials, which occur Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Speed Only Half of Battle
In noting the workouts, it is quite evident the French pilots of the Ballot team might take a hint from their American rivals as to the way of driving on the Hoosier oval for 500 miles. In a race of this kind where endurance of man and machine are vital, speed is only about half the battle. Everything must be done to conserve energy, but the foreign pilots, with the possible exception of Goux and Guyot, do not seem to have considered this from the way they drive their cars. Our American drivers sit down very low in their machines and build up the cowls to shoot the wind over their heads. At a speed of 90 m.p.h. the wind resistance becomes quite a factor and the constant pressure against a man’s head and shoulders will wear him down, especially with the vibration on the Hoosier track.
The French Ballot cars are hung very low, and their pilots sit straight up or if anything lean a trifle forward in a nervous, tense position. The low build of the French cars exposes the men considerably. Guyot, who has driven the track before, has built a small shield on his cowl to throw the wind over his head.
Drivers and mechanics entered in the race were guests of the speedway management at an informal dinner Saturday night.
Oldfield’s record lap of 1:27 for the Indianapolis track is doomed to be erased soon, for Ralph de Palma in the big Packard is going to attack Barney’s record during the elimination trials this week. There is little doubt here but that de Palma will hang up a new record from the performance of the Packard at Daytona this year. The big Packard and a replica of the car Ralph will drive in the sweepstakes are on exhibition at the Fisher Automobile Co. here.
There are many rumors here as to why the Sunbeams were scratched. Some hold they were too slow, while other authorities say a critical vibration is set up at a maximum engine torque, which cannot be obviated at this late date. Resta is now in New York, but there is talk that he will act as pit manager on the Ballot team.
During Sunday’s tryouts, Buzane in the Premier rolled over three times, but both driver and mechanic got off with a few bruises and sprained ankle. The engine was not damaged and will be put in the other Premier, which was not equipped originally with as fast an engine. No driver has been announced as yet for it, unless Buzane recovers sufficiently to take the wheel.
MOTOR AGE will be represented at the Indianapolis 500-mile Liberty sweepstakes race Saturday by a complete corps of writers and photographers. How and why the race was won will be told in the issue for next week. Don’t miss this. It will give you an inside view on racing and racing drivers