- -- I>on*t sleep in too late Thursday morning if you The Indianapolis Speedway re interested in the Indianapolis SOO-Mile Spectacle. 5OO-MiIe Memorial Day Class­ It is not that the pace car will get away earlier ic: will be run for the »2nd than the customary 9 a.m. (PUT) starting time, tout with time Thursday. those turbine cars in the race, nobody knows exactly . Por the second year the how early it will end. STE» Turbine-driving car era- - gineered by Andy Granatelli ' There are several ways to enjoy the Indy 5OO. You is expected to be in the spot- can dig into the piggy hank and count out $235 for a iifght. Joe LGraham Hill will drive the No.- Club, including a 935 penthouse seat at the track. TO and 6O turb'ne entries. **or about a five-spot you can visit a selected Parnelli Jones and Ford local partner Vel Melitich are try­ theater or the Sports Arena fo*r a closed circuit version ing to dig enough speed out. of o£ the event. two FV>rd-powered cars to get It is also traditional to mow the lawn or wash the them into the 5OO field Memo­ car while SUt Collins and his crew describe the action rial Day. from atop the pagoda. And, even if they make it. they know they cannot win. Of course, by listening on radio. Sid will tell you There isn't a man at the about some of the telegrams which pour into the booth, Speedway today who doesn't and once again Aggie will be among those interviewed predict a -"hpmefree" victory briefly to make K known he is- on the scene. - - - - - Cor the STP Lotus turbines. . . . except perhaps owner Andy Granatelli. who said Most likely all of this ceremony goes to make the Thursday. "I don't o»i»»lc it's, Indianapolis a foregone conclusion. It's a 5OO truly the greatest spectacle in racing. long race."* Once a driver wins the 5OO. he never again lacks l^ast year, of course, it was* for an opportunity on the banquet circuit and he is too long for Jones seven and forever an attraction at any subsequent race he enters. one-half miles too long. He A number of auto drivers from drove Granatelli's Turbocar the RedK>ndo-Tor- and missed winning the race rance area have qualified for the Indianapolis 5OO down by three laps. through the years. This year Jones pulled out Andy Linden came in fourth one year and Don. of the car because he didn't Freeland was about sixth another time, but for the most think it would be competitive part hardly a beach-breed with the new restrictive en­ had done much better. gine." Then along came a young man who first got in­ Now that the turbine cars terested in the mechanics of automobiles while wash­ have suddenly unleashed re­ ing cars for Oscar Maple Ford in Torrance. He was cord sp*^>ds in the month of young Paroelli Jones.. May, Jones admits he's given Paraelli started driving hotrods at Ascot Park and the decision a lot of second thought, and might have made beoame a great competitor. Rapid experience led to a big mistake. the 1903 Indianapolis 5OO. which he won with a record "I was fooled," said the 34- effort. ~ year-old businessman, ^rear­ No matter what achievements are ahead for Par- ing his trademark boyish grin. nelli Jones, he says flatly nothing will ever equal the "But Andy was fooled, too. thrill of winning that race. He honestly didn't think the But Paraelli may become JONES . e**aria\al driver e* turbines would go this fast. best remembered in rac­ it wats s;« ing history Cor the incredible 19O7 "I didn't think they would Indy 5OO. when ho tlals yfm >lls SOO drivei run as good as they are. Sure. drove the first STP Turbine Car No. -*O. H« ran away Terram«« s»««*ed ws» Tl»««rmday*» (Continued on page 8> with the race from the first turn to a distance of 493 miles later. But a ball-bearing knocked out the gear box and only a compassionate flagman who -stopped the race a few minutes later saved Paraelli sixth place 5O T Dates Back to money. The history of Indianapolis A.uto manufacturers built and extra chores himself. He de­ Motor Parnelli must be an extreme optimist, for he ra­ Speedway goes back: to sponsored most of the cars vised the rear view mirror to August of 19O9 when it was tionalises that the turn of events (in publicity. «tc.> for these drivers. The Speed­ watch for other oars. This has done as much opened as a dirt track and good as winning the raocr; ^ A* ! *. several short races were held. way had a seating capacity mirror, probably the first this is what he says. . : "* "} Because of the dust - prob­ of 5O.OOO. and parking facil­ auto accessory to be tried at ities for Anyway, the kid who once washed and greased cars lem tne track: was paved with BOO cars (most s>eo- the Speedway, was mounted at Oscar Maples is now co-owner of the same bricks for the opening of the ple came by public convey­ establish­ ance). The remaining just in front of the cockpit ment under the name of Vel's-Parnelli Jones Ford- 101O season. A series of short crowd with a special bracket made Dur­ races of SO.OOO was allowed to go ing the grand opening the other day. there were more was again held during at the Marmon factory, and that year, but the fans soon into the infield, and watened was never racing dignitaries on hand than Ray Harroun drive his patented by either anywhere this side of tired of this attraction, and Mar­ Harroun or the people a* the Indiana. the speedway promoters be­ mon Wasp to victory at a Marmon spee-d of 74.59 plant. Torranee has become a recognized part of the rac­ gan looking for a new gim­ mph. F*or his day's work: in win. ing world. Hawthorne Blvd. is becoming mick: to make the track a Harroun's car mrmm tne only ning the first Iivdy 5OO, Har- automobile one in the event ** ~* did no* row. Indy cars are built at a number of nearby ga­ profitable venture. round collected a purse of The idea of a race of 5OO nave benefit of a riding me­ S1O.OOO. So many protests rages Ascot Park is just on the outskirts of town and miles was envisioned at the chanic. These mechanics were there to were registered against him tremendous racing plants are planned for Riverside andj doae of the 191O season and read fl^irtT" **« »*«. for not having a mechanic Ontario, a few miles away. plans for this race were form­ maintain fuel pressure, oheofc: ride with him, that the AAA It is fitting, therefore, that the Press-Herald ulated that time. tire wear, and waftch for the banned all single scat cars at­ The first 5OO was other cars. tempt to contribute something to the interests of the held on from the track and they ^«eie May 3O (Memorial Day) 1911. Ray preferred *o cut down not seen again at the Speed­ racing community by publishing this editftoM. * - ajcMf attracted the best' drivers. on" welir**' and * han«l«fi tnes« way until 1923.