Wasp Wreck - Sun Photo

This image is derived from a photograph originally published in the May 30, 1910 Indianapolis Sun on the final day of racing for the May 1910 race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was the day of the much-anticipated "national championships," a newly-announced distinction by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for select race meets. Car manufacturers were keen to make a great showing. Check out other articles that provide additional summaries on the results of the races staged May 27 and May 28 elsewhere on First Super Speedway.
 
This shows the damage done to the famous Marmon Wasp when a tire let go as it's equally renowned driver, Ray Harroun, entered turn three of the 2.5-mile oval on a practice lap that beautiful Monday morning. Harroun would drive that same machine to victory in the first Indianapolis 500 one year later in 1911. Harroun had won another major contest of the era - the 200-mile Wheeler-Schebler Trophy - just two days prior to the incident.
 
Instead of repeating a lot of information you can find elsewhere on First Super Speedway, let me direct you to the following links for a fuller description of the accident:

• Wreck of the Marmon Wasp (Indianapolis Star).
• An Indianapolis News article about the incident.
• Marmon Wasp repaired.
• Harroun describes what it is like to be in an accident. Note that this article in not about the Marmon Wasp accident but nonetheless I thought it was relevant and you might find it valuable.