First Indianapolis 500 - 1911

This is a large collection of articles concerning the 1911 Indianapolis 500. This content covers practice and preparation for the event, many featuring the star drivers such as eventual winner Ray Harroun, Ralph Mulford, Bob Burman and Ralph DePlama. Barney Oldfield, who was banned by the AAA during this period and missed the first Indianapolis 500, wrote a racing column and several of his contributions are contained in this folder. Complete race day coverage is yet to be added, but will be included them in the future.

Mulford: "Gumdrop Kid"

Here are two articles originally published May 27, 1911 in the Indianapolis Sun. My favorite is a brief bio sketch of Ralph Mulford that is associated with an image.
De Palma's "Head Work"

This article was originally published in the Indianapolis Sun on May 27, 1911. This is the same article that ran in the May 28 Indianapolis Star that describes De Palma's views on what it takes to win a race like the first Indianapolis 500.
Ticket Prices Soar

This article was originally published in the May 29, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. It reports on the high level of interest in the first Indianapolis 500 in the days leading up to the historic event. Because of "scalpers," ticket prices increased five-fold, and the throngs of visitors were likened to molten lead or locusts forming a dark cloud through the streets. That imagery is a little surprising, given that the influx of people from across the country and throughout the world was generally viewed by Indianapolis residents and leaders as a good thing.
Burman's Records, Church Ire

These two articles were originally published in the May 29, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. The best is a report on the events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the day before the Indianapolis 500 when Bob Burman set several records. An interesting point that I had not come across before is that his Blitzen Benz may have caught fire - and the flames were extinguished with dirt from flower pots!
Millionaires in First Indy 500

This is an interesting article that was originally published in the May 29, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. Three "millionaire" drivers are discussed: David Bruce-Brown, Ralph Beardsley and Caleb Bragg. Bruce-Brown and Beardsley are both compared to Adonis. Bruce-Brown is called a "blonde giant." The article reports that Bragg's mother bought him his car.
Bettors Make Mercedes Favorite

This brief article was originally published in the May 29, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. It reports on the odds for cars to win the first Indianapolis 500 based on bets booked up to that time. The favorite was the Mercdes of Spencer Wishart. Note, too, that the ALCO that won the previous two Vanderbilt Cups in the hands of driver Harry Grant is rated near the top at 7-to-1.
Bruce-Brown Leads at 90 Miles

This article was published race day, May 30, 1911 in the Indianapolis Sun. It is a mid-race report and the speed to press compromised its accuracy. The glaring error is that it reports that Amplex driver Art Greiner was killed in his lap 12 accident that claimed the life of his riding mechanic, Sam Dickson.
Aristocracy of Race Drivers

This article was originally published in the May 30, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. This is a nice article that provides a quick overview of star drivers competeing in the first Indianapolis 500. I noted that Cole Team cars of "Farmer" Bill Endicott and Johnny Jenkins were green, a color that would eventually become the subject of superstition.
Promise of Speed, Prospect of Blood

These articles were originally published in the May 30, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. As I have noted elsewhere, the sensationalism of newspaper coverage dwelling on the potential of injuries and fatal accidents was prevelant and would be considered in poor taste today. There are three articles in this package, all focusing on the throngs of people swarming the race.
Front Page - Harroun Wins!

This item was originally published in the May 31, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. This is really just an image, but I wanted to show it in the context of the front page in which it appeared. It shows winner Ray Harroun and his Marmon Wasp crossing the finish line in the first Indianapolis 500.