Louis Chevrolet Buick Relief Driver

Although Lewis Chevrolet had retired from auto racing to form the Chevrolet Motor Company with William Durant in 1911, the sense of grandeur about the first Indianapolis 500 compelled him to throw his hat in the ring as a relief driver. At first he considered the Buick team, and then later he offered his services to Amplex. None of those cars would last long enough in the race for a relief driver to be necessary.
 
Nonetheless, this announcement from the May 8 Indianapolis Star underscores the sense of importance the Indianapolis 500 had taken on - even before the cars lined up for the start.