Safety Gear for First Indy 500

The photo and article ran in the May 30, 1911 Indianapolis Star. Looking like a Martian from a 1950's "B" sci-fi flick, there is an image associated with this very brief item that shows Joe Jagersberger allegedly dressed to race in the first Indianapolis 500. I'm a shade incredulous, because I have not seen many photos of any drivers dressed in such a manner, which includes a cloth facemask and elaborate taping analogous to support wrap for an NFL lineman. Nonetheless, this small article is interesting in that it even suggests such safety precautions were utilized. This probably falls in the category of, "you have to see it to believe it."