Marmon Accident Ends First IMS Race

Little-known driver Bruce Keene wrecked his Marmon racer during the tragic Wheeler-Schebler Trophy race during the first weekend of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August 1909. This accident occurred 30 minutes after the devastating crash of Charlie Merz' National - an incident that claimed the lives of two spectators and his mechanic, Claude Kellum.
 
Even though Keene and his riding mechanic, James Schiller, were not seriously injured in their mishap their tribulation proved to be the final straw for officials. They stopped and cancelled the race. Despite the fact that 235 of the 300 miles had been completed the event was effectively declared null and void with no winner awarded.
 
This decision yielded controversy as the driver that should have been awarded the victory, Leigh Lynch, was, with his Jackson Automobile Company team, effectively told to go pound sand. When Jackson filed protest, the Speedway and AAA censured them, even barring them from the sport for months.
 
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