May 21 - The Struggle for Entries

May 21, 1915 - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway's announced limit on the number of starters - 30 - for the Indianapolis 500 would obviously not be tested. An entry list of 29 was reduced by one when Fred Adams' Smada racer was withdrawn. There simply was not enough time for the team to get their act together. Prominent European journalist Charles Faroux of La Vie Automobile, attracted to Indianapolis by the participation of the French Peugeot team, arrived at the Speedway. On the track several veterans practiced with the three car Stutz team dazzling railbirds by running in tandem to simulate race conditions. Members of the National Motor Vehicle Company, the winning manufacturer of the 1912 Indianapolis 500, decide to help Peugeot with their tire wear problem. They wheeled out their winning car of the year before for Jules Goux to run exhibition laps - and get a feel for the Hartford shock absorbers used by the car. These shocks would be added to the Peugeot. National's president, Art Newby, was one of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and track officials wanted to encourage international competition and made every effort to be gracious hosts. National had withdrawn from racing after their 1912 victory.