May 27 - Dawson & Deltal

May 27, 1913 - One of the story lines at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was how defending Indianapolis 500 champion Joe Dawson did not have a ride for the 1913 event. A last minute by officials to deny E.M. Delling the owner and designer of the Deltal racer his request to be the driver of the car in the race. Delling was deemed too inexperienced. Railbirds were delighted to hear Dawson - the man the press called "Smiling Joe" - finally had a chance to race.