Aitken at the Wheel - 12/18/1909, IMS

This image was published in the December 18, 1909, Sunday Indianapolis News. It shows National Motor Vehicle Company star driver Johnny Aitken at the wheel of the National stock car racer that he drove in the December 17-18 time trials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was the first high-speed event held at the track after it was paved with 3.2 million bricks. Aitken set several speed records for stock cars at the event. I believe the riding mechanic sitting beside Aitken is a young Howdy Wilcox, who won the 1919 Indianapolis 500.
 
Check out other images and articles on this great driver elsewhere on First Super Speedway.

AttachmentSize
Aitken_News121809.jpg1.35 MB