Jimmy Murphy - Another Look

This is another great perspective piece from artist David Story. This outstanding sketch captures an image of 1922 Indianapolis 500 winner Jimmy Murphy and his Miller-powered Duesenberg racer. Murphy had used the same chassis as part of the works Duesenberg team onslaught to win the 1921 French Grand Prix. He was successful in that effort and soon purchased the car but chose to swap out the Duesenberg engine for a new powerplant from Harry Miller, who was just establishing himself as a car builder and a force in American championship racing.
 
Murphy was a protege of Tommy Milton, who had established himself as a top-tier driver in the teens. Milton became the first two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1921 and '23. Their relationship was a storied rollercoaster affair as Milton reportedly felt betrayed when Murphy used the land speed record car Tommy had developed to establish a new world record without his permission. That's one version of the story although other reports seem to make it less cut and dried. 
 
For better legibility, here is a portion of the margin notes Story developed to support his art:
 
"James Anthony Murphy began his racing career as a riding mechanic. Jimmy rode with some of the best of his day including DePalma, Rickenbacker, and Milton. Tommy Milton, the 1921 Indy winner, was instrumental in getting Murphy his first ride as a driver. It was the inaugural race at the Beverly Hills Speedway. The Duesenberg factory gave him one of the factory cars to drive. Murphy's drive was impressive and he won in record time. The following year Murphy won the French Grand Prix, which was held among the tree-lined roads of Le Mans. Murphy drove as part of the Duesenberg factory team for the race. His win would make Murphy the first American driver driving an American-built car to do this until Dan Gurney would do it over 40 years later. Murphy brought the Grand Prix-winning car back to the States and won the 1922 Indy 500 with it. Harry Miller became the supreme American race car designer and constructor of the '20's. Murphy considered the Miller engine was better than the Duesenberg engine and Murphy had one installed in his Duesenberg racer. The engine was 183 c.i. It was a straight-eight, four valve, twin-cam engine producing 185 bhp at 4400 rpm. The engine had a ram-tuned intake system with one carburetor for each cylinder. During the 1920's Miller's cars won five Indy 500s."
 
Look for more sketches from David Story here in a special collaboration with First Super Speedway. Take a look at his sketches of other Indianapolis 500 champions Joe Dawson, Jules Goux, Rene Thomas, Ralph DePalma, Dario Resta, Howdy Wilcox, Ray Harroun, and Gaston Chevrolet. Don't miss a second Gaston Chevrolet sketch David produced.