MOTOR RACING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20000, 16 July 1920, Page 3

MOTOR RACING.

INDIANAPOLIS 5! 500. M LIGHT-WEIGHT GARS MAKE GOOD. All ib-ose interested in the further development of highly efficient^ engines have been waiting for details ol the 000 mile speedwav race held at Indianapolis, U.S.A., on May 31., 19*20. This classic race was won by Gaston Chevrolet driving a Monroe ear designed by his brother; 1.. Chevrolet. Ihe cars were limited to an engine size of three litres piston displacement, which is slightly larger than a Ford and smaller than the Dodge. Aothwithsl.uvTng this, some of the engines in the lace, which are rated at ‘2O if.A.C. horsepowei’v have actually developer) 120 brake horse-power, and the winner averaged 88.10 nines per hour for the 000 miles. This average includes st< ;> . lor oil, water and benzine, The light weight, small engined riming car has made good. It went through a racking, grinding ADO miles extreme speed in a way which delighted and astonished even the most enthusiastic adherents of the light ear idea. I lie winner’s victory, was of minor importance as compared with tin; wonderln! showing made by the small car on its first trial. To he more specific,' every team ol ears which was ready for the'race went through with living colours. /’I he 'Ballots. I'Tontcnaes. .Monroes and Ducsenbergs. to say nothing of individual cars carrying other engines, performed in a wav winch demonstrated clearly That the designers ol to-day are aulo to get quite as much speed, qniuya.s much endurance out. of the light-weight, small engined ears »s their predecessors were not of much larger machines. Six teams of curs in all started' in the race, and lour ot them finished creditably. It was a great race, not spectacular in any sense vd’ the word, but a real trial of the cars, entered. Considered in the light of its importance to the future, of the automobile industry, it. is unsurpassed. For it assured the future of the Tight ear and pioved that light ears ran ho built which at-a in every way the equal of their heavier- brothers nlMho present. The action of Indianapolis iiierclianis in adding the sum of gtl.UOOdol ho the regular speedway purse, to be distributed at the end of each lap in iho race, undoubtedly speeded it up. .Boyer won DbOOdol in lap money, having led at the start ot the nice for 9d laps; Balph de Palma led for 83 hips, which earned him 83(j()(Iol. The winner’;' maze winnings total 21,300d01, including I30t)dol ol lap money, in nddition to this he will draw bonuses from iho equipment manufacturers, making bis winnings approximately 35,000i10l for (lie race. Mow they finished:--First..Monroa (driver, Gaston Chevrolet); l.imc, Ghr lOium hi.Msec; m.p.h.. 83.Ui. Second, Ballot. (Bene Thonirr-d ; lime. shr Minin 2.295ce; in.ji.h-, 87,17. _ Third, Due«enbcrg (Tommy Milton'; lime. Ghr K’.nrn T3.3Bsce; in.p.li., 8b.02. I'ourMi, Duesenberg CUminy ,Mnrphy); time, Mm ."2min 3! M7s;ec ; m.p.h. 8b.10: Fifth, Hallo!; (dalpb do Pahna); fimo Ghr omin 19.loser; m.p.h., 82.12. Sixth. Duesonberg (Eddie Hearno); tii'ie, Ghr 11 min in.ifisef; in.p.li., SO.I-1.