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1913 Indianapolis 500

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3rd Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1913
WinnerJules Goux
Winning EntrantPeugeot
Average speed75.933 mph (122.202 km/h)
Pole positionCaleb Bragg
Pole speedN/A
Most laps ledJules Goux (138)
Pre-race
Pace carStoddard-Dayton
Pace car driverCarl G. Fisher
StarterCharles P. Root[1]
Honorary refereeLaurence Enos[1]
Estimated attendance90,000[2]
Chronology
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1912 1914

The Third International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 30, 1913. Frenchman Jules Goux became the first foreign-born, and first European winner of the Indianapolis 500. His margin of victory of 13 minutes, 8 seconds (approximately 7 laps) over second place Spencer Wishart still stands, as of 2024, as the largest margin of victory in Indianapolis 500 history.

Race Summary

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Jules Goux at 1913 Indy 500

After the entries in the first two years of the Indianapolis 500 had been almost exclusively American, 1913 saw six drivers travel to the United States from Europe to enter, likely attracted by the impressive $20,000 first prize (equivalent to $616,566 in 2023). A total of 27 cars would meet the 75 mile per hour qualifying speed, led by Jack Tower at 88.230 mph.[3] The starting grid was determined by a random draw of names, and Caleb Bragg would be given the pole.

Tower's car turned over on the southwest turn on lap 51, causing him to sustain a broken leg and his riding mechanic, Lee Dunning, to break three ribs.[4] Bob Burman started the race as the favorite, and led 41 laps early, before his car caught fire on lap 55. Burman was able to repair his car and continue, however continuing problems led to several more stops and a replacement driver, who brought the car home in eleventh (unfortunately only the top ten finishers received prize money).[5]

French-born Jules Goux, driving a car owned and manufactured by Peugeot (where his father was the factory Supervisor) would lead the race on four occasions. Bob Evans dueled with Goux, leading laps 125–135,[6] but would be forced out of the race on lap 158 due to a mechanical problem. Goux would dominate the remainder of the race, leading 138 laps en route to a victory of a more than 13 minute margin, making him the first non-American winner of the 500. The car contained a four-cylinder dual overhead camshaft engine, which would serve as a model for many future entries.[7] Goux would state after the race that his manager forced him stay below the car's top speed, feeling the lead was safe.[4] Spencer Wishart was the top finishing American in second, while two of the other European cars would finish fourth and fifth.

Rules at the time required the top ten drivers to finish the full 500 miles to receive prize money. This led to an interesting sight for spectators who remained after Goux's finish. Charlie Merz, in contention for second place, would have his car catch fire towards the end of lap 199. Merz, not wishing to surrender the prize money, drove the final lap on fire, while Harry Martin, his riding mechanic, crawled out on top of the hood of the still moving car to beat at the flames and release the straps the held the engine cover to allow the fire to be extinguished faster. Merz finished third. Martin would unfortunately be killed while helping test a car on the speedway less than two months later.[8]

Champagne

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Urban legends claim that race winner Jules Goux consumed "six bottles of champagne" en route to victory. However, that claim is believed to be exaggerated. Instead, during Goux's six pit stops, only four bottles (each 4⁄5 pint) were shared between himself and his riding mechanic Emil Begin, with each taking some sips, but likely not enough to become intoxicated. Other swigs were spit out using the champagne as a mouthwash.[9] It was a hot day, and given the punishing conditions, during his first pit stop Goux was quoted as saying "Rustle me a pint of wine or I'll blow"[10] After the race, in victory lane, Goux stated "The heat was terrible. I suffered and but for the wine, I should have been unable to drive this race."[11] In subsequent years, AAA officials banned the consumption of alcohol during competition.[12]

Starting grid

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Entries were required to complete one lap in excess of 75 mph in order to qualify. However, starting positions were determined by blind draw held the night preceding the race.

Driver Far Inside Inside Center Outside Center Far Outside
Time (mph)
Row 1 United States Caleb Bragg France Albert Guyot  R  United States Billy Leisaw United States Robert Evans  R 
1:43.05 87.34 1:51.46 80.75 1:55.36 78.02 1:49.74 82.01
Row 2 United States Don Herr  R  United States Harry Grant France Jules Goux  R  United States Teddy Tetzlaff
1:48.64 82.84 1:58.48 75.96 1:44.62 86.03 1:52.14 80.26
Row 3 United States Bill Endicott United States Harry Endicott United States Billy Knipper United States Ralph DePalma
1:45.02 85.70 1:57.88 76.35 1:52.14 80.26 1:57.96 76.30
Row 4 Belgium Théodore Pilette  R  United States Gil Andersen United States Willie Haupt  R  United States Charlie Merz
1:59.17 75.52 1:48.92 82.63 1:51.49 80.72 1:46.56 84.46
Row 5 United States John Jenkins Italy Vincenzo Trucco  R  United States Spencer Wishart United States Howdy Wilcox
1:48.643 82.84 1:49.84 81.94 1:49.77 81.99 1:50.48 81.46
Row 6 United States Bob Burman United States Ralph Mulford United States Louis Disbrow United States Joe Nikrent  R 
1:46.93 84.17 1:51.40 80.79 1:48.75 82.76 1:54.08 78.89
Row 7 United States Jack Tower Italy Paul Zuccarelli  R  United States George Clark  R   
1:41.93 88.23 1:44.86 85.83 1:58.56 75.91

Box score

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Finish No. Driver Entrant Chassis Engine Cyl Displ
(in3) 		Color Qual
(mph) 		Rank Grid Laps Time/Status
1 16 France Jules Goux  R  Peugeot Peugeot Peugeot 4 448 blue/white 86.03 3 7 200 6:35:05.00
2 22 United States Spencer Wishart
(Ralph DePalma) 		Mercer Automobile Company Mercer Mercer 4 300 yellow 81.99 13 19 200 +13:08.40
3 2 United States Charlie Merz
(Earl Cooper) 		Ideal Motor Car Company Stutz Wisconsin 4 400 white/red 84.46 6 16 200 +13:44.25
4 9 France Albert Guyot  R  Sunbeam Motor Car Company Sunbeam Sunbeam 6 368 gray 80.75 18 2 200 +27:53.95
5 23 Belgium Théodore Pilette  R  E.C. Patterson Mercedes Knight 4 251 gray/white 75.52 27 13 200 +45:08.00
6 12 United States Howdy Wilcox
(Frank Fox) 		Frank Fox Pope-Hartford Pope-Hartford 4 390 gray 81.46 15 20 200 +48:21.55
7 29 United States Ralph Mulford E. J. Schroeder Mercedes Mercedes 4 449 gray 80.79 17 22 200 +53:00.50
8 31 United States Louis Disbrow
(H. J. Kilpatrick) 		J. I. Case T. M. Company Case Case 4 449 gray/red 82.76 10 23 200 +54:04.00
9 35 United States Willie Haupt  R 
(Lee Oldfield) 		Mason Motor Company Duesenberg Duesenberg 4 350 dark tan 80.72 19 15 200 +1:17:30.10
10 25 United States George Clark  R 
(Tom Alley) 		Tulsa Auto Manufacturing Company Tulsa Wisconsin 4 340 red/black 75.91 26 27 200 +1:21:09.25
11 4 United States Bob Burman
(Hughie Hughes) 		Keeton Motor Company Keeton Wisconsin 4 449 green/white 84.17 7 21 190 Flagged
12 3 United States Gil Andersen
(Earl Cooper) 		Ideal Motor Car Company Stutz Wisconsin 4 400 white/red 82.63 11 14 187 Camshaft gears
13 5 United States Robert Evans  R 
(Lee Oldfield) 		Mason Motor Company Duesenberg Duesenberg 4 350 dark tan 82.01 12 4 158 Clutch
14 17 United States Billy Leisaw
(Lee Oldfield) 		Will Tompson Buick Buick 4 318 orange/black 78.02 22 3 148 Loose rods
15 19 United States Caleb Bragg
(Ralph DePalma) 		Mercer Automobile Company Mercer Mercer 4 424 yellow 87.34 2 1 128 Pump shaft
16 10 United States Billy Knipper
(Harry Grant) 		Henderson Motor Car Company Knipper Duesenberg 4 350 azure blue 80.26 20 11 125 Clutch
17 27 United States Teddy Tetzlaff Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini 4 444 red/green 81.30 16 8 118 Drive train
18 32 United States Joe Nikrent  R 
(Eddie Hearne) 		J. I. Case T. M. Company Case Case 4 449 gray/red 78.89 21 24 67 Burned bearing
19 6 United States Jack Tower Mason Motor Company Duesenberg Duesenberg 4 350 dark tan 88.23 1 25 51 Crash T1
20 28 Italy Vincenzo Trucco  R  Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini 4 444 red/green 81.94 14 18 39 Loose gas tank
21 1 United States Harry Endicott
(Ed Madden) 		Nyberg Auto Company Nyberg Nyberg 6 377 red 76.35 23 10 23 Transmission
22 45* Italy Paul Zuccarelli  R  Peugeot Peugeot Peugeot 4 448 blue/white 85.83 4 26 18 Main bearing
23 21 United States Ralph DePalma Mercer Automobile Company Mercer Mercer 4 340 yellow 76.30 24 12 15 Burned bearing
24 26 United States Harry Grant Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini 4 444 red/green 75.96 25 6 14 Gas tank
25 18 United States John Jenkins Schacht Motor Car Company Schacht Schacht 4 299 red/white 82.84 9 17 13 Crankshaft
26 8 United States Don Herr  R  Ideal Motor Car Company Stutz Wisconsin 4 400 white/red 82.84 8 5 7 Clutch shaft
27 33 United States Bill Endicott J. I. Case T. M. Co. Case Case 6 448 gray/red 85.70 5 9 1 Drive shaft
Sources:[13][14][15]

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

Note: Several sources claim Zuccarelli's entry to have carried the numerical designation #15. Photographs taken of entries qualified for the 1913 race, however, exhibit #45 prominently displayed on the Peugeot's front-facing engine grill.

Race statistics

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Race details

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Notes

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Works cited

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  • Indianapolis 500 Chronicle, 1999, Rick Pope
  • 2006 Indianapolis 500 Official Program

References

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  1. ^ a b Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
  2. ^ Green, Myron R. (May 31, 1913). "Mighty Throng Hails Goux As New Speed King". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ Indianapolis 500 Starting Grid - 1913 Archived 2013-05-20 at the Wayback Machine Official site of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  4. ^ a b PEUGEOT CAR WINS $50,000 AUTO RACE; France Defeats America on Indianapolis Speedway - Mercer Finishes Second New York Times, May 30th, 1913
  5. ^ Jules Goux, A Frenchman, wins big Automobile race The Lewiston Daily Sun, May 31st 1913.
  6. ^ Official Box Score 3rd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,Friday, May 30, 1913 Archived 2014-07-25 at the Wayback Machine Official site of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  7. ^ Ralph Kramer (4 November 2010). The Indianapolis 500: A Century of Excitement. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-1-4402-1758-6. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Death cost of failure to obey". The Indianapolis Star. 27 June 1913. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ The History of the 500 - WFNI/WIBC: Episode 10, 2013
  10. ^ "Pitman's Lucky Discovery of Wine Saved Day for Driver of Peugeot". The Indianapolis Star. May 31, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved May 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  11. ^ "Goux is Pleased Over Victory in Race". Evansville Journal-News. June 1, 1913. p. 18. Retrieved May 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ Beyond The Bricks - WFNI: May 12, 2022
  13. ^ Davidson, Donald; Shaffer, Rick (2013). Autocourse Official History of the Indianapolis 500 (Second ed.). Malvern, Worcestershire, England: Icon Publishing. p. 352. ISBN 978-1-905334-82-7 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-7853-2798-3 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ "1913 International 500". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics.


1912 Indianapolis 500
Joe Dawson 		1913 Indianapolis 500
Jules Goux 		1914 Indianapolis 500
René Thomas
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