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 2023, as the largest margin of victory in Indianapolis 500 history.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
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Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
Date | May 30, 1913 | ||||
Winner | Jules Goux | ||||
Winning Entrant | Peugeot | ||||
Average speed | 75.933 mph (122.202 km/h) | ||||
Pole position | Caleb Bragg | ||||
Pole speed | N/A | ||||
Most laps led | Jules Goux (138) | ||||
Pre-race | |||||
Pace car | Stoddard-Dayton | ||||
Pace car driver | Carl G. Fisher | ||||
Starter | Charles P. Root[1] | ||||
Honorary referee | Laurence Enos[1] | ||||
Estimated attendance | 90,000[2] | ||||
Chronology | |||||
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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]
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]
Driver | Far Inside | Inside Center | Outside Center | Far Outside | ||||||||||
Time | (mph) | (km/h) | ||||||||||||
Row 1 | Caleb Bragg | Albert Guyot R | Billy Leisaw | Robert Evans R | ||||||||||
0:01:43.05 | 87.34 | 140.56 | 0:01:51.46 | 80.75 | 129.95 | 0:01:55.36 | 78.02 | 125.56 | 0:01:49.74 | 82.01 | 131.98 | |||
Row 2 | Don Herr R | Harry Grant | Jules Goux R | Teddy Tetzlaff | ||||||||||
0:01:48.64 | 82.84 | 133.32 | 0:01:58.48 | 75.96 | 122.25 | 0:01:44.62 | 86.03 | 138.45 | 0:01:52.14 | 80.26 | 129.17 | |||
Row 3 | Bill Endicott | Harry Endicott | Billy Knipper | Ralph DePalma | ||||||||||
0:01:45.02 | 85.70 | 137.92 | 0:01:57.88 | 76.35 | 122.87 | 0:01:52.14 | 80.26 | 129.17 | 0:01:57.96 | 76.30 | 122.79 | |||
Row 4 | Théodore Pilette R | Gil Andersen | Willie Haupt R | Charlie Merz | ||||||||||
0:01:59.17 | 75.52 | 121.54 | 0:01:48.92 | 82.63 | 132.98 | 0:01:51.49 | 80.72 | 129.91 | 0:01:46.56 | 84.46 | 135.93 | |||
Row 5 | John Jenkins | Vincenzo Trucco R | Spencer Wishart | Howdy Wilcox | ||||||||||
0:01:48.643 | 82.84 | 133.32 | 0:01:49.84 | 81.94 | 131.87 | 0:01:49.77 | 81.99 | 131.95 | 0:01:50.48 | 81.46 | 131.10 | |||
Row 6 | Bob Burman | Ralph Mulford | Louis Disbrow | Joe Nikrent R | ||||||||||
0:01:46.93 | 84.17 | 135.46 | 0:01:51.40 | 80.79 | 130.02 | 0:01:48.75 | 82.76 | 133.19 | 0:01:54.08 | 78.89 | 126.96 | |||
Row 7 | Jack Tower | Paul Zuccarelli R | George Clark R | |||||||||||
0:01:41.93 | 88.23 | 141.99 | 0:01:44.86 | 85.83 | 138.13 | 0:01:58.56 | 75.91 | 122.17 |
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Cyl | Displ (in3) (L) |
Color | Qual Speed (mph) (km/h) |
Rank | Start Pos |
Laps Led |
Laps Run |
Time | Speed (mph) (km/h) |
Status | Prize Money ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | Jules Goux R | Peugeot | Peugeot | Peugeot | Peugeot | 4 | 448 7.34 |
blue / white | 86.03 138.45 |
3 | 7 | 138 | 200 | 6:35:05.00 | 75.933 122.202 |
finished | 21,165 |
2 | 22 | Spencer Wishart | Mercer | Mercer Automobile Company | Mercer | Mercer | 4 | 300 4.92 |
yellow | 81.99 131.95 |
13 | 19 | 0 | 200 | 6:48:13.40 +0:13:08.40 |
73.489 118.269 |
finished | 10,165 |
3 | 2 | Charlie Merz | Stutz | Ideal Motor Car Company | Stutz | Wisconsin | 4 | 400 6.55 |
white / red | 84.46 135.93 |
6 | 16 | 0 | 200 | 6:48:49.25 +0:13:44.25 |
73.382 118.097 |
finished | 5,165 |
4 | 9 | Albert Guyot R | Sunbeam | Sunbeam Motor Car Company | Sunbeam | Sunbeam | 6 | 368 6.03 |
gray | 80.75 129.95 |
18 | 2 | 0 | 200 | 7:02:58.95 +0:27:53.95 |
70.925 114.143 |
finished | 3,500 |
5 | 23 | Théodore Pilette R | Mercedes-Knight | E.C. Patterson | Mercedes | Knight | 4 | 251 4.11 |
gray / white | 75.52 129.66 |
27 | 13 | 0 | 200 | 7:20:13.00 +0:45:08.00 |
68.148 109.674 |
finished | 3,000 |
6 | 12 | Howdy Wilcox | Gray Fox | Frank Fox | Pope-Hartford | Pope-Hartford | 4 | 390 6.39 |
gray | 81.46 131.10 |
15 | 20 | 0 | 200 | 7:23:26.55 +0:48:21.55 |
67.653 108.877 |
finished | 2,200 |
7 | 29 | Ralph Mulford | Mercedes | E. J. Schroeder | Mercedes | Mercedes | 4 | 449 7.36 |
gray | 80.79 130.02 |
17 | 22 | 0 | 200 | 7:28:05.50 +0:53:00.50 |
66.951 107.747 |
finished | 1,800 |
8 | 31 | Louis Disbrow | Case | J. I. Case T. M. Company | Case | Case | 4 | 449 7.36 |
gray / red | 82.76 133.19 |
10 | 23 | 0 | 200 | 7:29:09.00 +0:54:04.00 |
66.793 107.493 |
finished | 1,600 |
9 | 35 | Willie Haupt R | Mason | Mason Motor Company | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 4 | 350 5.74 |
dark tan | 80.72 129.91 |
19 | 15 | 0 | 200 | 7:52:35.10 +1:17:30.10 |
63.481 102.163 |
finished | 1,500 |
10 | 25 | George Clark R | Tulsa | Tulsa Auto Manufacturing Company | Tulsa | Wisconsin | 4 | 340 5.57 |
red / black | 75.91 122.17 |
26 | 27 | 0 | 200 | 7:56:14.25 +1:21:09.25 |
62.994 101.299 |
finished | 1,400 |
11 | 4 | Bob Burman | Keeton | Keeton Motor Company | Keeton | Wisconsin | 4 | 449 7.36 |
green / white | 84.17 135.46 |
7 | 21 | 41 | 190 | flagged | flagged, still running |
0 | |
12 | 3 | Gil Andersen | Stutz | Ideal Motor Car Company | Stutz | Wisconsin | 4 | 400 6.55 |
white / red | 82.63 132.98 |
11 | 14 | 18 | 187 | did not finish | camshaft gears | 0 | |
13 | 5 | Robert Evans R | Mason | Mason Motor Company | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 4 | 350 5.74 |
dark tan | 82.01 131.98 |
12 | 4 | 2 | 158 | did not finish | clutch | 0 | |
14 | 17 | Billy Leisaw | Anel | Will Tompson | Buick | Buick | 4 | 318 5.21 |
orange / black | 78.02 125.56 |
22 | 3 | 0 | 148 | did not finish | loose rods | 0 | |
15 | 19 | Caleb Bragg | Mercer | Mercer Automobile Company | Mercer | Mercer | 4 | 424 6.95 |
yellow | 87.34 140.56 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 128 | did not finish | pump shaft | 0 | |
16 | 10 | Billy Knipper | Henderson | Henderson Motor Car Company | Knipper | Duesenberg | 4 | 350 5.74 |
azure blue | 80.26 129.17 |
20 | 11 | 0 | 125 | did not finish | clutch | 0 | |
17 | 27 | Teddy Tetzlaff | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | 4 | 444 7.28 |
red / green | 81.30 130.84 |
16 | 8 | 0 | 118 | did not finish | drive train | 0 | |
18 | 32 | Joe Nikrent R | Case | J. I. Case T. M. Company | Case | Case | 4 | 449 7.36 |
gray / red | 78.89 126.96 |
21 | 24 | 0 | 67 | did not finish | burned bearing | 0 | |
19 | 6 | Jack Tower | Mason | Mason Motor Company | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 4 | 350 5.74 |
dark tan | 88.23 141.99 |
1 | 25 | 0 | 51 | did not finish | accident, first turn |
0 | |
20 | 28 | Vincenzo Trucco R | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | 4 | 444 4.28 |
red / green | 81.94 131.87 |
14 | 18 | 0 | 39 | did not finish | loose gas tank | 0 | |
21 | 1 | Harry Endicott | Nyberg | Nyberg Auto Company | Nyberg | Nyberg | 6 | 377 6.18 |
red | 76.35 122.87 |
23 | 10 | 0 | 23 | did not finish | transmission | 0 | |
22 | 45* | Paul Zuccarelli R | Peugeot | Peugeot | Peugeot | Peugeot | 4 | 448 7.34 |
blue / white | 85.83 138.13 |
4 | 26 | 0 | 18 | did not finish | main bearing | 0 | |
23 | 21 | Ralph DePalma | Mercer | Mercer Automobile Company | Mercer | Mercer | 4 | 340 5.57 |
yellow | 76.30 122.79 |
24 | 12 | 0 | 15 | did not finish | burned bearing | 0 | |
24 | 26 | Harry Grant | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | Isotta Fraschini | 4 | 444 4.28 |
red / green | 75.96 122.25 |
25 | 6 | 0 | 14 | did not finish | gas tank | 0 | |
25 | 18 | John Jenkins | Schacht | Schacht Motor Car Company | Schacht | Schacht | 4 | 299 4.90 |
red / white | 82.84 133.32 |
9 | 17 | 0 | 13 | did not finish | crankshaft | 0 | |
26 | 8 | Don Herr R | Stutz | Ideal Motor Car Company | Stutz | Wisconsin | 4 | 400 6.55 |
white / red | 82.84 133.32 |
8 | 5 | 0 | 7 | did not finish | clutch shaft | 0 | |
27 | 33 | Bill Endicott | Case | J. I. Case T. M. Co. | Case | Case | 6 | 448 7.34 |
gray / red | 85.70 137.92 |
5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | did not finish | drive shaft | 0 | |