1913 Indianapolis 500

At the time of this writing it is April 2013. As a way of commemorating history I want to provide a look back 100 years day-by-day to share the events that were taking place throughout the month of May 2013.

May 22 - Where is Isotta?

Thursday, May 22, 1913 was a relatively light day for press coverage from Indianapolis newspapers on events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway about events leading up to the 1913 Indianapolis 500 on May 30.
 
May 23 - Cold Dulls Practice

May 23, 1913 - Compared to the previous day the local newspapers flooded their readers with articles about events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as race teams prepared for the May 30 Indianapolis 500.
 
May 24 - Isottas on the Lusitania

The consternation over the absence of the highly touted Isotta team was high at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24, 1913 as less than a week remained before the May 30 Indianapolis 500. Hopeful news was reported in the Indianapolis Star (attachment IsottaStar052413) that the team and its cars were loaded on the grand cruise liner Lusitania which was steaming its way across the Atlantic.
 
May 25 - Ben Hur & Burman

On Sunday, May 25, 1913 the Indianapolis Star provided its biggest day of the month yet for Indianapolis 500 coverage.
May 25 - Souvenir Edition

Those of us familiar with Indianapolis Star newspaper coverage of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race know the annual "souvenir edition" has been providing a wealth of insights and images concerning events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for decades. Much of the edition is focused, too, on prognostications about the liklihood of success for any given competitor. While the May 25, 1913 Indianapolis Star's special 16-page section on the upcoming Indianapolis 500 was not called a souvenir section that is essentially what it was.
May 26 - Burman Fastest of the Month!

Fresh from a mega Indianapolis 500 souvenir section the previous day the Indianapolis Star took a day off from Indianapolis Motor Speedway coverage but the Indianapolis News stepped up with four items published on May 26, 1913. Here we have four attachments covering practice for Sunday, May 25.
 
May 27 - Dawson & Deltal

The buzz at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27, 1913 was all about defending Indianapolis 500 champion Joe Dawson suddenly being named to drive the late-arriving Deltal entry. It's designer, E.M.
May 28 - Time Trials & Isottas!

The long awaited arrival of the Isottas as well the Indianapolis 500 qualifications of nine cars all on May 27, 1913 were reported in the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News papers the following day, May 28. Most of the cars were still in the garage, but the purpose of time trials in this instance is difficult to fathom. Speedway officials could not have been thrilled with the race attracting less than the 30 car field limit they had announced.
May 29 - Fans & Time Trials

The newspapers for May 29, 1913 - the day before that year's Indianapolis 500 - saw the action heat up on the track as fans clamored for lodging, parking and the best vantage points as they anticipated thrilling high speed competition.
 
May 30 - Race Morning Indianapolis Star

At last it was race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Indianapolis 500. The morning paper, the Indianapolis Star offered up two substantive articles and an assortment of images, illustrations and a scorecard. For this race day I am breaking the articles of the morning Star into one post and the afternoon coverage of the Indianapolis News into another, separate post.