Indy 500 Circa 1920

12/12/2010

I believe this video is a highlight reel from the 1920 Indianapolis 500. Note Bennett Hill spinning and hitting the inside wall at either turn two or four in Frontenac #7. This is significant because his teammate Gaston Chevrolet later won the race in a sister car. Chevrolet's car was called a Monroe, but all seven Frontenac entries were created by a team lead by Gaston's big brother Louis. The machines were fast but shared a common Achille's heel: a fault in the metal alloy used in the steering gear. Most broke during the contest, which is what created Hill's loopy ride. Gaston's racer, obviously, proved to be a seat to immortality. Do yourself a favor and mute the annoying and irrelevant audio.