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1913 Indianapolis 500

{{short description|Third running of the Indianapolis 500}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox Indy500 1911to1941

| race_name = 3rd Indianapolis 500

| race_logo = 1913 Indianapolis 500 program cover.jpg

| sanction = AAA

| date = May 30, 1913

| winner = Jules Goux

| team = Peugeot

| mph = {{convert|75.933|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}

| pole = Caleb Bragg

| pole_speed = N/A

| leader = Jules Goux (138)

| pace_car = Stoddard-Dayton

| pace_driver = Carl G. Fisher

| starter = Charles P. Root{{cite book|last=Fox|first=Jack C.|title =The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994|publisher =Carl Hungness Publishing|edition=4th|date=1994|pages=22|language=en|isbn=0-915088-05-3}}

| honorary = Laurence Enos

| attendance = 90,000{{cite news|title=Mighty Throng Hails Goux As New Speed King|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3189089/3rd_500_front_page/|first=Myron R.|last=Green|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 31, 1913|access-date=June 3, 2017}}{{Open access}}

| previous = 1912

| next = 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

File:Jules Goux au départ d'Indianapolis 500 en 1913.jpg

File:1913 Indianapolis 500.jpg

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 ({{Inflation|US|20000|1913|fmt=eq}}). A total of 27 cars would meet the 75 mile per hour qualifying speed, led by Jack Tower at 88.230 mph.[http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/startinggrids/?year=1913 Indianapolis 500 Starting Grid - 1913] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520152048/http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/startinggrids/?year=1913 |date=2013-05-20 }} Official site of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 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.[https://www.nytimes.com/1913/05/31/archives/peugeot-car-wins-50000-auto-race-france-defeats-america-on.html PEUGEOT CAR WINS $50,000 AUTO RACE; France Defeats America on Indianapolis Speedway - Mercer Finishes Second] New York Times, May 30th, 1913 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).[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KbQgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bWkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1646,1525878&dq=jules+goux&hl=en Jules Goux, A Frenchman, wins big Automobile race] The Lewiston Daily Sun, May 31st 1913.

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,[http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1913 Official Box Score 3rd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, May 30, 1913] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725192845/http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1913 |date=2014-07-25 }} Official site of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 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.{{cite book|author=Ralph Kramer|title=The Indianapolis 500: A Century of Excitement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jPGAp_8TMZcC|access-date=27 May 2013|date=4 November 2010|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1-4402-1758-6}} Goux would state after the race that his manager forced him stay below the car's top speed, feeling the lead was safe. 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.{{cite news|title=Death cost of failure to obey|work=The Indianapolis Star|page=3|date=27 June 1913|access-date=21 January 2021|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3433797/|via=Newspapers.com}}

=Champagne=

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 {{frac|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.The History of the 500 - WFNI/WIBC: Episode 10, 2013 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"{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86597476/|title=Pitman's Lucky Discovery of Wine Saved Day for Driver of Peugeot|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 31, 1913|accessdate=May 13, 2022}}{{Open access}} 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."{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101778870/|title=Goux is Pleased Over Victory in Race|newspaper=Evansville Journal-News|page=18|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 1, 1913|accessdate=May 13, 2022}}{{Open access}} In subsequent years, AAA officials banned the consumption of alcohol during competition.Beyond The Bricks - WFNI: May 12, 2022

Starting grid

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.

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Driver

!colspan=2 rowspan=2|Far Inside

!colspan=2 rowspan=2|Inside Center

!colspan=2 rowspan=2|Outside Center

!colspan=2 rowspan=2|Far Outside

Time

!(mph)

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 1

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Caleb Bragg

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Albert Guyot {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Billy Leisaw

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Robert Evans {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

align=center|1:43.05

|align=center|87.34

|align=center|1:51.46

|align=center|80.75

|align=center|1:55.36

|align=center|78.02

|align=center|1:49.74

|align=center|82.01

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 2

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Herr {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Harry Grant

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Jules Goux {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Teddy Tetzlaff

align=center|1:48.64

|align=center|82.84

|align=center|1:58.48

|align=center|75.96

|align=center|1:44.62

|align=center|86.03

|align=center|1:52.14

|align=center|80.26

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 3

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Endicott

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Harry Endicott

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Billy Knipper

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Ralph DePalma

align=center|1:45.02

|align=center|85.70

|align=center|1:57.88

|align=center|76.35

|align=center|1:52.14

|align=center|80.26

|align=center|1:57.96

|align=center|76.30

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 4

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|BEL}} Théodore Pilette {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Gil Andersen

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Willie Haupt {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Charlie Merz

align=center|1:59.17

|align=center|75.52

|align=center|1:48.92

|align=center|82.63

|align=center|1:51.49

|align=center|80.72

|align=center|1:46.56

|align=center|84.46

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 5

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} John Jenkins

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|ITA|1861}} Vincenzo Trucco {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Spencer Wishart

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Howdy Wilcox

align=center|1:48.643

|align=center|82.84

|align=center|1:49.84

|align=center|81.94

|align=center|1:49.77

|align=center|81.99

|align=center|1:50.48

|align=center|81.46

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 6

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Bob Burman

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Ralph Mulford

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Louis Disbrow

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Joe Nikrent {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

align=center|1:46.93

|align=center|84.17

|align=center|1:51.40

|align=center|80.79

|align=center|1:48.75

|align=center|82.76

|align=center|1:54.08

|align=center|78.89

colspan=2 rowspan=2|Row 7

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Tower

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|ITA|1861}} Paul Zuccarelli {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2|{{Flagicon|USA|1912}} George Clark {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

|colspan=2 rowspan=2| 

align=center|1:41.93

|align=center|88.23

|align=center|1:44.86

|align=center|85.83

|align=center|1:58.56

|align=center|75.91

Box score

class="wikitable"

!Finish

!No.

!Driver

!Entrant

!Chassis

!Engine

!Cyl

!Displ
(in3)

!Color

!Qual
(mph)

!Rank

!Grid

!Laps

!Time/Status

1

|align=center|16

| {{Flagicon|FRA}} Jules Goux {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

| Peugeot

| Peugeot

| Peugeot

|align=center|4

|align=center|448

|align=center|blue/white

|align=right|86.03

|align=center|3

|align=center|7

|align=center|200

|6:35:05.00

2

|align=center|22

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Spencer Wishart
(Ralph DePalma)

| Mercer Automobile Company

| Mercer

| Mercer

|align=center|4

|align=center|300

|align=center|yellow

|align=right|81.99

|align=center|13

|align=center|19

|align=center|200

| +13:08.40

3

|align=center|2

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Charlie Merz
(Earl Cooper)

| Ideal Motor Car Company

| Stutz

| Wisconsin

|align=center|4

|align=center|400

|align=center|white/red

|align=right|84.46

|align=center|6

|align=center|16

|align=center|200

| +13:44.25

4

|align=center|9

| {{Flagicon|FRA}} Albert Guyot {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

| Sunbeam Motor Car Company

| Sunbeam

| Sunbeam

|align=center|6

|align=center|368

|align=center|gray

|align=right|80.75

|align=center|18

|align=center|2

|align=center|200

| +27:53.95

5

|align=center|23

| {{Flagicon|BEL}} Théodore Pilette {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

| E.C. Patterson

| Mercedes

| Knight

|align=center|4

|align=center|251

|align=center|gray/white

|align=right|75.52

|align=center|27

|align=center|13

|align=center|200

| +45:08.00

6

|align=center|12

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Howdy Wilcox
(Frank Fox)

| Frank Fox

| Pope-Hartford

| Pope-Hartford

|align=center|4

|align=center|390

|align=center|gray

|align=right|81.46

|align=center|15

|align=center|20

|align=center|200

| +48:21.55

7

|align=center|29

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Ralph Mulford

| E. J. Schroeder

| Mercedes

| Mercedes

|align=center|4

|align=center|449

|align=center|gray

|align=right|80.79

|align=center|17

|align=center|22

|align=center|200

| +53:00.50

8

|align=center|31

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Louis Disbrow
(H. J. Kilpatrick)

| J. I. Case T. M. Company

| Case

| Case

|align=center|4

|align=center|449

|align=center|gray/red

|align=right|82.76

|align=center|10

|align=center|23

|align=center|200

| +54:04.00

9

|align=center|35

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Willie Haupt {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
(Lee Oldfield)

| Mason Motor Company

| Duesenberg

| Duesenberg

|align=center|4

|align=center|350

|align=center|dark tan

|align=right|80.72

|align=center|19

|align=center|15

|align=center|200

| +1:17:30.10

10

|align=center|25

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} George Clark {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
(Tom Alley)

| Tulsa Auto Manufacturing Company

| Tulsa

| Wisconsin

|align=center|4

|align=center|340

|align=center|red/black

|align=right|75.91

|align=center|26

|align=center|27

|align=center|200

| +1:21:09.25

11

|align=center|4

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Bob Burman
(Hughie Hughes)

| Keeton Motor Company

| Keeton

| Wisconsin

|align=center|4

|align=center|449

|align=center|green/white

|align=right|84.17

|align=center|7

|align=center|21

|align=center|190

|Flagged

12

|align=center|3

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Gil Andersen
(Earl Cooper)

| Ideal Motor Car Company

| Stutz

| Wisconsin

|align=center|4

|align=center|400

|align=center|white/red

|align=right|82.63

|align=center|11

|align=center|14

|align=center|187

|Camshaft gears

13

|align=center|5

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Robert Evans {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
(Lee Oldfield)

| Mason Motor Company

| Duesenberg

| Duesenberg

|align=center|4

|align=center|350

|align=center|dark tan

|align=right|82.01

|align=center|12

|align=center|4

|align=center|158

|Clutch

14

|align=center|17

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Billy Leisaw
(Lee Oldfield)

| Will Tompson

| Buick

| Buick

|align=center|4

|align=center|318

|align=center|orange/black

|align=right|78.02

|align=center|22

|align=center|3

|align=center|148

|Loose rods

15

|align=center|19

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Caleb Bragg
(Ralph DePalma)

| Mercer Automobile Company

| Mercer

| Mercer

|align=center|4

|align=center|424

|align=center|yellow

|align=right|87.34

|align=center|2

|align=center|1

|align=center|128

|Pump shaft

16

|align=center|10

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Billy Knipper
(Harry Grant)

| Henderson Motor Car Company

| Knipper

| Duesenberg

|align=center|4

|align=center|350

|align=center|azure blue

|align=right|80.26

|align=center|20

|align=center|11

|align=center|125

|Clutch

17

|align=center|27

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Teddy Tetzlaff

| Isotta Fraschini

| Isotta Fraschini

| Isotta Fraschini

|align=center|4

|align=center|444

|align=center|red/green

|align=right|81.30

|align=center|16

|align=center|8

|align=center|118

|Drive train

18

|align=center|32

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Joe Nikrent {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
(Eddie Hearne)

| J. I. Case T. M. Company

| Case

| Case

|align=center|4

|align=center|449

|align=center|gray/red

|align=right|78.89

|align=center|21

|align=center|24

|align=center|67

|Burned bearing

19

|align=center|6

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Tower

| Mason Motor Company

| Duesenberg

| Duesenberg

|align=center|4

|align=center|350

|align=center|dark tan

|align=right|88.23

|align=center|1

|align=center|25

|align=center|51

|Crash T1

20

|align=center|28

| {{Flagicon|ITA|1861}} Vincenzo Trucco {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

| Isotta Fraschini

| Isotta Fraschini

| Isotta Fraschini

|align=center|4

|align=center|444

|align=center|red/green

|align=right|81.94

|align=center|14

|align=center|18

|align=center|39

|Loose gas tank

21

|align=center|1

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Harry Endicott
(Ed Madden)

| Nyberg Auto Company

| Nyberg

| Nyberg

|align=center|6

|align=center|377

|align=center|red

|align=right|76.35

|align=center|23

|align=center|10

|align=center|23

|Transmission

22

|align=center|45*

| {{Flagicon|ITA|1861}} Paul Zuccarelli {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

| Peugeot

| Peugeot

| Peugeot

|align=center|4

|align=center|448

|align=center|blue/white

|align=right|85.83

|align=center|4

|align=center|26

|align=center|18

|Main bearing

23

|align=center|21

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Ralph DePalma

| Mercer Automobile Company

| Mercer

| Mercer

|align=center|4

|align=center|340

|align=center|yellow

|align=right|76.30

|align=center|24

|align=center|12

|align=center|15

|Burned bearing

24

|align=center|26

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Harry Grant

| Isotta Fraschini

| Isotta Fraschini

| Isotta Fraschini

|align=center|4

|align=center|444

|align=center|red/green

|align=right|75.96

|align=center|25

|align=center|6

|align=center|14

|Gas tank

25

|align=center|18

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} John Jenkins

| Schacht Motor Car Company

| Schacht

| Schacht

|align=center|4

|align=center|299

|align=center|red/white

|align=right|82.84

|align=center|9

|align=center|17

|align=center|13

|Crankshaft

26

|align=center|8

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Herr {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}

| Ideal Motor Car Company

| Stutz

| Wisconsin

|align=center|4

|align=center|400

|align=center|white/red

|align=right|82.84

|align=center|8

|align=center|5

|align=center|7

|Clutch shaft

27

|align=center|33

| {{Flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Endicott

| J. I. Case T. M. Co.

| Case

| Case

|align=center|6

|align=center|448

|align=center|gray/red

|align=right|85.70

|align=center|5

|align=center|9

|align=center|1

|Drive shaft

colspan="19"|{{center|Sources:{{Cite book |last1=Davidson |first1=Donald |url=https://archive.org/details/autocourseoffici0000davi/ |title=Autocourse Official History of the Indianapolis 500 |last2=Shaffer |first2=Rick |publisher=Icon Publishing |year=2013 |page=352|isbn=978-1-905334-82-7 |edition=Second |location=Malvern, Worcestershire, England |author-link=Donald Davidson (historian) |url-access=registration |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite book |last1=Popely |first1=Rick |url=https://archive.org/details/indianapolis500c0000pope/ |title=Indianapolis 500 Chronicle |last2=Riggs |first2=L. Spencer |publisher=Publications International |year=1998 |pages=14–15|isbn=0-7853-2798-3 |location=Lincolnwood, Illinois |url-access=registration |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web|title=1913 International 500|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1913_International_500/UO/|url-status=live|access-date=November 28, 2023|work=Racing-Reference|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428143709/https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1913_International_500/UO/}}}}

{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} 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=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break|width=30%}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Lap Leaders

Laps

! Leader

1Caleb Bragg
2–3Bob Evans
4–14Jules Goux
15–55Bob Burman
56–95Jules Goux
96–102Gil Andersen
103–124Jules Goux
125–135Gil Andersen
136–200Jules Goux

{{col-break|width=70%}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Total laps led

Laps

! Leader

Jules Goux138
Bob Burman41
Gil Andersen18
Bob Evans2
Caleb Bragg1

{{col-end}}

Race details

  • For 1913, riding mechanics were required.{{cite book|last=Blazier, John E. |author2=Rollings, Tom|title=Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics|year=1994}}

Notes

=Works cited=

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

=References=

{{Reflist}}

{{

Indy 500 Walker|

Previous_race = 1912|

Previous_winner = Joe Dawson|

This_race = 1913|

This_winner = Jules Goux|

Next_race = 1914|

Next_winner = René Thomas|

}}

{{Indy 500}}

Category:Indianapolis 500 races

Indianapolis 500

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Indianapolis 500

Category:May 1913 sports events in the United States