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1920 Indianapolis 500
Eighth running of the Indianapolis 500
Eighth running of the Indianapolis 500
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| race_name | 8th Indianapolis 500 |
| race_logo | 1920 Indianapolis 500 program cover.jpg |
| sanction | AAA |
| date | May 31, 1920 |
| winner | Gaston Chevrolet |
| team | William Small Company |
| mph | 88.618 mi/h |
| pole | Ralph DePalma |
| pole_speed | 99.150 mi/h |
| leader | Joe Boyer (93) |
| pace_car | Marmon 6 (Model 34) |
| pace_driver | Barney Oldfield |
| starter | E. C. Patterson |
| honorary | Clifford C. Ireland |
| attendance | 120,000 (up 10k from previous year) |
| previous | [1919](1919-indianapolis-500) |
| next | [1921](1921-indianapolis-500) |
The 8th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1920.
Ralph DePalma held a two lap lead when the car stalled on lap 187. His riding mechanic Pete DePaolo ran to the pits to get a can of gasoline, thinking they were out of fuel. DePalma was able to get the car rolling again, and the two rejoined the race. However, during the delay, the lead went to Gaston Chevrolet. Chevrolet himself ran out of fuel on lap 197, but he was able to coast to the pits and refuel. Chevrolet held on to win. About six months later, he was fatally injured in a crash at Beverly Hills.
Chevrolet won the race without a single tire change, a remarkable feat at the time. Chevrolet was accompanied by riding mechanic John Bresnahan. Chevrolet's victory was the last by a driver born outside of the United States until George Robson's victory in the 1946 running.
Time trials
Four-lap (10 mile) qualifying runs were introduced in 1920. Previously one-lap runs were used. Ralph DePalma won the pole position at 99.65 mph. None of his four laps matched the track record (104.78 mph) set the previous year.
| Date | Driver | Lap 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (mph) | Lap 2 | |||||
| (mph) | Lap 3 | |||||
| (mph) | Lap 4 | |||||
| (mph) | Average Speed | |||||
| (mph) | ||||||
| 5/26/1920 | Ralph DePalma | 98.1 | 99.4 | 99.5 | 99.95 | **99.65** |
Starting grid
| Row | Inside | Inside Center | Outside Center | Outside | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Pace car position* | 2 | USA Ralph DePalma | 6 | USA Joe Boyer | 3 | USA Louis Chevrolet | ||||
| 26 | FRA Jean Chassagne | 8 | USA Art Klein | 4 | USA Gaston Chevrolet | 5 | USA Roscoe Sarles | |||
| 7 | USA Bennett Hill | 31 | USA Eddie Hearne | 9 | USA Ray Howard | 10 | USA Tommy Milton | |||
| 29 | USA Eddie O'Donnell | 34 | USA Willie Haupt | 32 | USA John Boling | 12 | USA Jimmy Murphy | |||
| 17 | FRA André Boillot | 15 | CAN Pete Henderson | 25 | FRA René Thomas | 28 | USA Joe Thomas | |||
| 18 | USA Howdy Wilcox | 16 | FRA Jules Goux | 19 | FRA Jean Porporato | 33 | USA Ralph Mulford |
Box score
| Finish | Start | No | Name | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Qual | Rank | Laps | Status | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | USA Gaston Chevrolet | William Small Company | Frontenac | Frontenac | 91.550 | 8 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | 25 | FRA René Thomas **** | Ernest Ballot | Ballot | Ballot | 93.950 | 5 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 10 | USA Tommy Milton | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 90.200 | 11 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | 12 | USA Jimmy Murphy **** | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 88.700 | 13 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | USA Ralph DePalma **** | Ralph DePalma | Ballot | Ballot | 99.150 | 1 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 31 | USA Eddie Hearne | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 88.050 | 15 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 26 | FRA Jean Chassagne | Ernest Ballot | Ballot | Ballot | 95.450 | 4 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | 28 | USA Joe Thomas **** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Art Klein Laps 105–115) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Harry Thicksten Laps 116–125) | William Small Company | Frontenac | Frontenac | 92.800 | 6 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | 33 | USA Ralph Mulford | Ralph Mulford | Mulford | Duesenberg | — | — | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | 15 | CAN Pete Henderson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tom Alley Laps 93–200) | Revere Motor Car Corporation | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 81.150 | 21 | 200 | Running | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | 32 | USA John Boling **** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Riley Brett Laps 99–199) | C. L. Richards | Brett | Brett | 81.850 | 20 | 199 | Flagged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 6 | USA Joe Boyer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Ira Vail Laps 155–191) | Frontenac Motor Corporation | Frontenac | Frontenac | 96.900 | 2 | 192 | Crash T3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 9 | USA Ray Howard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Aldo Franchi Laps 41–90) | Peugeot Auto Racing Company | Peugeot | Peugeot | 84.600 | 18 | 150 | Camshaft | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 29 | USA Eddie O'Donnell | Duesenberg Brothers | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 88.200 | 14 | 149 | Oil line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | 16 | FRA Jules Goux **** | Jules Goux | Peugeot | Peugeot | 84.300 | 19 | 148 | Engine trouble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | 34 | USA Willie Haupt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Wade Morton Laps 55–111) | Meteor Motors Company | Duesenberg | Duesenberg | 85.480 | 16 | 146 | Rod | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 7 | USA Bennett Hill **** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Roscoe Sarles Laps 75–115) | Frontenac Motor Corporation | Frontenac | Frontenac | 90.550 | 10 | 115 | Crash T4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | USA Louis Chevrolet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Salvatore Barbarino Laps 64–79) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Jerry Wunderlich Laps 80–94) | William Small Company | Frontenac | Frontenac | 96.300 | 3 | 94 | Steering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | 18 | USA Howdy Wilcox **** | Jules Goux | Peugeot | Peugeot | 88.820 | 12 | 65 | Engine trouble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 5 | USA Roscoe Sarles | William Small Company | Frontenac | Frontenac | 90.750 | 9 | 58 | Crash T4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 8 | USA Art Klein | Frontenac Motor Corporation | Frontenac | Frontenac | 92.700 | 7 | 40 | Crash | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | 19 | FRA Jean Porporato | Jean Porporato | Grégoire | Grégoire | 79.980 | 22 | 23 | Ruled off | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | 17 | FRA André Boillot | Jules Goux | Peugeot | Peugeot | 85.400 | 17 | 16 | Engine trouble |
Note: Relief drivers in parentheses
**** Former Indianapolis 500 winner
**** Indianapolis 500 Rookie
Statistics
| Lap Leaders | Laps | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1–11 | Joe Boyer | |
| 12 | Art Klein | |
| 13 | Jean Chassagne | |
| 14–37 | Joe Boyer | |
| 38–42 | Ralph DePalma | |
| 43–62 | Joe Boyer | |
| 63–69 | René Thomas | |
| 70–107 | Joe Boyer | |
| 108–112 | René Thomas | |
| 113–186 | Ralph DePalma | |
| 187–200 | Gaston Chevrolet |
| Total laps led | Leader | Laps |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Boyer | 93 | |
| Ralph DePalma | 79 | |
| Gaston Chevrolet | 14 | |
| René Thomas | 12 | |
| Jean Chassagne | 1 | |
| Art Klein | 1 |
Race details
- For 1920, riding mechanics were required.{{cite book
- First alternate: none
References
Indy 500 Walker| Previous_race = 1919| Previous_winner = Howdy Wilcox| This_race = 1920| This_winner = Gaston Chevrolet| Next_race = 1921| Next_winner = Tommy Milton|
References
- Fox, Jack C.. (1994). "The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994". Carl Hungness Publishing.
- (June 1, 1920). "Crowd Put at 120,000, New Record Mark". The Indianapolis Star.
- "Indianapolis 500 1920". Ultimate Racing History.
- (1998). "The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle". Publications International, Ltd..
- "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1920". ChampCarStats.com.
- ''[[Donald Davidson (historian). The Talk of Gasoline Alley]]'' - [[WIBC (FM). 1070-AM WIBC]], May 14, 2004
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