1923 Indianapolis 500
 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1923 | ||||
| Winner | Tommy Milton | ||||
| Winning Entrant | H.C.S. Motor Car Company | ||||
| Average speed | 90.954 mph (146.376 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Tommy Milton | ||||
| Pole speed | 108.170 mph (174.083 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Tommy Milton (128) | ||||
| Pre-race | |||||
| Pace car | Duesenberg | ||||
| Pace car driver | Fred Duesenberg | ||||
| Starter | Eddie Rickenbacker[1] | ||||
| Honorary referee | John Oliver La Gorce[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 150,000[2] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 11th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1923. After winning previously in 1921, Tommy Milton became the first multiple winner of the Indianapolis 500. Howdy Wilcox (the 1919 winner) drove relief for Milton in laps 103–151. During the break, Milton had to have his hands bandaged due to blisters, and changed his shoes due to crimping of his toes.[3]
On lap 22, Tom Alley (driving Earl Cooper's entry) wrecked on the backstretch, going through the wall, and killed 16-year-old spectator Bert Shoup. Alley and two other spectators were injured.[4]
Memorial Day controversy[edit]
In January 1923, about four months before the race, the Indiana Legislature passed a bill prohibiting commercialized sporting events, including the Indianapolis 500, from being held on Memorial Day.[5] Some veterans groups, and proponents of the measure, led by senator Robert L. Moorhead, were displeased with the way the holiday had become "...a day for games, races, and revelry, instead of a day of memory and tears".[6] The bill sparked a heated debate, whereby the local American Legion issued a public proclamation opposing the law, on the grounds of free expression, and being "un-American" in principle.[7]
The issue created a potential schedule shake-up, which could have moved the race to the proceeding Saturday (May 26), or forced an outright cancellation.[8][9] Speedway management was leery about permanently moving the race to a Saturday, since many spectators worked on Saturdays, and they preferred to have the race on a holiday. Officials in the city of Indianapolis even proposed making the Saturday before Memorial Day a city holiday, to ensure the race was held on a holiday. On March 5, after consulting legal experts, Governor Warren T. McCray vetoed the bill, calling it "class legislation" and therefore unconstitutional.[10]
Time trials[edit]
Four-lap (10 mile) qualifying runs were utilized. Tommy Milton won the pole with a record speed of over 108mph. Five cars qualified with average speeds of over 100mph.
Starting grid[edit]
| Row | Inside | Middle | Outside | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |  Tommy Milton W
|
7 | Harry Hartz
|
3 |  Dario Resta W
|
| 2 | 21 |  Martín de Álzaga R
|
27 | Louis Zborowski R
|
18 |  Pierre de Vizcaya R
|
| 3 | 23 | L. L. Corum
|
25 | Howdy Wilcox W
|
5 | Jimmy Murphy W
|
| 4 | 8 | Cliff Durant
|
2 | Ralph DePalma W
|
29 | Earl Cooper
|
| 5 | 4 | Joe Boyer
|
6 | Eddie Hearne
|
16 |  Christian Werner R
|
| 6 | 31 | Frank Elliott
|
14 | Christian Lautenschlager R
|
35 | Bennett Hill
|
| 7 | 26 | Harlan Fengler R
|
15 | Max Sailer R
|
28 | Leon Duray
|
| 8 | 19 |  Prince de Cystria R
|
22 | Raúl Riganti R
|
34 | Wade Morton R
|
Box score[edit]
Note: Relief drivers in parentheses[15]
W Former Indianapolis 500 winner
R Indianapolis 500 Rookie
Race statistics[edit]
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race details[edit]
- For 1923, riding mechanics were made optional.[16] Only one team (the Mercedes of Christian Lautenschlager) utilized one.
- First alternate: none[17]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
- ^ Patton, W. Blaine (May 31, 1923). "Sterling Pilot Takes Laurels Second Time In Speedway Classic". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 15, 2002
- ^ "Thousands witness auto speeders race". The Ottawa Evening Citizen. May 31, 1923.
- ^ "Bill for Bible in schools is killed". The Indianapolis Times. January 25, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Sacco, p. 362
- ^ "District Legion Advisors Oppose Memorial Day Bill". The Indianapolis Star. January 31, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Speedway Race May Be Run Despite Law". The Daily Republican. February 28, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ash, Eddie (January 24, 1923). "Much labor to undo if speed race isn't held". The Indianapolis Times. p. 6. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McCray sends measure back to Senate without signing; veto vote fails to override". The Indianapolis Star. March 6, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Motor Age, June 7, 1923, p. 12
- ^ "Indianapolis 500 1923". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Official Results of the Indianapolis 500". Indianapolis 500 Archives - Chuck's Toyland. Motor Age. 1923-06-07. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
- ^ Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-2798-3.
- ^ "International 500 Mile Sweepstakes – May 30, 1923". ChampCarStats.com.
- ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics. Stephen Rettig. ASIN B0006QASDW.
- ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
