MUST USE NEW AXLES.

Topics:  Indianapolis 500

The New York Times
May 12, 1915

Rule Will Be Strictly Enforced in Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

Rule 14 of the Indianapolis motor speedway, specifying that axles on all cars in the next Indianapolis 500-mile race must be new two days before the contest, will be enforced to the letter, says Carl G. Fisher, the speedway President.

It had been brought to President Fisher's ears that Dario Resta, star entrant in the race by virtue of his recent dual victory in the Vanderbilt and Grand Prize races, had no extra axle for his car, and said he could not get one made to suit him. Therefore he would start with his old axle or not at all.

Fisher, while firm on the point of not permitting Resta to violate a speedway rule, which, he stated, was known a year ago, suggested that a way out of the difficulty would be for Resta not to use his car in practice, but to get accustomed to the course in his old Vanderbilt and Grand Prize racer.

This scheme appealed to Resta, so that the trouble was settled in an amicable manner. Resta's 500-mile race car, incidentally, is new, having been built for the last French Grand Prix, but never used in that contest.

Bookmakers are already getting out their slates for the race, advance bets being posted not only as to who will win the race, but who will start the contest.

Odds are being laid at 10 to 1 that all European cars will qualify, in which event they are expected to rule at better than even money against the field, numbering nine out of thirty-three starters. The European cars involved are J. De Palma's Delage, R. De Palma's Mercedes, Resta's Peugeot, and two others, the Sunbeams, with Chassagne, Porporato, Grant, and Limberg, and Oldfield's Bugatti.