11th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1923
WinnerUnited States Tommy Milton
Winning EntrantH.C.S. Motor Company
Average speed90.954 mph (146.376 km/h)
Pole positionUnited States Tommy Milton
Pole speed108.170 mph (174.083 km/h)
Most laps ledUnited States Tommy Milton (128)
Pre-race
Pace carDuesenberg
Pace car driverFred Duesenberg
StarterEddie Rickenbacker[1]
Honorary refereeJohn Oliver La Gorce[1]
Estimated attendance150,000[2]
Chronology
Previous Next
1922 1924
1923 start.

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

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

Milton's winning car

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.

Results

Finish Start No Name Entrant Chassis Engine Qual Rank Laps Led Time/Retired
1 1 1 United States Tommy Milton  W 
(Relieved by Howdy Wilcox Laps 103–151) 		H.C.S. Motor Company Miller Miller 108.170 1 200 128 5:29:50.17
2 2 7 United States Harry Hartz R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 103.700 3 200 6 5:33:05
3 9 5 United States Jimmy Murphy  W  R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 104.050 2 200 11 5:40:36.64
4 14 6 United States Eddie Hearne R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 97.300 9 200 0 5:46:14.23
5 7 23 United States L. L. Corum Barber-Warnock Ford T Fronty-Ford 86.650 23 200 0 6:03:16.81
6 16 31 United States Frank Elliott R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 93.250 12 200 0 6:04:52.37
7 10 8 United States Cliff Durant R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 102.650 4 200 4 6:05:06.30
8 20 15 Germany Max Sailer  R  Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft Mercedes Mercedes 90.550 18 200 0 6:11:49.60
9 22 19 France Prince de Cystria  R  Prince de Cystria Bugatti Bugatti 88.900 21 200 0 6:26:24.78
10 24 34 United States Wade Morton  R  Duesenberg Brothers Duesenberg Duesenberg 88.000 22 200 0 6:40:04.98
11 15 16 Germany Christian Werner  R  Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft Mercedes Mercedes 95.200 11 200 0 6:41:50.51
12 6 18 Spain Pierre de Vizcaya  R  Martín de Álzaga Bugatti Bugatti 90.300 19 165[11] 0 Rod
13 21 28 United States Leon Duray R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 89.900 20 136 0 Rod
14 3 4 United Kingdom Dario Resta  W  Packard Motor Car Company Packard Packard 98.020 8 88 0 Differential
15 11 2 United States Ralph DePalma  W  Packard Motor Car Company Packard Packard 100.420 5 69 0 Head gasket
16 19 26 United States Harlan Fengler  R  R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 90.750 17 69 0 Gas tank
17 8 25 United States Howdy Wilcox  W  H.C.S. Motor Company Miller Miller 81.000 24 60 51 Clutch
18 13 3 United States Joe Boyer Packard Motor Car Company Packard Packard 98.800 7 59 0 Differential
19 18 35 United States Bennett Hill Harry A. Miller Miller Miller 91.200 16 44 0 Crankshaft
20 5 27 United Kingdom Louis Zborowski  R  Count L. Zborowski Bugatti Bugatti 91.800 15 41 0 Rod
21 12 29 United States Earl Cooper R. Cliff Durant Miller Miller 99.400 6 21 0 Crash BS
22 23 22 Argentina Raúl Riganti  R  Martín de Álzaga Bugatti Bugatti 95.300 10 19 0 Gas line
23 17 14 Germany Christian Lautenschlager  R  Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft Mercedes Mercedes 93.200 13 14 0 Crash T1
24 4 21 Argentina Martín de Álzaga  R  Martín de Álzaga Bugatti Bugatti 92.900 14 6 0 Rod
[12][13][14]

Race details

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.Open access icon
  3. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 15, 2002
  4. ^ "Thousands witness auto speeders race". The Ottawa Evening Citizen. May 31, 1923.
  5. ^ "Bill for Bible in schools is killed". The Indianapolis Times. January 25, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  6. ^ Sacco, p. 362
  7. ^ "District Legion Advisors Oppose Memorial Day Bill". The Indianapolis Star. January 31, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  8. ^ "Speedway Race May Be Run Despite Law". The Daily Republican. February 28, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  9. ^ 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.Open access icon
  10. ^ "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.Open access icon
  11. ^ Motor Age, June 7, 1923, p. 12
  12. ^ "Indianapolis 500 1923". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Official Results of the Indianapolis 500". Indianapolis 500 Archives - Chuck's Toyland. Motor Age. 1923-06-07. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  14. ^ Popely, Rick; Riggs, L. Spencer (1998). The Indianapolis 500 Chronicle. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International, Ltd. ISBN 0-7853-2798-3.
  15. ^ Blazier, John E.; Rollings, Tom (1994). Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics. Stephen Rettig. ASIN B0006QASDW.
  16. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004


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