This blog will expand on themes and topics first mentioned in my book, "The Automobile and American Life." I hope to comment on recent developments in the automobile industry, reviews of my readings on the history of the automobile, drafts of my new work, contributions from friends, descriptions of the museums and car shows I attend and anything else relevant. Copyright 2009-2020, by the author.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Film of the First Indianapolis 500, 1911 -- Americans could not get enough speed!
1911 Indianapolis 500 (first running) — race results
The inaugural Indianapolis 500 was held May 30, 1911 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1 . The winner was Ray Harroun driving the Marmon “Wasp” for Nordyke & Marmon Co. 2 . Harroun’s winning average speed was 74.602 mph 2 and his elapsed time was 6:42:08 1 .
Top 12 finishers (completed all 200 laps)
| Finish | Driver | Car | Entrant | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Harroun | Marmon “Wasp” | Nordyke & Marmon Co. | 200 2 |
| 2 | Ralph Mulford | Lozier | Lozier Motor Co. | 200 2 |
| 3 | David Bruce-Brown | Fiat | E.E. Hewlett | 200 2 |
| 4 | Spencer Wishart | Mercedes | Spencer Wishart | 200 2 |
| 5 | Joe Dawson | Marmon | Nordyke & Marmon Co. | 200 2 |
| 6 | Ralph DePalma | Simplex | Simplex Automobile Co. | 200 2 |
| 7 | Charlie Merz | National | National Motor Vehicle Co. | 200 2 |
| 8 | W.H. Turner | Amplex | Simplex Automobile Co. | 200 2 |
| 9 | Fred Belcher | Knox | Knox Automobile Co. | 200 2 |
| 10 | Harry Cobe | Jackson | Jackson Automobile Co. | 200 2 |
| 11 | Gil Anderson | Stutz | Ideal Motor Car Co. | 200 2 |
| 12 | Hughie Hughes | Mercer | Mercer Motors Co. | 200 2 |