The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 43

THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS -Wednesday, May 29, 1957 Poge 17 VICTOR'S SPOILS I "v- i Firestone Tires Must Keep One Jump Ahead of Race 2 Big Kisses and $36,000 'Not Too Bad1 for Flaherty What does a driver do and say in those first few minutes after he. kits the "500" jackpot Here is The News' report On what happened in 1956 when Pat Flaherty drove his car into the victory caye. By CORKY LAMM was a pretty good time for a George Francis Patrick Flah- first -time look at the "500." years old and a Chi- Marilyn was first bussed. cagoan, thought it was a pretty Then Mrs. O'Shea took the good race sianu.

Ana irom uie oacn- were for the house, and 8'2-month-old daughter, Colleen, home with Mrs. Flaherty's mother in the Windy town. The Victory Lane celebration finally runs its course, as all do. And they move to Garage No. 11, with car and friends, to renew this delightful unbelief.

Somebody uncorks a bottle of champagne and the quaffing is among friends. The talk is a babble, but melodious. It's here that Watson confirms the suspicion that both pit stops were not on plan, but taken on the yellow caution lights during the skid parties. It's here, too, that Shinoda peeks into the fuel tank and Kiuuiiu icuiie oiicu voice, He had; his reasons, ch.ef leasant and with. soft If you think race cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway go fast, consider the Firestone Tire Rubber Co.

It has to keep one hop ahead of the race car at all times. Why? Because Firestone is the sole producer of Isdianap-olis-type racing tires. For 33 straight years, the Indianapolis Race winner has used Firestones. To produce safe tires for the "500," Firestone annually runs extensive tests at the Speedway with its own race car. Last summer, for instance, Firestone test driver Pat O'Connor drove some 3,000 miles at the -mile track.

W. E. Lyon, director of tire engineering and development, instructed O'Connor to abuse test tires in "every possible way during the runs. Lap speeds ran from 140 to 146 mph. O'Connor used brakes excessively.

arrplcratpH fastAP and among them the swelling of needle: "Well, don't I get to the Flah erty family excheq uer by some 536,000, give or take a few pennies. "I could have I i 1 kiss the winner's wife?" He seemed to enjoy this race as much as the Flahertys, this O'Shea. He worked up around Tony Hulman, the man who runs the show, and finally arrived beside Marilyn, busy handing alternately a quart of milk and a chalice full of ice water to Patrick. O'Shea made good on that kissing question, a halfway peck which sur- driven another LT 1,000 miles," said the tired but effervescent Patrick, 30 min says, "He still has 40 gallons left" Here, too, the Champion people move in to look at the iV Lamm plugs, extracting one and show Andy Passes 130 Test utes after he'd "llc, nrised Marilvn ing Watson, who comments: "Just like we were practicing, Owner Hulman drops in, with news about CBS hookups for Flaherty. Watson steps Rookie Speedway Driver Andy Furci of Brooklyn, N.Y., plasters his rookie strips across his chest after passing his 130 mph driver's test.

The paper strips are attached to a car's tail, to let other drivers know a rookie is at the wheel, until completion of driver tests. Furci owns three Italian restaurants in the New York area. The News Photo, George Tilford. "I'd like you to meet my father, Mr. Hulman, H.

(only) T. (only) Watson. Dad, this is the fellow who owns the place where we make all that won the 40th 500-Miie Kace, "but I don't want to." And But when she saw the giver then he laughed, as if this she wa in merrv mool t0 exaggeration needed some improve on the standard set bracing an0" so, much to the delight The first thing G. F. P.

Flah- of tthe fellows who run those erty did when he put Jack P'Cture machines. Zink's little mechanical bullet And there was A. (only) J. into Victory Lane in midafter- (only) Watson, mechanic extra-noon at the Speedway was to ordinary, with his second scare hell out of the photogra- straight winner. Last season he phers perched at the back end put Bob Sweikert in the bull-of the famous double enclos- pen.

And most of the crew was They thought he never with him. Ivy Wolfe and Dave was going to stand on' his Burkett of Jack Zink's Tulsa brakes. town, Bob DeBisschop, the man Then the fun began, planned who f1 on the and unplanned fun. Waiting two pit stops (he's from Walnut for this begrimed Irishman, the and Denny Moore second pole-sitter in 18 years from Oklahoma City and Larry to win the big race, was the Sh.noda from Detroit, and Ellis money." more often than normal and drove through turns at above-average speeds. He tested more than a score of different tire constructions.

The speed trials were 'directed at developing a safe-handling, cooler-running tire to withstand expected higher speeds in the 1957 "500." Tires were a problem last year when the race was run at speeds much higher than anyone expected, considering a long slowdown because of yel- low lights. AVERAGE WAS 128 MPH The winner, Pat Flaherty, averaged 128.490 mph for the fntire .500 miles, even though There's a chunk of rubber First United States turbo-jet aircraft engine to complete 1,400 hours of operation without major overhaul was built by an automotive company 1,400 hours, in air miles, equals 30 trips around the world. Pickles Galore RALEIGH, N.C. (UP) North Carolina farmers raised more than a million bushels of cucumbers in 1956 for the state's pickle industry. The crop was grown on about 11,800 acres.

out of the right front But De Bisschop says that little hole was caused by Pat's ebullient stop in Victory Lane. "We never changed the left front, he reported. Twice we LES WALDMAN WOODY ARMSTRONG changed the right front and once each on the rear tires." Invite You to Your Tires and Their Tires Cross-sectipns of the racing tires used at the "500" (top) and a tire for a passenger car show the former has less tread thickness. That's to protect against extreme heat of high speed racing. The shoulder on the racing tire gives race cars better stability on the left turns at the Speedway.

The News. Photo, William Palmer. usual knot of officialdom but Ul He, too, was a satisfied man Was it tough? "Not too bad." Preparations have a facility of paying off. They did for this says the red-haired Irishman. 'I wasn't tired at all but I had a lot of competition out there." with important changes.

MRS. FLAHERTY COMES FIRST This time Marilyn Flaherty Flaherty-Watson combination "I've been working on this car since last December," says A. J. "And we put maybe 1,000 When did he think he had it reports, does not furnish racing tires for free. Every tire must miles on it here before the be purchased from the com race." Nobody disputed that.

It pany, even though the price, $55, really represents only a fraction of the cost including McCrary, chief of the company's racing division, and his crew at Indianapolis have been busy orientating all drivers and mechanics on the wear-ability of the new tires. Drivers are instructed what and when to look for when tires begin to wear and are urged to come into the pits immediately when a tire starts wear. was Flaherty who had tHe little roadster in and out of tests and experiments. was there for the first time, won? The answer came quick-She's Pat's wife- And the jy wjth a grin: "Not until I movie actress this time was saw that checkered flag." This Virginia Mayo. And Miss was a coverup, Marilyn de-Mayo's legal tie, Michael cided, because wasn't this the O'Shea, himself a thespian of same man who'd been telling note.

And the older Flaherty her a month before the race, boys, both from Glendale, telling her and Watson and all John, who tried valiantly to the boys that this was his race? hold back the big tears and It was. Jim, who like John thought it The money? Marilyn's plans featuring HERB MARTI Piano FINE FOOD I LI 7-1310 I NO COVER 1 NO MINIMUM NO TAX that garage area and onto the track so many times he had Firestone men are on hand wherever automobiles are the gatekeepers dizzy in pre-race practicing. So was his raced. Last year its crews served cars in 98 major racing ine race was run unaer tne yellow lights for 1 hour and 15 minutes, meaning that during those 75 minutes theoretically there was no passing and the pack had to average something around 100 mph. The average speed of the race, excluding the part run under the yellow light, was 137.1 mph.

To combat the Indianapolis problem, Firestone engineers set out to develop a tire which would run cooler at higher speeds. To arrive at the solution, they cut down a little on the rubber tread on the tires, and added another layer of nylon cord. The less rubber on tire, the cooler it runs, according to Hank Richard of Firestone's public relations department. Firestone believes that the njw Indianapolis tire, even though it probably will have to be changed a little more often, will be much safer. With this new program, Bin competition yesterday.

Firestone, contrary to some events throughout the nation, WBiTE IU1 UTO PEOTS TP Inl LYM "Economy leader of its field" 1957 Mobilgas Economy Run. "In the 1957 Mobilgas Economy Run Plymouth won first place in Class 'A the division that includes all of the well-known low-price cars. The winning Plymouth was powered by a V-8 engine with automatic transmission." From the records of the United States Auto PLYMOUTH "Your over-all best buy" Car Life Magazine. "After testing all the 1957 cars we choose Plymouth as today's over-all best buy because we feel that it offers more and better transportation value than any other 1957 car regardless of price." (From the June issue of CAR LIFE, the family auto magazine.) Race Day Gets an Early Start A bomb explodes at 5 a.m. on race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to signal the opening of the gates to the track.

There follows a series of traditional events, beginning at 8:30 when the 33 race cars are rolled out on the pit apron. At 9:30 the Purdue University and American Legion bands step off on the main-stretch for a marching and music parade. At 10:15 the Purdue band plays "On the Banks of the Wabash." The official photograph of the line-up of cars is taken at 10:30 and 5 minutes later the Purdue band plays the national anthem. This is followed by Taps." At 10:49, as Jerome Hines, Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone, sings "Back Home Again in Indiana," hundreds of bal -readability" 1957 Motor Trend Magazine Award. "Presented to Chrysler Corporation for superior handling and roadability qualities of their family of fine cars." (The citation of the 1957 Motor Trend Award, presented annually to the U.

S. manufacturer making the most significant engineering advancement.) PLYMOUTH "Style leader of the year" DelPs 1957 Cars Annual. "Style Leader of the Year Award, presented to Plymouth Division of Chrysler Corporation, by the editors of Dell's 1957 Cars Annual who have chosen the 1957 Plymouth as the style leader of the American automotive industry." (Inscription on the actual award.) loons are released to float over the Speedway grounds. Tony Hulman, owner of the speedway, gives the command, "Gentleman start your engines," at 10:52. At 10:54, the cars roll away from the pits on the single-file parade lap, followed by (he pace lap with the 33 racers lined up in 11 rows.

The Mer cury pace car adjusts its speed so that the race starts at 11 a.m. as the first row of cars cross the starting line. 593 Miles Faster Than 6 in Town The Jet age was rlowed down by Speedway traffic. On Saturday, Lt. Gerald Lewis phoned his father, Herb Lewis, United States Auto Club assistant starter, that he was leaving the air base at Greenville, 593 miles away, and would fly over the Speedway at 10 a.m.

The elder Lewis left his home immediately, battled crosstown traffic 6 miles, and missed the flying date with his son by 5 minutes. Hot-Rodder, 68 P.S. WE HAVE ONLY ONE WORD TO ADD- PORTLAND, Me. (UP)-Hot rod racing is nothing new, says 68-year-old Emil Nelson. Now proud, owner of a souped-up 1934 model Ford, he said he's been enjoying the sport iace 9 1917.

i.