Too Far, Too Fast: Report on the 1911 Indy

On May 31, 1911, the day after the first Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis News carried an editorial reading, in part, “Interesting and thrilling as was the race at the Speedway yesterday, it is to be hoped we have seen the last of these 500-mile contests.

“The winning driver (Ray Harroun) said that the limit had been reached and that the strain of the participants was far too great. . . . So it seems we have gone too far in this form of sports. . . . “

Harroun’s average speed for the 500 miles was 74.59 m.p.h.