Ray Harroun (
January 12,
1879 -
January 19,
1968) was an
American racecar driver. Born in
Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, he was the
AAA season champion in 1910. At the
first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, his use of what would now be called a
rear-view mirror, rather than the riding mechanic specified in the rules, created controversy, but was ultimately allowed. Harroun went on to win at an average speed of 74.602 miles per hour, which created another controversy; to this day, some say a scorer's error cheated
Ralph Mulford of his rightful victory. The steering knuckle on
Joe Jagersberger's car broke and he had to bow out of the race after 87 laps, and finished 31st. The spinning car veered back and forth across the track, down the pit lane, and back on the track. It hit the judges stand, and the judges fled their posts. Jagerberger's riding mechanic flew out of the car and on the track. The next driver on the scene had to avoid the riding mechanic. Several cars were taken out in the melee, including
Harry Knight, Herber Lytle, and
Eddie Hearne. Knight's riding mechanic was the only person who suffered an injury, but his back fully recovered. The leaders of the race safely navigated through the wrecked cars. The judges milled around the accident scene and did not score. Around this time Harroun did a driver exchange. The incident caused a controversy about if Harroun actually won the race. Harroun, who came out of retirement to race in the first 500, would never race again.
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