The Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race was an automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in each of the two years prior to the first Indianapolis 500. The trophy was sponsored by the Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company. Frank Wheeler, one of the four co-founders of the Speedway, was also the president and co-founder of Wheeler-Schebler. The 1909 race was originally scheduled for 300 miles, but was ended at 235 miles due to deteriorating track conditions.
Race results
| Year | Date | Winning Driver | Car | Race Distance | Time of Race | Winning Speed | Starting Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles | Laps | |||||||
| 1909 | Aug 21 |  Leigh Lynch
|
Jackson | 235 | 94 | 04:13:31.40 | 57.907 mph | 19 |
| 1910 | May 28 | Ray Harroun
|
Marmon | 200 | 80 | 02:46:31.00 | 72.065 mph | 19 |
Wheeler-Schebler Trophy in later years
In 1911, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway management ceased holding multiple racing events per year, in favor of a single major race annually – the Indianapolis 500. As a result, the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy race was discontinued.
In 1914 the trophy reappeared, now as an award given to the owner of the car leading the Indianapolis 500 at the 400-mile mark (lap 160). On numerous occasions, the leader at lap 160 went on to win the race. For the 1916 race only, the trophy was presented to the leader at lap 100 (250 miles) since the race was scheduled for only 300 miles.
The trophy was retired and given permanently to car owner Harry Hartz after his cars claimed the trophy in three consecutive years (1930, 1931, 1932). The original rules in 1909 stipulated that the trophy became the permanent possession of the individual to win it three times. Many years later, in 1956, the trophy was re-acquired by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Trophy winners (1914–1932)
- 1914: Louis Delâge (Rene Thomas) Race winner
- 1915: E.C. Patterson (Ralph DePalma) Race winner
- 1916: Peugeot Auto Racing Co. (Dario Resta) Race winner
- 1919: Howdy Wilcox (Howdy Wilcox) Race winner
- 1920: Ralph DePalma (Ralph DePalma) finished 5th
- 1921: Louis Chevrolet (Tommy Milton) Race winner
- 1922: Jimmy Murphy (Jimmy Murphy) Race winner
- 1923: Harry C. Stutz (Tommy Milton) Race winner
- 1924: Earl Cooper (Earl Cooper) finished 2nd
- 1925: Cliff Durant (Dave Lewis) finished 2nd
- 1926: Pete Kreis (Frank Lockhart) Race winner
- 1927: Cooper Engineering Co. (Bob McDonogh/Pete DePaolo) finished 6th
- 1928: J. R. Burgamy (Tony Gulotta) finished 10th
- 1929: Maude "M. A." Yagle (Ray Keech) Race winner
- 1930: Harry Hartz (Billy Arnold) Race winner
- 1931: Harry Hartz (Billy Arnold) finished 19th
- 1932: Harry Hartz (Fred Frame) Race winner
References
- "Original Letter Awarding Harry Hartz the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy | First Super Speedway". www.firstsuperspeedway.com.
- Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; ISBN 0-9766149-0-1.
- Galpin, Darren; A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I.
- 1909 AAA National Championship Trail
- 1910 AAA National Championship Trail