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 YearDateWinning DriverCarRace DistanceTime of RaceWinning SpeedStartingCars 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)
Year Winning Owner Winning driver Finishing Position 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 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 2nd 1925 Cliff Durant Dave Lewis 2nd 1926 Pete Kreis Frank Lockhart Race winner 1927 Cooper Engineering Co. Bob McDonogh/Pete DePaolo 6th 1928 J. R. Burgamy Tony Gulotta 10th 1929 Maude "M. A." Yagle Ray Keech Race winner 1930 Harry Hartz Billy Arnold Race winner 1931 Harry Hartz Billy Arnold 19th 1932 Harry Hartz Fred Frame Race winner
References
Scott, D. Bruce; INDY: Racing Before the 500; Indiana Reflections; 2005; . Galpin, Darren; A Record of Motorsport Racing Before World War I. 1909 AAA National Championship Trail 1910 AAA National Championship Trail