World War I 100 Years Ago: Jan. 23-30

From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, January 28, 1915: In spite of the European war, the next 500-mile race at the speedway will include a number of the most celebrated drivers from foreign fields; Darius Resta and Louis Coatalen sent their entries today. They will drive two English Sunbeams of the latest overhead valve type. Of the seven entries for the Hoosier event received to date, three are foreign. Other European entries expected to follow are those of M. Babiot, holder of the continental long distance road racing record, wants to team with Rene Thomas in a second Delage and Arthur Duray, the last Indianapolis race runner-up. Coatalen wrote on his entry, “Here on the continent we consider the Indianapolis race the true American grand prix….to my mind a race to be really interesting must be contested by different nationalities.”