The Wasp That Stung Indy... [PIC]

The Marmon Motor Car Company was founded in 1902 by Howard Carpenter Marmon and was just another Depression casualty by 1933. The most famous car they produced was this one-off race car that won the first Indianapolis 500 Race in 1911 by... going slower! Ray Harroun was Marmon's Chief Engineer and designer (and driver). He realized the winning factor would revolve around aerodynamics and... tires. Race cars at the time employed both a driver and "riding mechanic". By making the Wasp a single-seater he reduced weight and could further streamline the body. He also calculated that if he reduced the racing speed from 80 mph to 75mph, it would radically reduce the number of tire failures. His car won the race averaging an almost perfect 74.6 mph with only 4 pit stops... and none for tire failure. The second place car had 11 pit stops needing 14 tire changes. As a footnote, Ray Harroun also designed the first rear view mirror on this car which helped negate the need for "riding mechanic" who acted as a spotter. The car now resides at the Indianapolis Speedway Museum.