1919 Ballot Indy Racer Boattail Racer

Establishments Ballot of Paris had supplied engines to automakers, like Delage, prior to World War I. During the war, they supplied aero engines but now that the war was over, they had to look elsewhere. History had demonstrated the efficiency of racing to promote a new car and although European competition was not scheduled to resume immediately, the Indy 500 would be back in 1919. Peugeot prewar designer Ernest Henry was available and so was race driver Rene Thomas, who was a prewar Indy winner for Delage.

In total secrecy, four cars, closely based on the 1914 Peugeot Voiturette, were built for the Indy 500 of 1919. The Henry-designed straight-eight dual-overhead cam engine, equipped with bucket cam followers, was destined to be a classic. But the great design could not compensate for hapless preparation. The trouble began soon after driver Thomas and his teammates arrived in the United States. Practice runs proved the Ballots were easily the fastest on the track. Thomas qualified at 104.7 mph, breaking all previous qualifying records by five mph. But the selected final drive ratio was ill-suited to the Indy oval and they had failed to send alternative drives. They tried to compensate by substituting smaller, less substantial wheels. A broke wheel finished one racer on lap #44 and another crashed for the same reason on lap #63 - the other is this example. The two other cars finished 4th and 10th.

Source - Collier Collection