To Please a Lady Page #10

Brannan, in Number 17,

is moving up all the time.

In the north turn, Brannan is passing

Mack Hellings, Number 15.

And now he's closing in on Ed Zang.

And he's caught him.

He's challenging Zang for fourth place.

Brannan's going ahead,

but Zang's trying to stay with him.

They're both too fast,

off the groove and riding wide.

And there, Zang smacked into the wall.

Brannan's going right through,

but there's a mix-up out there.

They've locked wheels.

Zang bounced off

and tangled with McQuinn in 44.

They're sliding across the track.

Zang's hit the fence.

But he's all right. He's all right.

He got out and walked away. Nobody hurt.

For a moment, I thought that was it.

- What do you mean?

- I thought Brannan rode him into the wall.

He didn't. Mike was way ahead of him.

Well, maybe that time,

but the race isn't over yet.

The pace is fast and it's getting faster.

Its 127.72 miles per hour

for the first 150 miles.

And that's a record for the distance.

Mauri Rose is still ahead

in that front-drive Offenhauser Special.

In second place is Lou Neuhouser

in Car Number 49.

Mike Brannan has just moved

into third place with Car Number 17.

And here he is down the main stretch.

Neuhouser's giving it everything, trying

to stay ahead. Brannan's closing in.

He's right on Number 49

as they go through the south turn.

Neuhouser's trying to hold him,

really pushing that car.

He's staying up there.

Brannan can't get by.

And they're both wide open.

They're wheel-to-wheel out there,

burning rubber.

Brannan trying to move into second spot.

Brannan's taking him now.

He's going ahead.

But wait, Neuhouser's slowing down.

There's smoke pouring from that car.

Something let go.

He couldn't stand the killing pace.

Well, that's all for Neuhouser.

Brannan's up in second place

and going away...

...right in the groove

and gunning for Mauri Rose.

Brannan's been up in the top 10

right from the start.

- That boy's moving.

- He's really something, isn't he?

He's something,

but he's gotta travel to catch Rose.

- He'll get him.

- Time's running out here at Indianapolis.

As we hit 275 miles, it's still Mauri Rose

out in front in Number 31.

He's never let up for a second,

and he's driving like the wizard he is.

And Mike Brannan's

only 16 seconds behind him.

Mauri Rose is piling up

lap prize money with Number 31.

The leader gets $ 100

every time he comes around.

So that's over $ 10,000 he's won already.

Being in the lead really pays off.

And here he is,

completing his 275th mile.

The great Mauri Rose, three-time winner,

now passing the stands.

There's a signal at his pit.

Mauri's being ordered in for gas.

These cars can't go

the whole 500 miles without refueling...

...and he'll stop

at the end of his next lap.

When Mauri Rose comes in,

that'll give Brannan the lead.

But he won't hold it long...

...because he'll have to make a pit stop

any time now.

Here's Brannan bringing Number 17

down the main stretch.

He's still 16 seconds behind.

And there's the signal out for Brannan.

- You bringing Mike in now?

- He can make time with Mauri in the pits.

We can make more for him here.

He's got to come in anyway.

We can beat Mauri's boys at this.

Let's cut down that 16-second lead.

When Mike comes in, let's do it right

and do it fast. Be sure it's fast.

Here's Rose, Number 31,

coming along the grandstand stretch.

He's slowing right down

and pulling over right now.

This will be something to see.

The lead cars both in at the same time.

They're bringing the race into the pits.

It's going to be a duel between mechanics.

Brannan's men will try to cut

Mauri's time, that 16-second lead.

Mechanics are on the track, all ready.

The Offenhauser is a front-drive car.

They've changed those front wheels

that take the beating.

They're at the car

almost before it stops.

Mauri's taking a drink down there.

Now he's using the rest of the water

to cool himself off.

He needs that, it's awfully hot work

leading this pack of leadfoots.

Mike Brannan in Number 17

coming down the stretch.

He's pulling over, slowing down for his

pit. His crew can't wait to get at the car.

The Brannan Special is a rear-drive,

so they'll change the two outside wheels.

That means the same amount of work

has to be done on both cars.

They're keeping the motors running.

And look at those mechanics go to it.

They're trained for fast work in the pits,

just like...

Come on, Mac. You said in and out fast.

This pit stop won't hurt

either Mauri Rose or Brannan.

They're both over a lap ahead.

Brannan's mechanics are very fast.

One wheel's changed already.

They're trying to get him out ahead

of Mauri Rose.

But it looks like Mauri's all set to go.

He's gassed up.

The tank's overflowing.

They're spilling gas.

It's caught on fire from the hot exhaust.

She's on fire!

Mauri's getting out.

That tank could explode.

Fire squad's in there now, fighting

with CO2 gas, but it looks awfully bad.

It's the worst kind of a break for Mauri.

He was all set to take off.

This can put him out of the race.

He's been leading all the way.

They're beginning to kill those flames.

It's gonna be all right.

Mauri's getting ready to go back in.

There he goes.

This has cost him valuable time.

It can be the turning point of the race.

They're rolling him away.

That motor's taking hold,

and listen to him gun her as she goes.

Knocking home the last wheel

on Brannan's car.

- He's all gassed up. Now he's rolling.

- Make it snappy.

He's back in the race,

just five seconds behind Rose.

He gained 11 seconds in the pits.

I'll give you official time

for those pit stops in a few minutes.

And there's Brannan right behind Mauri

as they go through the south turn.

They're back and they're bearing down.

They've made their pit stops

and they won't stop again.

Brannan goes streaking right after him.

Mauri Rose is blazing

through the north turn.

The traffic here is slowing him a little.

Brannan's closing that gap,

moving in on him...

...lapping slower cars as he goes.

They're flat out into the main stretch.

Giving it everything

as they come past the stands.

Mauri's fighting to hold that lead.

They go through the south turn.

Mauri Rose is still out ahead.

But Brannan's cutting down that lead

all the time.

He's coming up with Mauri Rose.

Brannan's overtaking Number 31

on the inside.

Brannan's right up with him.

They're wheel-to-wheel.

They're flying along the north stretch

there. Brannan's going to take him.

As they come down the stretch,

it's Brannan in front.

Mike Brannan in Number 17 in the lead

at the three-quarter distance.

He's in the number-one spot,

but Mauri's not letting him get away.

Rose has caught Brannan

in the backstretch.

They go along wheel-to-wheel,

wide open, going full blast.

And look, look!

There's a crackup ahead of them.

They're sliding, blocking the track.

Brannan and Mauri are coming fast.

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