Like another Italian-born race driver half a century later, Ralph DePalma had bad luck in the Indianapolis 500. In the 1912 race, he was well in the lead in the final laps but suffered engine trouble a few laps from the finish line.

He won the 1915 race, but it would be his only Indy 500 win. In 1920 he again was leading near the end of the race when mechanical problems slowed him down. Gaston Chevrolet took the lead and the race.

DePalma competed in 10 Indianapolis 500s, the last in 1925. That year, the winner was Pete DePaolo, DePalma's nephew.

DePalma retired from racing in the 1930s and died in 1956. (Star/News Archives)