1908. It was rescheduled to 12 November and run to the Formula Libre open regulations. This attracted the attention of (Fiat Automobiles|FIAT) and Benz who sent their drivers Felice Nazzaro and Louis Wagner for the former and Victor Hémery for the latter. They also got top American drivers for their other cars: Ralph DePalma (FIAT), David Bruce-Brown and Willie Haupt (Benz). From fifteen starters, the European cars took control but a series of issues stymied them: Hémery burst a tyre, Nazzaro and Haupt had accidents, Wagner had broken suspension and DePalma’s engine expired. In the end Hémery crossed the line first, but it was Bruce-Brown who won on time-elapsed, finishing a bare 1.5 seconds ahead – to the joy of the local spectators. Bob Burman was third, eighteen minutes back, in a Marquette. At the end of the year, Ray Harroun was crowned AAA National Champion after victories at Playa del Rey, Indianapolis and Atlanta. In March Barney Oldfield took the 21-litre Blitzen Benz to Daytona Beach and set a new Land Speed Record of 212.0. However, the ACF would not recognise the record. A month later, Bob Burman went faster in the same vehicle, reaching 227.5 though it was only in one direction. Again the ACF rejected the record. At the end of the year the AIACR took over the administration of speed records from the ACF, also adding the stipulation that records have to be averaged across both directions to be valid. Citations References Cimarosti, Adriano (1997) The Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing London: Aurum Press Ltd Georgano, Nick (1971) The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport London: Ebury Press Ltd Higham, Peter (1995) The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing London: Guinness Publishing Legate, Trevor (2006) 100 years of Grand Prix Kent: Touchstone Books Ltd Ludvigsen, Karl (2008) Racing Colours - Italian Racing Red Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd Monkhouse, George (1953) Grand Prix Racing Facts and Figures London: G.T. Foulis & Co Ltd Rendall, Ivan (1991) The Power and The Glory – A Century of Motor Racing London: BBC Books Rendall, Ivan (1993) The Chequered Flag – 100 years of Motor Racing London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd Venables, David (2009) Racing Colours - French Racing Blue Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd External links Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949 : Part 1 (1895–1916) – list of the races and winners. Retrieved 7 Jun 2019 Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949