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Sports

Black Beast Wins Indy 500... 100 Years Later!

Howard Kroplick shares story of running a centennial lap in the Indy 500 with the famed racecar.

It could be considered a new spin on the classic Tortoise and the Hare fable.

It may have taken but the , a 102-year-old Alco 6 race car often shown around Long Island and owned by Howard Kroplick of East Hills, finally won the .

Kroplick brought the race car back to the Indy 500 centennial race in May for a scheduled “parade” lap with seven other cars from the first race to commemorate its run in the very first Indy 500 in 1911. But Kroplick had a secret plan and an extraordinary driver to win the race 100 years after the Black Beast lost to the Marmon Car.

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The Black Beast was favored to win in 1911, but broke down in the middle of the race allowing the Marmon car to win. This time it was the Marmon car that broke down, aiding in the win for Black Beast... that and two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi.

Check out video of the Black Beast’s final Indy 500 race lap to victory. For more information visit www.vanderbiltcupraces.com.

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