Spain carefully presses forward, holding off the French Salmson racer, which hounds him closely from behind. Both cars now make their way past the Italian and Norwegian wrecks. Farther back, the Swiss driver flashes out of the curve, carrying too much speed. His tires are shot and there is little he can do to hold the car. Ah! He spins out, the car sliding through a slick of gasoline. The red and white Bugatti nearly strikes the corner of the wreck of the English Amilcar, trailing a shower of sparks before finally skidding to a stop.The crowd watches as Italy's Sebi Orsi vaults forward at a run. He leaves his little Maserati behind, a hopelessly broken wreck with its front wheel askew and caught on the rear undercarriage of the Norwegian Monza. Meeting the Swiss car halfway, Orsi leaps atop and over the rear as the Bugatti skids to a stop. He lands badly and twists his ankle. Grimacing in pain, he looks up and realizes that time is running out -- gasoline spreads menacingly across the track. It is only a miracle that no fire has yet ignited beside the Belgian car, whose driver is still unconscious and wedged in the bottom of the cockpit. The crowd draws back, sensing the danger even as Orsi now limps forward, seemingly oblivious to the pain in his leg and the danger he faces. A cameraman leans forward and Orsi waves -- perhaps he is waving him off to keep his distance!
Meanwhile, the Czech, Vitez Rychly slowly works his way toward the curve of Avenue de la Victoire. He is taking no risks at this late moment of the race. Rychly is very much aware of the drama unfolding just ahead. All it will take is one spark and a second conflagration will erupt on the track, blocking his path. Yet he knows he must persevere -- if just one of the other three cars ahead makes a mistake, the Czech driver knows that he too will end the day on the podium. But what a day it has been -- great, but terrible….
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