Raffaele "Ralph" DePalma (occasionally spelt De Palma, December 19, 1882 – March 31, 1956) was an American racing driver who won the 1915 Indianapolis 500.

[3] Born in Biccari, Apulia, Italy, DePalma's family, who was from the near Troia, emigrated to the United States in the early 1890s.

He went on to perform strongly that year,[1] but was almost killed in an accident on October 5 at the Grand Prize held in a road course in Milwaukee.

[1] In a Mercedes "Gray Ghost," he showed he was a master tactician in beating Oldfield's much faster car.

[1] The following year, 1915, he drove to victory at 1915 Indianapolis 500 with a Mercedes 4.5 liter GP car, but became the subject of much controversy the following May, when he held out for appearance money to drive in the 1916 edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” which track owner, Carl G. Fisher refused, and DePalma did not run in the 500 race.

[5] DePalma was an intense competitor but one of the most popular racers with his fellow drivers and the fans because of his good sportsmanship, a quality he displayed on and off the track.

On February 12, 1919, at Daytona Beach, Florida, he drove a Packard to a world speed record of 149.875 mph (241.200 km/h) over a measured mile (1.6 km).

[3] In 1923, he established the DePalma Manufacturing Company in Detroit to build race cars and engines for automobiles and aircraft.