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| BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO THE INDY SPEEDWAY |
In 1908, four men got together in Indianapolis to build a 2 and 1/2
mile testing track for the local flourishing automobile business. One
of these men was Carl Fisher. Fisher is also famous for getting a
national road to Florida made and for the creation of Miami Beach.
Various automobile and motorcycle races were held in 1909 and
1910. The Wright Brothers showed up for the first US Aviation
Show in 1910. After having invented the airplane in 1903, they began
teaching others to fly and their students flew around above the
track too. All of these shows were popular.
Shell and oil made up the original track surface. A problem with tire
shredding, led to the laying of 3.2 million red bricks for 1911. It
was decided then, that there would be just one big 500-mile
automobile race at the track - and the Indy 500 tradition began! It
would take 200 laps around the track, in a counter-clockwise
direction, to go 500 miles. At first, it was known as the
"International 500 Mile Sweepstakes".The first races took over 6
hours to run. Modern races are under 3 hours. In the 1990's
speeds reached into the 235 mph zone. Various measures have been
taken since to slow the cars. Recent 500's have seen speeds in the
218-228 mph range.
Today's track is the same dimensions as the original. The turns are
only banked 9' 12" degrees. The brick surface lasted through the
decades. In 1958, they began paving parts of the track. Today, the
bricks cover only 1-yard of the course - across the start/finish line.
There is also a golf course that has several holes within the infield.
The race was not ran during 1917-1918 due to WWI. Nor was it ran
from 1942-1945 because of WWII.
Eddie Rickenbacker raced in the Indy 500 as a youth. He joined the
army and went to Europe to learn to be a fighter pilot. After
returning from the war as the most decorated American flying ace,
Rickenbacker bought the Speedway from the four men who had
formed it. Capt'n Eddie, as he was called, was an amazing,
hard-working, fearless man who would reach greatness throughout
his life, as did Carl Fisher.
When WWII began, Rickenbacker rejoined to help his country in her
time of need. When the war ended, Famous race driver, Wilbur
Shaw, brokered a deal for Rickenbacker to sell the track to Terre
Haute businessman, Tony Hulman. While Tony has died, the
Speedway remains in the Hulman family. Capt'n Eddie would go on to
run Eastern Airlines.
In the early days, a mechanic would ride around with the drivers
during the race. This situation was phased out in the 1920's. Up
until the 1960's, the race cars had been roadsters - big heavy cars
with the engines out in front of the driver. Formula One inspired
smaller, lower, lighter rear-engined cars. By the end of the 60's, all
the roadsters were gone. Soon the tires got wider and wings began
to be used for aerodynamics.
One of the factors that has separated the Indy 500 from other
races is the amount of time that is spent building up to the race. At
other races, teams spend a day practicing, a day qualifying and a day
racing. At Indy, there is rookie testing, practice, more practice,two
weekends of qualifying, and finally a race on the last Sunday in May.
Consequently, race teams spend around 3 weeks at the track for the
500.
Various open-wheel sanctioning bodies have been present at the
track over the years (AAA, USAC, CART and IRL, but the 500 has
always attracted others to try and compete as well. Drivers from
other series have often competed as well as special teams put
together just for the Indy 500. Only 33 cars are allowed to qualify.
The Indy 500 had been selling out for years and is one of the events
in the sporting world which is recommended you see in your lifetime.
Many folks have gotten hooked and begin their own family traditions
of attending the race. Race tickets are passed down through the
generations of some families. More stands were erected, yet the
infield was always full as well. Up until 1994, the Indy 500 was the
only race to be ran at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. NASCAR's
popularity, and possibly the looming Indycar split, prompted the
president of the Speedway to host a Winston Cup race during the
summer. It was a huge success and has continued to be a sell-out
ever since. The IROC series held a support race during Brickyard
400 weekend until 2003.
The original pagoda race control tower was torn down and replaced
by a bigger pagoda in 1929. Tony Hulman had it replaced by a
bigger, yet ugly square concrete building in 1959. That tower was
torn down and a bigger, more attractive tower, once again in a
pagoda style, was erected in 2000. That year saw many changes at
the Speedway: a new media center, F1 garages along the end of the
pit lane, and a snaking road course in the infield that attached to the
existing oval race track. These upgrades were performed for
hosting the United States Grand Prix - Formula One's entry back
into the USA. That race was ran through 2007. It hosted several
series as support races including the Porsche Super Cup, Indy Lights
and Ferraris.
In 2008, a chicane was installed in Turn 1 for the return of
motorcycle racing to the speedway. MotoGP will run on the infield
road course, but unlike F1, will travel in a counter-clockwise
direction.
After a century of racing history, there are many, many interesting
stories surrounding the Speedway, as well as many traditions and
events. Have fun exploring!
mile testing track for the local flourishing automobile business. One
of these men was Carl Fisher. Fisher is also famous for getting a
national road to Florida made and for the creation of Miami Beach.
Various automobile and motorcycle races were held in 1909 and
1910. The Wright Brothers showed up for the first US Aviation
Show in 1910. After having invented the airplane in 1903, they began
teaching others to fly and their students flew around above the
track too. All of these shows were popular.
Shell and oil made up the original track surface. A problem with tire
shredding, led to the laying of 3.2 million red bricks for 1911. It
was decided then, that there would be just one big 500-mile
automobile race at the track - and the Indy 500 tradition began! It
would take 200 laps around the track, in a counter-clockwise
direction, to go 500 miles. At first, it was known as the
"International 500 Mile Sweepstakes".The first races took over 6
hours to run. Modern races are under 3 hours. In the 1990's
speeds reached into the 235 mph zone. Various measures have been
taken since to slow the cars. Recent 500's have seen speeds in the
218-228 mph range.
Today's track is the same dimensions as the original. The turns are
only banked 9' 12" degrees. The brick surface lasted through the
decades. In 1958, they began paving parts of the track. Today, the
bricks cover only 1-yard of the course - across the start/finish line.
There is also a golf course that has several holes within the infield.
The race was not ran during 1917-1918 due to WWI. Nor was it ran
from 1942-1945 because of WWII.
Eddie Rickenbacker raced in the Indy 500 as a youth. He joined the
army and went to Europe to learn to be a fighter pilot. After
returning from the war as the most decorated American flying ace,
Rickenbacker bought the Speedway from the four men who had
formed it. Capt'n Eddie, as he was called, was an amazing,
hard-working, fearless man who would reach greatness throughout
his life, as did Carl Fisher.
When WWII began, Rickenbacker rejoined to help his country in her
time of need. When the war ended, Famous race driver, Wilbur
Shaw, brokered a deal for Rickenbacker to sell the track to Terre
Haute businessman, Tony Hulman. While Tony has died, the
Speedway remains in the Hulman family. Capt'n Eddie would go on to
run Eastern Airlines.
In the early days, a mechanic would ride around with the drivers
during the race. This situation was phased out in the 1920's. Up
until the 1960's, the race cars had been roadsters - big heavy cars
with the engines out in front of the driver. Formula One inspired
smaller, lower, lighter rear-engined cars. By the end of the 60's, all
the roadsters were gone. Soon the tires got wider and wings began
to be used for aerodynamics.
One of the factors that has separated the Indy 500 from other
races is the amount of time that is spent building up to the race. At
other races, teams spend a day practicing, a day qualifying and a day
racing. At Indy, there is rookie testing, practice, more practice,two
weekends of qualifying, and finally a race on the last Sunday in May.
Consequently, race teams spend around 3 weeks at the track for the
500.
Various open-wheel sanctioning bodies have been present at the
track over the years (AAA, USAC, CART and IRL, but the 500 has
always attracted others to try and compete as well. Drivers from
other series have often competed as well as special teams put
together just for the Indy 500. Only 33 cars are allowed to qualify.
The Indy 500 had been selling out for years and is one of the events
in the sporting world which is recommended you see in your lifetime.
Many folks have gotten hooked and begin their own family traditions
of attending the race. Race tickets are passed down through the
generations of some families. More stands were erected, yet the
infield was always full as well. Up until 1994, the Indy 500 was the
only race to be ran at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. NASCAR's
popularity, and possibly the looming Indycar split, prompted the
president of the Speedway to host a Winston Cup race during the
summer. It was a huge success and has continued to be a sell-out
ever since. The IROC series held a support race during Brickyard
400 weekend until 2003.
The original pagoda race control tower was torn down and replaced
by a bigger pagoda in 1929. Tony Hulman had it replaced by a
bigger, yet ugly square concrete building in 1959. That tower was
torn down and a bigger, more attractive tower, once again in a
pagoda style, was erected in 2000. That year saw many changes at
the Speedway: a new media center, F1 garages along the end of the
pit lane, and a snaking road course in the infield that attached to the
existing oval race track. These upgrades were performed for
hosting the United States Grand Prix - Formula One's entry back
into the USA. That race was ran through 2007. It hosted several
series as support races including the Porsche Super Cup, Indy Lights
and Ferraris.
In 2008, a chicane was installed in Turn 1 for the return of
motorcycle racing to the speedway. MotoGP will run on the infield
road course, but unlike F1, will travel in a counter-clockwise
direction.
After a century of racing history, there are many, many interesting
stories surrounding the Speedway, as well as many traditions and
events. Have fun exploring!
| Jim Rathman in a Roadster |
| The Marmon Wasp won the 1st Indy 500 in 1911 |
| 1968 - Gordon Johncock in rear-engined racer |
| 1980 - Johnny Rutherford |
The founders: Arthur Newby, James Allison, Carl Fisher
and Frank Wheeler.
and Frank Wheeler.
The Indy 500 began in 1911 and is the oldest, richest, largest,
fastest and most exciting auto race in the world.
In 1994, a second race began to be held at the Speedway - the
Allstate 400. This time the cars were different. The popular
NASCAR Cup series has been welcomed back every year since.
By 2000, a road course was added to the original oval track for
hosting F1's U.S. Grand Prix. After eight years, that race is
being replaced by MotoGP's Indianapolis Grand Prix that will
feature the world's fastest motorcycle racing!
fastest and most exciting auto race in the world.
In 1994, a second race began to be held at the Speedway - the
Allstate 400. This time the cars were different. The popular
NASCAR Cup series has been welcomed back every year since.
By 2000, a road course was added to the original oval track for
hosting F1's U.S. Grand Prix. After eight years, that race is
being replaced by MotoGP's Indianapolis Grand Prix that will
feature the world's fastest motorcycle racing!
