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| IMS PAGODA HISTORY |
When the Speedway opened in 1909, there were two 3-story
buildings located at the start/finish line that was used for
scoring races.
While the first Indy 500 was first ran in 1911, multiple shorter
auto and motorcycle races were first held at the speedway
between 1909-1910.
buildings located at the start/finish line that was used for
scoring races.
While the first Indy 500 was first ran in 1911, multiple shorter
auto and motorcycle races were first held at the speedway
between 1909-1910.
As race speed increased over the years, it was determined the control tower
should sit further back from the track.
So, the first pagoda was burned down on purpose after the 1925 Indy 500.
should sit further back from the track.
So, the first pagoda was burned down on purpose after the 1925 Indy 500.
Tony Hulman had purchased the speedway in 1945.
By 1956, he decided to construct a new control tower.
The 2nd wooden pagoda-style tower was torn down and a
glass and aluminum tower was built for the 1957 Indy 500.
Stylish, it was not.
Also at this time, the Tower Terrace stands were built, as
was a new pit lane.
By 1956, he decided to construct a new control tower.
The 2nd wooden pagoda-style tower was torn down and a
glass and aluminum tower was built for the 1957 Indy 500.
Stylish, it was not.
Also at this time, the Tower Terrace stands were built, as
was a new pit lane.
Hulman's grandson, Tony George, completed a major overhaul
of the speedway during his tenure as president. In 1998, a
major construction project began that included building a new
control tower. George chose to go with a pagoda-style tower
again. It was completed in time for the 2000 Indy 500. It was
90 feet taller than the previous tower and the square footage
was almost 13 times more.
Besides the tower, a new media center, pitlane garages and
suites, and flagman stand were built along with a road course
that ran inside the infield and connected to the oval track.
See 1999 IMS Construction web page for photos of all that.
The glass in the new control tower and pit garage suites is
tinted green.
The tower consists of twin concrete towers. Metal and glass
make up the rest of the tower. The four different sized decks
that give the building a pagoda look extend outward north &
south, but not east & west. Consequently, the control tower
does not look like a pagoda when viewed directly from the
north or south.
of the speedway during his tenure as president. In 1998, a
major construction project began that included building a new
control tower. George chose to go with a pagoda-style tower
again. It was completed in time for the 2000 Indy 500. It was
90 feet taller than the previous tower and the square footage
was almost 13 times more.
Besides the tower, a new media center, pitlane garages and
suites, and flagman stand were built along with a road course
that ran inside the infield and connected to the oval track.
See 1999 IMS Construction web page for photos of all that.
The glass in the new control tower and pit garage suites is
tinted green.
The tower consists of twin concrete towers. Metal and glass
make up the rest of the tower. The four different sized decks
that give the building a pagoda look extend outward north &
south, but not east & west. Consequently, the control tower
does not look like a pagoda when viewed directly from the
north or south.
| The Indianapolis Motor Speedway PAGODA CONTROL TOWER Through the Years 1909-2000 |
| 1913 |
In 1913, a five-story control tower was built.
Each floor was slightly smaller than the one below.
It turned out to look like a Japanese pagoda.
It is not known if this was on purpose or an accident.
Each floor was slightly smaller than the one below.
It turned out to look like a Japanese pagoda.
It is not known if this was on purpose or an accident.
| 1954 - Two Years Before It Was Tore Down |
| 1910 Ray Harroun and Joe Dawson in their Marmon race cars. It was a photo finish in a ten-mile race. |
| 1911 - The First INDY 500 |
| The 2nd Pagoda Tower was completed in 1926 |
| 1957 The New Tower Rises Behind New Seating |
| 1983 |
| 2003 - Viewed from the South |
| 2001 Satellite Image |
| 2020 - Rear View Notice the Yard of Bricks Start/Finish Line extends through the Pagoda and into the plaza. |
| 2017 |
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A new, larger 6-story wooden control tower was then built for
the 1926 race. This new design was also in the pagoda-style.
It featured concession areas on the first floor and spectator
seating on the 2nd floor. The top four floors were all for official
business.
This tower served from 1926 - 1956.
the 1926 race. This new design was also in the pagoda-style.
It featured concession areas on the first floor and spectator
seating on the 2nd floor. The top four floors were all for official
business.
This tower served from 1926 - 1956.
| The first pagoda was torched in 1925. |
