History At Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Affectionately known as The Brickyard, because of the over 3 million bricks originally used to construct the track, this track is steeped in racing history. In May the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be hosting the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.  We thought it would be fun to look back on the history of the track and this world famous race.

?  The track opened in 1909, motorcycles were the first to race but the results were a disaster. Every bike popped their tires on the abrasive track!

?  From 1911 – 1916 the race was called the “International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race” and after WWII the “Liberty Sweepstakes.”  The terms ‘international’ and ‘sweepstakes’ were officially dropped from the title in 1981.

?  1914 – New rule, no alcohol consumption while racing.

?  1916 – First year steel hats rather than cloth helmets were worn by select drivers

?  1920 – First win for a Chevrolet

?  Between 1923 and 1928, over 80% of the cars were built by Harry Miller, prior to this he built engines in carburetors. In 1922 the winning Duesenberg was powered by a Miller engine. Of eleven Miller’s in the 1923 race, four finished in the top spots first through fourth. (Click on the link to Harry Miller, this is good.)

?  America’s top WWI flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker and race car driver was president of the Speedway from 1927 – 1945.

?  Louis Meyer, after his third 500 win, began the tradition of drinking milk in the winners circle in 1936.

?  1941 – first time a gasoline powered car goes full 500 miles without a fuel stop

?  Parnelli Jones becomes first driver to lap at over 150 mph in 1962.

?  1945  – Tony Hulman took control of the now ramshackle Indianapolis Motor Speedway and began the tradition of “Gentleman start your engines!” at American motorsports events.

?  1951 – Alberto Ascari ran the first and only Ferrari at the 500, it didn’t finish.

?  1965 – Jimmy Clark wins driving a Lotus and posts the first average lap over 150 mph.

?  In 1966 one third of the cars were eliminate due to a crash on the front straight, eventually only seven cars crossed the finish line, the smallest number in 500 history.

?  In 1967 Andy Granatelli fields the first turbine powered car, in 1969 turbines are ruled out of the running.

?  1975 Indy 500 winning car, 1974 Jorgensen Eagle, driven by Bobby Unser, now owned by The Revs Institute (a must visit museum).

?  Janet Guthrie becomes the first woman to qualify for the 500 in 1977, mechanical problems keep her from finishing.

?  A.J. Foyt had a record 35 starts and four 500 wins in ’61, ’64, ’67, and ’77. Foyt, Al Unser, Sr. and Rick Mears are the only drivers in history to each win four victories at the Indy 500.

?  Arie Luyendyk wins in 1990 in a Lola-Chevy Indy with a record 185.9 mph pace.

?  1994  – Indy Racing League (IRL) begins and the 1000 horsepower engine (Ilmor/Mercedes-Benz 500I) makes its 500 debut.

?  The SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reducing) barriers are installed in 2002 in all four corners.

?  The rolling start, fronted by a pace car began at the Indianapolis 500.

?  2000 – Juan Pablo Montoya led 167 of the 200 laps to win.

? For ten years, 1994-2004, a few drivers actually drove both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s  Coca Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

?  Penske Racing has achieved the most wins as a team with 16 victories.

These are just a few tidbits of the illustrious history of the Indianapolis 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What history will be made this year at the 100th running of the Indy 500?