The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its famous yard of bricks is the home to the self-billed “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”: the Indianapolis 500 mile race. The speedway is home to other major racing events including the a 400 mile NASCAR race known as the ‘Brickyard 400‘, the Indianapolis GP (motorcycle racing) and, in prior years, has been the site of the US Grand Prix (F1 racing) and occupies a unique position in United States racing history.
The venue first came to life in 1909 as a gravel track kept in place with tar. The first major race event occurred in August of that year, a series of motorcycle races followed shortly by an automobile race sanctioned by the American Automobile Association. Due to poor track conditions the surface was replaced in 1910 with over 3 million bricks and the first 500-mile race took place in 1911. The annual Memorial Day weekend race has been held every year since 1911 with the exception of two years during World War I and four years during World War II.
Perhaps the greatest turning point in the Indianapolis Motor Speedways history took place at the end of 1944. Largely abandoned during the war, IMS fell into a state of general disrepair. A former Indianapolis 500 winner, on site to test tires for Firestone on behalf of the US Government, found the conditions deplorable and working with other fans of the race found a new owner in Indiana businessman Tony Hulman. Under Hulman’s ownership the facility was restored to its former glory, the 500-mile race resumed in 1946, and the modern era of the track started.
Tony Hulman’s grandson, Tony George, continued in the footsteps of Hulman when he became president of the facility in 1989 and introduced the NASCAR race, FI race, and motorcycle events to the track. Widely questioned for altering what had become the home to just one race a year, the Indianapolis 500, George’s decisions have proven to be good to the facility and under George’s oversight the facilities have continued to expand and evolve.
Not just a venue for racing, The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also home to a world-class 18-hole golf course and the Speedway Hall of Fame Museum making it a tourist destination for race fans and others alike. The golf course has been home to many tournaments and the museum is a pantheon of racing legend and history. Visitors to the museum can also, at certain times of the year, take a trip around the famous 2.5 mile track via tour bus and walk the grounds.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a direct impact on the town in which it is located: Speedway, Indiana. Incorporated in 1926, Speedway is an enclave, or separate town, within Indianapolis and sees its population of less than 15,000 expand to more than 300,000 persons on race day events. Speedway was conceived as a city of the future and was intentionally designed for automobiles during its planning stages. As the Mecca of open-wheel racing, Speedway is proud to be associated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and serves as a wonderful guest to race fans throughout the year.