Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Difference between revisions
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There was another qualifying controversy in 1996 and 1997, arising over the IRL's "25/8 rule" which locked the previous year's top-25 overall points finishers into the Indianapolis race, regardless of their qualifying speed, leaving only eight spots open for entries to qualify on speed alone. The rule effectively locked out the CART series regulars from competing for qualifying spots in the Indy 500. CART responded by holding their own event, the U.S. 500, on the same day as the 1996 Indianapolis 500. While the new qualifying format was not a factor in 1996, it would backfire in 1997 when two drivers who posted qualifying speeds fast enough to make the race were bumped to make room for slower locked-in cars with more 1996-97 championship points. Hemelgarn Racing, who owned the two cars victimized in the scenario, protested to the IRL that the field would not include the 33 fastest cars. After Bump Day was completed, the series elected to add the two bumped cars, driven by Johnny Unser and Lyn St. James, back into the field, bringing the number of starters to 35. This marked the last time the 500's starting field has been larger than 33 drivers. |
There was another qualifying controversy in 1996 and 1997, arising over the IRL's "25/8 rule" which locked the previous year's top-25 overall points finishers into the Indianapolis race, regardless of their qualifying speed, leaving only eight spots open for entries to qualify on speed alone. The rule effectively locked out the CART series regulars from competing for qualifying spots in the Indy 500. CART responded by holding their own event, the U.S. 500, on the same day as the 1996 Indianapolis 500. While the new qualifying format was not a factor in 1996, it would backfire in 1997 when two drivers who posted qualifying speeds fast enough to make the race were bumped to make room for slower locked-in cars with more 1996-97 championship points. Hemelgarn Racing, who owned the two cars victimized in the scenario, protested to the IRL that the field would not include the 33 fastest cars. After Bump Day was completed, the series elected to add the two bumped cars, driven by Johnny Unser and Lyn St. James, back into the field, bringing the number of starters to 35. This marked the last time the 500's starting field has been larger than 33 drivers. |
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===Champ Car unification (2000s)=== |
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[[File:Indianapolis motor speedway pagoda, 2011.jpg|thumb|The Panasonic Pagoda was completed in 2000.]] |
[[File:Indianapolis motor speedway pagoda, 2011.jpg|thumb|The Panasonic Pagoda was completed in 2000.]] |
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[[File:Raceday morning pagoda (47966357901).jpg|thumb|The Panasonic Pagoda in the early morning.]] |
[[File:Raceday morning pagoda (47966357901).jpg|thumb|The Panasonic Pagoda in the early morning.]] |
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[[File:Ims02.svg|thumb|250px|right|Basic map of speedway]] |
[[File:Ims02.svg|thumb|250px|right|Basic map of speedway]] |
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===NASCAR |
===NASCAR=== |
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{{See also|Brickyard 400}} |
{{See also|Brickyard 400}} |
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From 1919 to 1993, the Indianapolis 500 was the only sanctioned race held at the Speedway. When [[Tony George]] (Hulman's grandson) inherited the track, he spearheaded an effort to bring more racing events to the track. In August 1994, the [[Brickyard 400]] for the [[NASCAR]] [[Winston Cup Series]] made its debut, and at the time, featured the largest crowd and largest cash purse in NASCAR history. From 1998 to 2003, an [[International Race of Champions|IROC]] event was held as a support race.<ref name='history'/> |
From 1919 to 1993, the Indianapolis 500 was the only sanctioned race held at the Speedway. When [[Tony George]] (Hulman's grandson) inherited the track, he spearheaded an effort to bring more racing events to the track. In August 1994, the [[Brickyard 400]] for the [[NASCAR]] [[Winston Cup Series]] made its debut, and at the time, featured the largest crowd and largest cash purse in NASCAR history. From 1998 to 2003, an [[International Race of Champions|IROC]] event was held as a support race.<ref name='history'/> |
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Despite the outrage of the 2005 event, the race returned for two additional years. The race did not enjoy the level success of its earlier runnings, and attendance and interest fell dramatically. The race was left off the calendar for 2008, and efforts to revive the race for 2009 were not successful.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miersma|first=Seyth|title=Formula One could Return to Indy by 2009|url=http://eurosport.yahoo.com/07032008/58/indy-return-2009.html|publisher=Next Autos|accessdate=November 23, 2010|date=March 7, 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In [[2012 Formula One season|2012]], the U.S. Grand Prix relocated to the [[Circuit of the Americas]]. |
Despite the outrage of the 2005 event, the race returned for two additional years. The race did not enjoy the level success of its earlier runnings, and attendance and interest fell dramatically. The race was left off the calendar for 2008, and efforts to revive the race for 2009 were not successful.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miersma|first=Seyth|title=Formula One could Return to Indy by 2009|url=http://eurosport.yahoo.com/07032008/58/indy-return-2009.html|publisher=Next Autos|accessdate=November 23, 2010|date=March 7, 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In [[2012 Formula One season|2012]], the U.S. Grand Prix relocated to the [[Circuit of the Americas]]. |
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===MotoGP=== |
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{{See also|Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix}} |
{{See also|Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix}} |
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[[File:Indianapolis Moto GP.svg|thumb|Motorcycle layout (counterclockwise)]] |
[[File:Indianapolis Moto GP.svg|thumb|Motorcycle layout (counterclockwise)]] |
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On September 12, 2019, the Speedway announced motorcycle racing will return on the FIM-approved circuit with the [[MotoAmerica]] Championship of Indianapolis, which will be part of the Motorcycles on Meridian motorcycle festival. The Indianapolis festival will join [[Sturgis Motorcycle Rally]] ([[American Flat Track]]) and [[Daytona Beach Bike Week]] ([[Daytona 200]] American Sportbike Racing Association championship) as hosts of major motorcycle racing events that run with motorcycle festivals. It will mark MotoAmerica's first race at the Speedway since 2015, and the first as a stand-alone race with the five major championships participating. <REF>{{cite web|title=Motorcycle Racing Returning to IMS in August 2020 with MotoAmerica|publisher=IMS |accessdate=September 12, 2019|date=September 12, 2019|url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2019/09/12/motorcycle-racing-returning-to-ims-in-august-2020-with-motoamerica-2019}}</REF> |
On September 12, 2019, the Speedway announced motorcycle racing will return on the FIM-approved circuit with the [[MotoAmerica]] Championship of Indianapolis, which will be part of the Motorcycles on Meridian motorcycle festival. The Indianapolis festival will join [[Sturgis Motorcycle Rally]] ([[American Flat Track]]) and [[Daytona Beach Bike Week]] ([[Daytona 200]] American Sportbike Racing Association championship) as hosts of major motorcycle racing events that run with motorcycle festivals. It will mark MotoAmerica's first race at the Speedway since 2015, and the first as a stand-alone race with the five major championships participating. <REF>{{cite web|title=Motorcycle Racing Returning to IMS in August 2020 with MotoAmerica|publisher=IMS |accessdate=September 12, 2019|date=September 12, 2019|url=https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2019/09/12/motorcycle-racing-returning-to-ims-in-august-2020-with-motoamerica-2019}}</REF> |
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===IndyCar Grand Prix=== |
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{{main article|GMR Grand Prix}} |
{{main article|GMR Grand Prix}} |
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[[File:Indianapolis IndycarGP.svg|thumb|GMR Grand Prix layout]] |
[[File:Indianapolis IndycarGP.svg|thumb|GMR Grand Prix layout]] |
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The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, held in mid-June, is a racing meet for [[Historic motorsport|vintage racing]], held on the road course. The event is sanctioned by the [[Sportscar Vintage Racing Association]].<ref name=sweetman>{{cite journal|last1=Sweetman|first1=Bruce|title=Open Invite|journal=[[Autoweek]]|date=July 6, 2015|volume=65|issue=13|page=11|issn=0192-9674}}</ref> In addition to multiple classes of racing on the road course, oval track exhibitions featuring historical Indy cars have also been part of the event. The feature event of the weekend is the annual [[Indy Legends Charity Pro–Am race]]. |
The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, held in mid-June, is a racing meet for [[Historic motorsport|vintage racing]], held on the road course. The event is sanctioned by the [[Sportscar Vintage Racing Association]].<ref name=sweetman>{{cite journal|last1=Sweetman|first1=Bruce|title=Open Invite|journal=[[Autoweek]]|date=July 6, 2015|volume=65|issue=13|page=11|issn=0192-9674}}</ref> In addition to multiple classes of racing on the road course, oval track exhibitions featuring historical Indy cars have also been part of the event. The feature event of the weekend is the annual [[Indy Legends Charity Pro–Am race]]. |
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==Golf== |
==The Brickyard Crossing Golf Course== |
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From [[1960 PGA Tour|1960]] to [[1968 PGA Tour|1968]],<ref name=bcedrk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tqdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6735%2C2310540|work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Bold Casper edges rook |date=June 10, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref> the Speedway Golf Course hosted a [[PGA Tour]] event, the [[500 Festival Open Invitation]]; its earlier editions were held during the days surrounding the Indy 500 race week. In [[1968 LPGA Tour|1968]], it also held an [[LPGA]] tournament, the [[500 Ladies Classic]] in mid-June, won by [[Mickey Wright]].<ref name=sptcrn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vadVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5087%2C3969098 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Consistent Wright 'speeds' to crown |date=June 17, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref> A reconstruction project was completed in 1993, converting the 27-hole layout (18 holes outside, nine in the infield) to an 18-hole championship course designed by legendary golf architect [[Pete Dye]]. Renamed "Brickyard Crossing," it features 14 holes outside, and four holes in the infield, with an infield lake. At par 72, it measures {{convert|7180|yd|0}} from the back tees with a [[Handicap (golf)#Course rating and slope|course rating]] of 75.1 and a [[Slope rating|slope]] of 149.<ref name=bydcrsng>{{cite web |url=https://www.brickyardcrossing.com/|publisher=Brickyard Crossing |title=Scorecard |accessdate=April 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501160907/https://www.brickyardcrossing.com/ |archive-date=May 1, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=bycslope>{{cite web|url=https://ncrdb.usga.org/NCRDB/courseTeeInfo.aspx?CourseID=18847 |publisher=USGA |title=Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Brickyard Crossing GC |accessdate=April 30, 2018}}</ref> |
From [[1960 PGA Tour|1960]] to [[1968 PGA Tour|1968]],<ref name=bcedrk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tqdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6735%2C2310540|work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Bold Casper edges rook |date=June 10, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref> the Speedway Golf Course hosted a [[PGA Tour]] event, the [[500 Festival Open Invitation]]; its earlier editions were held during the days surrounding the Indy 500 race week. In [[1968 LPGA Tour|1968]], it also held an [[LPGA]] tournament, the [[500 Ladies Classic]] in mid-June, won by [[Mickey Wright]].<ref name=sptcrn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vadVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5087%2C3969098 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Consistent Wright 'speeds' to crown |date=June 17, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref> A reconstruction project was completed in 1993, converting the 27-hole layout (18 holes outside, nine in the infield) to an 18-hole championship course designed by legendary golf architect [[Pete Dye]]. Renamed "Brickyard Crossing," it features 14 holes outside, and four holes in the infield, with an infield lake. At par 72, it measures {{convert|7180|yd|0}} from the back tees with a [[Handicap (golf)#Course rating and slope|course rating]] of 75.1 and a [[Slope rating|slope]] of 149.<ref name=bydcrsng>{{cite web |url=https://www.brickyardcrossing.com/|publisher=Brickyard Crossing |title=Scorecard |accessdate=April 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501160907/https://www.brickyardcrossing.com/ |archive-date=May 1, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=bycslope>{{cite web|url=https://ncrdb.usga.org/NCRDB/courseTeeInfo.aspx?CourseID=18847 |publisher=USGA |title=Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Brickyard Crossing GC |accessdate=April 30, 2018}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:35, 1 July 2020
The "Brickyard" | |
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GMR Grand Prix
NASCAR Cup Series Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda, 2013, MotoGP) | |
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |
Location | 4790 W. 16th St., Speedway, Indiana |
Coordinates | 39°47′54″N 86°13′58″W / 39.79833°N 86.23278°W |
Built | 1909 |
Architect | Andrews, Park Taliaferro |
Architectural style | Motor racing circuit |
NRHP reference No. | 75000044[2] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | March 7, 1975 |
Designated NHLD | February 27, 1987[3] |
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (nicknamed The Brickyard) is an automobile racing circuit located in
Constructed in 1909, it is the second purpose-built, banked oval racing circuit after Brooklands and the first to be called a 'speedway'. It is the third-oldest permanent automobile race track in the world, behind Brooklands and the Milwaukee Mile. With a permanent seating capacity of 257,325,[1] it is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.[5]
Considered relatively flat by American standards, the track is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its construction. It has two 5⁄8-mile-long (1,000 m) straightaways, four geometrically identical 1⁄4-mile (400 m) turns, connected by two 1⁄8-mile (200 m) short straightaways, termed "short chutes", between turns 1 and 2, and between turns 3 and 4.
A modern,
In addition to the Indianapolis 500, the speedway also hosts NASCAR's Brickyard 400 and Pennzoil 150. From 2000 to 2007, the speedway hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and from 2008 to 2015 the Moto GP.
On the grounds of the speedway is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, which opened in 1956, and houses the Hall of Fame. The museum moved into its current building located in the infield in 1976. Also on the grounds is the Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort, which originally opened as the Speedway Golf Course in 1929. The golf course has 14 holes outside the track, along the backstretch, and four holes in the infield. The speedway also served as the venue for the opening ceremonies for the 1987 Pan American Games. The track is nicknamed "The Brickyard" (see below), and the garage area is famously known as Gasoline Alley.
On November 4, 2019, Hulman & Company announced the sale of its company, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IndyCar Series and associated enterprises to Penske Corporation, owned by Roger Penske.[6]
History
Early history
Indianapolis businessman Carl G. Fisher first envisioned building the speedway in 1905 after assisting friends racing in France and seeing that Europe held the upper hand in automobile design and craftsmanship. Fisher began thinking of a better means of testing cars before delivering them to consumers. At the time, racing was just getting started on horse tracks and public roads. Fisher noticed how dangerous and ill-suited the makeshift courses were for racing and testing. He also argued that spectators did not get their money's worth, as they were only able to get a brief glimpse of cars speeding down a linear road.[7]
Fisher proposed building a circular track 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) long with smooth 100–150-foot-wide (30–45 m) surfaces. Such a track would give manufacturers a chance to test cars at sustained speeds and give drivers a chance to learn their limits. Fisher predicted speeds could reach up to 120 mph (190 km/h) on a 5-mile (8 km) course. He visited the Brooklands circuit outside London in 1907, and after viewing the banked layout, it solidified his determination to build the speedway.[7] With dozens of car makers and suppliers in Indiana, Fisher proclaimed, "Indianapolis is going to be the world's greatest center of horseless carriage manufacturer, what could be more logical than building the world's greatest racetrack right here?"[8]
Fisher began looking around the Indianapolis area for a site to build his track; he rejected two potential sites before finding level farmland, Pressley Farm, totaling 328 acres (133 ha) about 5 miles (8 km) outside Indianapolis. In December 1908, he convinced James A. Allison, Arthur Newby, and Frank W. Wheeler to join him in purchasing the property for $72,000. The group incorporated the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company on March 20, 1909, with a capitalization of $250,000, with Fisher and James Allison in for $75,000 apiece and Frank Wheeler and Arthur Newby on board for $50,000 each.[7]
Construction of the track started in March 1909. Fisher had to quickly downsize his planned 3-mile (5 km) oval with a 2-mile (3 km) road course to a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval to leave room for the grandstands. Reshaping of the land for the speedway took 500 laborers, 300 mules and a fleet of steam-powered machinery. The track surface consisted of graded and packed soil covered by 2 inches (5 cm) of gravel, 2 inches (5 cm) of limestone covered with taroid (a solution of tar and oil), 1–2 inches (3–5 cm) of crushed stone chips that were also drenched with taroid, and a final topping of crushed stone. Workers also constructed dozens of buildings, several bridges, grandstands with 12,000 seats, and an 8-foot (2.4 m) perimeter fence. A white-with-green-trim paint scheme was used throughout the property.[7]
The first event ever held at the speedway was a helium gas-filled balloon competition on Saturday, June 5, 1909, more than two months before the oval was completed.[9] The event drew a reported 40,000 people.[8] Nine balloons lifted off "racing" for trophies; a balloon by the name of Universal City won the race, landing 382 miles (615 km) away in Alabama after spending more than a day aloft.[7] The first motorsport event at the track consisted of seven motorcycle races, sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM), on August 14, 1909. This was originally planned as a two-day, 15-race program, but ended before the first day was completed due to concerns over suitability of the track surface for motorcycle use.[10] These early events were largely planned by one of the top names in early auto racing promotion, Ernest Moross, who earned fame for his bold and sometimes outlandish barnstorming events at fairgrounds tracks with racing star Barney Oldfield.
On August 19, 1909, fifteen carmakers' teams arrived at the track for practice. The track surface again became a concern with drivers being covered in dirt, oil, and tar and with ruts and chuckholes beginning to form in the turns. Speedway workers oiled and rolled the track prior to the gates opening to the public. Fifteen to twenty thousand spectators showed up, paying at the most $1 for a ticket. Halfway through the first 250-mile (400 km) event, race leader
The first day of car racing resulted in four finishes and two land speed records, but concerns over safety led AAA officials to consider canceling the remaining events. Fisher promised the track would be repaired by the next day and convinced officials that the show should go on. The second day saw 20,000 spectators, no major incidents, and additional speed records broken.[7]
On the third day of racing, 35,000 spectators showed up to watch the grand finale 300-mile (480 km) race. At 175 miles (282 km) into the race, the right front tire blew on Charlie Merz's car. His car mowed down five fence posts and toppled dozens of spectators. Two spectators and his mechanic, Claude Kellum, were killed in the crash. Ten laps later, driver Bruce Keen struck a pothole and crashed into a bridge support. The race was then halted and the remaining drivers given engraved certificates instead of trophies. The race resulted in the AAA boycotting any future events at the speedway until significant improvements were made.[7]
Fisher and his partners began looking into the idea of paving the track with bricks or concrete. Paving in 1909 was still relatively new with only a few miles of public roads paved, leaving little knowledge of what would work best. Traction tests were conducted on bricks, proving they could hold up. Less than a month after the first car races, the repaving project began. Five Indiana manufacturers supplied 3.2 million 10-pound (4.5 kg) bricks to the track. Each was hand laid over a 2-inch (51 mm) cushion of sand, then leveled and the gaps filled with mortar. At the same time, a concrete wall 33 inches (840 mm) tall was constructed in front of the main grandstand and around all four corners to protect spectators.[7] The final brick added to the track was made of gold and laid in a special ceremony by Governor Thomas R. Marshall. Before the work was completed, locals nicknamed the track The Brickyard.[11] Today, 3 feet (0.91 m), or one yard, of original bricks remain exposed at the start-finish line.[12]
In December 1909, eleven drivers and a few motorcyclists returned for speed trials. Drivers soon reached speeds of up to 112 mph (180 km/h) on the new surface.[7] Racing returned in 1910, with a total of 66 automobile races held during three holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day).[10] Each weekend featured two or three races of 100 to 200 miles (160 to 320 km), with several shorter contests. Each race stood on its own and earned its own trophy. All races were sanctioned by the AAA (as were the Indianapolis 500 races through 1955). 1910 also saw the speedway host the National Aviation Meet, featuring Wilbur and Orville Wright and highlighted by Walter Brookins setting a world record by taking a plane up to 4,938 feet (1,505 m).[8]
A change in marketing focus led to only one race per year beginning in 1911.[10] An estimated 80,000 spectators attended the first 500-mile (800 km) race on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911. Forty cars competed with Ray Harroun winning at an average speed of 74.602 miles per hour (120.060 km/h). While all the other drivers in the race had a riding mechanic in their car, Harroun decided to save weight and go faster by driving solo. So, to be able to see what was happening behind his No. 32 Marmon "Wasp", he installed a rear-view mirror. It was the first time such a device was used in an automobile.[8]
The golden age (1912–1929)
A classic race followed in
On September 9, 1916, the speedway hosted a day of short racing events termed the "Harvest Classic", composed of three races held at 20-, 50-, and 100-mile (32, 80 and 160 km) distances.[13][14][15] In the end, Johnny Aitken, in a Peugeot, would win all three events, his final victories at the facility. The Harvest Classic contests were the last races other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held on the grounds for seventy-eight years.
Racing was interrupted in 1917–1918 by World War I, when the facility served as a military aviation repair and refueling depot, designated the Speedway Aviation Repair Depot, commanded by Captain Patrick Frissell. When racing resumed, speeds quickly increased.
In 1921, speedway co-founder Wheeler committed suicide.[16]
At the 1925 event, Pete DePaolo became the first to average 100 mph (160 km/h) for the race,[8] with a speed of 101.13 mph (162.75 km/h).[17]
In 1926, Fisher and Allison were offered "a fortune" for the speedway site by a local real estate developer.[17] They refused, selling instead to former racing driver (and World War One fighter ace) Edward V. Rickenbacker in 1927. How much he paid was not revealed.[18] Rickenbacker built a golf course in the infield.[18] The next year, Allison died from pneumonia.[18]
The "junkyard" formula (1930s)
With the Great Depression hitting the nation, the purse dropped from a winners share of $50,000 and a total of $98,250 in 1930 to $18,000 and $54,450, respectively. There is a common misconception the rules were "dumbed down" to what was called the "junkyard formula" to allow more entries during the depression. The rules were indeed changed, but it was due to an effort by the speedway to get more car manufacturers involved in the race by discouraging the entry of specialized racing machines which dominated the 500 during the mid- to late 1920s. The rule changes, in fact, were already being laid out before the market crash.
In 1931,
In 1933, a record 42 cars started the 500. For 1934, a maximum fuel consumption limit was imposed, 45 US gal (37 imp gal; 170 L).[19] It became 42.5 US gal (35.4 imp gal; 161 L) in 1935 and 37.5 US gal (31.2 imp gal; 142 L) in 1936.[19] When the limits resulted in several top competitors running out of fuel in the closing stages, the limits were abandoned,[19] though the use of pump gasoline was still mandatory.[19]
By the early 1930s, rising race speeds began to make the track increasingly dangerous, and in the period 1931–1935 there were 15 fatalities. This forced another repavement, with tarmac replacing the bricks in parts of the track. In addition, during the 1935–36 seasons the inside wall was removed in the corners, the outside wall was realigned (to change the angle compared to the track, reducing the potential for cars to vault over it), hard crash helmets became mandatory, and the first yellow light system was installed around the track. The continuing track dangers during this period, however, did not stop Louis Meyer or Wilbur Shaw from becoming the first two three-time winners, with Shaw also being the first back-to-back winner in 1939 and 1940.[8]
Start of the Hulman era (1940s)
At the beginning of the 1940s, the track required further improvements. In 1941, about a third of the "
Many of the locals conceded that the speedway would be sold after the war and become a housing development. With the end of the war in sight, on November 29, 1944, three-time 500 winner
Since then the speedway has continued to grow. Stands have been built and remodeled many times over, suites and museums were added, and many other additions helped bring back Indy's reputation as a great track.[8]
The fabulous roadsters (1950s)
In the 1950s, cars were topping out at 150 mph (240 km/h), helping to draw more and more fans. The low-slung, sleek cars were known as roadsters and the Kurtis, Kuzma, and Watson chassis dominated the field. Nearly all were powered by the Offenhauser, or "Offy", engines. The crowd favorite Novi, with its unique sound and look, was the most powerful car of the decade that dominated time trials. However, they would never make the full 500 miles (800 km) in first place, often breaking down before the end or having to make too many pit stops because of the massive engine's thirst for fuel and the weight that went with the extra fuel.[8]
The track's reputation improved so much that the 500-mile race became part of the
Rear-engine revolution (1960s–1990s)
In October 1961, the final remaining brick sections of the track were paved over with asphalt, with the exception of a distinct three-foot-wide line of bricks at the start-finish line. The "Brickyard" thus became known for its "Yard of Bricks". After being widely ignored by Formula One drivers when it was an F1 World Championship event, a wave of F1 drivers went to the speedway in the 1960s, and the rear-engine revolution that was started by the Cooper F1 team changed the face of the 500 as well, with 1959 and 1960 world drivers' champion Jack Brabham of Australia qualifying his Cooper in 13th for the 1961 race. The Cooper used a smaller (2.7-liter) and less powerful Coventry Climax engine compared to the 4.4-liter Offy engines used by the other 32 cars and was slower on the straights, but many took note of the British car's superior handling through the turns. Brabham qualified 17th and after running as high as third, would ultimately finish ninth after completing all 200 laps. Despite this, many doubters claimed the rear-engine cars were for drivers who liked to be pushed around, though as Brabham said "It started the rear-engined revolution at Indy".
From 1970 to 1981, Indianapolis had a twin in the city of Ontario, California, by the name of the Ontario Motor Speedway. This track was known as the "Indianapolis of the West" and the home of the California 500, but was a financial failure due to poor management and not holding enough races on the racetrack.[8]
In the 1977 Indy 500, Janet Guthrie made history when she became the first female driver to qualify for the race. Guthrie started the race from 18th position but retired with timing gear failure after 27 laps. She was eventually classified 29th. 1977 also saw A.J. Foyt make history when he became the first driver to win the race four times.
1979 saw the second exception to the 1934 33-driver field rule. By the late 1970s there arose some resistance from certain car owners and drivers as to the direction being taken by
The 1980s brought a new generation of speedsters, led by four-time race winner
The early 1990s witnessed
There was another qualifying controversy in 1996 and 1997, arising over the IRL's "25/8 rule" which locked the previous year's top-25 overall points finishers into the Indianapolis race, regardless of their qualifying speed, leaving only eight spots open for entries to qualify on speed alone. The rule effectively locked out the CART series regulars from competing for qualifying spots in the Indy 500. CART responded by holding their own event, the U.S. 500, on the same day as the 1996 Indianapolis 500. While the new qualifying format was not a factor in 1996, it would backfire in 1997 when two drivers who posted qualifying speeds fast enough to make the race were bumped to make room for slower locked-in cars with more 1996-97 championship points. Hemelgarn Racing, who owned the two cars victimized in the scenario, protested to the IRL that the field would not include the 33 fastest cars. After Bump Day was completed, the series elected to add the two bumped cars, driven by Johnny Unser and Lyn St. James, back into the field, bringing the number of starters to 35. This marked the last time the 500's starting field has been larger than 33 drivers.
Champ Car unification (2000s)
The early 2000s saw drivers from the rival
In 2003, the
Buddy Rice became the first American driver since 1998 to win the race in the rain-shortened 2004 Indianapolis 500. At the time, Rice drove for the team co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and the Indiana native television talk show host and comedian David Letterman. In 2005, Danica Patrick became the first female driver to lead the race at Indianapolis, after acquiring it for a lap near the 125-mile (200 km) mark while cycling through pit stops. Dan Wheldon would go on to win the 2005 Indianapolis 500.[8]
Sam Hornish Jr. became the first driver to ever overtake for the lead on the race's final lap, ultimately winning the 2006 Indianapolis 500 in the last 450 feet (140 m) by a 0.0635-second margin over rookie Marco Andretti. Dario Franchitti became the first native of Scotland since Jim Clark's victory in 1965 to win, in the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500.[8]
In mid February 2008, Champ Car filed for bankruptcy. In late February, an agreement was reached for Champ Car to be merged with the IRL, and the first IRL IndyCar Series season since the unification took place in 2008. Scott Dixon, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, became the first native of New Zealand to win, in the 2008 Indianapolis 500.[8]
In the 100th anniversary year of the construction of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hélio Castroneves became the sixth three-time winner of the 500 in the 2009 Indianapolis 500. Danica Patrick also had her best finish ever (third place) in the race, also the best finish ever by a woman in the history of the Indianapolis 500.[8]
Foreign domination (2010s)
The
Previous winner Montoya had returned to IndyCar competition and secured a 2015 win to make himself a two-time winner with a fifteen-year gap between triumphs. The event saw Canadian James Hinchcliffe survive a life-threatening impact in practice.[22] The 2016 race saw another American race winner, when rookie Alexander Rossi stretched his fuel mileage to record an upset win in a race where had been off the leaders' pace.
The 2017 race saw former Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso take off from the Monaco Grand Prix to take part in a one-off event, being highly competitive up front before his engine blew. The races' polesitter and 2008 winner Scott Dixon escaped a huge airborne crash largely unhurt. In spite of heavy crashes, the speedway had now gone more than 20 years without a fatality as the SAFER barriers and the enhanced IndyCars absorbed more of the violent impacts. The race was eventually won by Takuma Sato, who became the first Japanese and Asian winner of the event.
In
Other racing events
NASCAR
From 1919 to 1993, the Indianapolis 500 was the only sanctioned race held at the Speedway. When
Since 2012, the Brickyard 400 has been supported by the
Formula One
In 1998, Tony George arranged for
The short history of the event, however, was littered with controversies. The
Despite the outrage of the 2005 event, the race returned for two additional years. The race did not enjoy the level success of its earlier runnings, and attendance and interest fell dramatically. The race was left off the calendar for 2008, and efforts to revive the race for 2009 were not successful.
MotoGP
From 2008 to 2015, the speedway hosted a round of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The race marked the first motorcycle racing event at the facility since 1909.
Modifications approved by the FIA and FIM were made to the combined road course, bringing the new layout to a total of 16 turns. The motorcycle course was designed to run counter-clockwise, the same direction as the oval events. The banking of oval turn one was bypassed by a new infield section, dubbed the "Snake Pit Complex". In addition, the double-hairpin after the Hulman Straight was replaced with traditional esses.[27]
On September 12, 2019, the Speedway announced motorcycle racing will return on the FIM-approved circuit with the MotoAmerica Championship of Indianapolis, which will be part of the Motorcycles on Meridian motorcycle festival. The Indianapolis festival will join Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (American Flat Track) and Daytona Beach Bike Week (Daytona 200 American Sportbike Racing Association championship) as hosts of major motorcycle racing events that run with motorcycle festivals. It will mark MotoAmerica's first race at the Speedway since 2015, and the first as a stand-alone race with the five major championships participating. [28]
IndyCar Grand Prix
Beginning in
Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational
The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, held in mid-June, is a racing meet for vintage racing, held on the road course. The event is sanctioned by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association.[31] In addition to multiple classes of racing on the road course, oval track exhibitions featuring historical Indy cars have also been part of the event. The feature event of the weekend is the annual Indy Legends Charity Pro–Am race.
The Brickyard Crossing Golf Course
From 1960 to 1968,[32] the Speedway Golf Course hosted a PGA Tour event, the 500 Festival Open Invitation; its earlier editions were held during the days surrounding the Indy 500 race week. In 1968, it also held an LPGA tournament, the 500 Ladies Classic in mid-June, won by Mickey Wright.[33] A reconstruction project was completed in 1993, converting the 27-hole layout (18 holes outside, nine in the infield) to an 18-hole championship course designed by legendary golf architect Pete Dye. Renamed "Brickyard Crossing," it features 14 holes outside, and four holes in the infield, with an infield lake. At par 72, it measures 7,180 yards (6,565 m) from the back tees with a course rating of 75.1 and a slope of 149.[34][35]
A
Other events
- The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, a half marathonheld annually in May since 1977, includes one lap around the speedway. The event marks the official start to the "Month of May" events preceding the Indianapolis 500.
- On August 8, 1987, IMS hosted the opening ceremonies for the 1987 Pan American Games before 80,000 spectators.[37] IMS also hosted the games' speed roller skating competition on August 9, 11-12.[38]
- IMS hosted the Centennial Era Balloon Festival presented by AT&T on May 1-3, 2009; May 8, 2010; and May 7, 2011.[39]
- On January 31, 2012, the Pagoda at IMS hosted nearly 3,500 guests for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee kickoff event leading to Super Bowl XLVI.[40]
- Since the mid-2000s, the speedway has occasionally hosted quarter midgetraces on an infield oval.
- IMS hosted rounds of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- Starting in 2016, IMS began hosting a 2-mile drive of Christmas lights in the infield and on the main straightaway of the track.[41]
- On April 16, 2020, IMS hosted the funeral service for Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath. The venue was selected due to the ability for attendees to practice social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[42]
Headquarters
The opening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909 dates back close to the birth of the sport of
The track, and occasionally the headquarters, is sometimes referred to as "16th & Georgetown", owing to the track's address at the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, and particularly the administration building's physical location at the corner of that intersection (which is now a roundabout).
The Speedway and the city of Indianapolis is closely tied to Indy car racing, analogous to the link NASCAR has to the greater Charlotte area. The term "Indy" and its variations synonymous with motorsports ("Indy 500", "Indy car," etc.) derive directly from the shorthand nickname ("Indy") of the city ("Indianapolis") itself.
Records
Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar Series)
Type | Distance | Date | Driver | Time | Average speed | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | mi. | km | mph | km/h | ||||
Practice | 1 | 2.5 | 4.0 | May 10, 1996 | Arie Luyendyk | 0:37.6160 | 239.260 | 385.050 |
Pole (First Qualifying) | 4 | 10 | 16.1 | May 11, 1996 | Scott Brayton | 2:34.032 | 233.718 | 376.132 |
(Second Qualifying) | 1 | 2.5 | 4.0 | May 12, 1996 | Arie Luyendyk | 0:37.8950 | 237.498 | 382.216 |
(Second Qualifying) | 4 | 10 | 16.1 | May 12, 1996 | Arie Luyendyk | 2:31.908 | 236.986 | 381.392 |
Race | 1 | 2.5 | 4.0 | May 26, 1996 | Eddie Cheever | 0:38.119 | 236.103 | 379.971 |
Race | 200 | 500 | 804.7 | May 26, 2013 | Tony Kanaan | 2:40:03.4181 | 187.433 | 301.644 |
Brickyard 400 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Type | Distance | Date | Driver | Time | Average speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifying (1 lap) |
2.5 miles (4.0 km) | July 26, 2014 | Kevin Harvick | 0:47.647 | 188.888 mph (303.986 km/h) |
Race (1 lap) |
2.5 miles (4.0 km) | August 7, 2005 | Tony Stewart | 0:50.099 | 179.641 mph (289.104 km/h) |
Race (160 laps) |
400 miles (640 km) | August 5, 2000 | Bobby Labonte | 2:33:55.979 | 155.912 mph (250.916 km/h) |
United States Grand Prix (Formula One)
Type | Distance | Date | Driver | Time | Average speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Practice* (1 lap) |
2.605 miles (4.192 km) | June 19, 2004 | Rubens Barrichello | 1:09.454 | 135.025 mph (217.302 km/h) |
Qualifying (1 lap) |
2.605 miles (4.192 km) | June 19, 2004 | Rubens Barrichello | 1:10.223 | 133.546 mph (214.921 km/h) |
Race (1 lap) |
2.605 miles (4.192 km) | June 20, 2004 | Rubens Barrichello | 1:10.399 | 133.207 mph (214.376 km/h) |
Race (73 laps) |
190.165 miles (306.041 km) | June 19, 2005 | Michael Schumacher | 1:29:43.181 | 127.173 mph (204.665 km/h) |
* All-time track record, IMS original (2000–2007) road course |
Indianapolis Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP)
Type | Distance | Date | Rider | Time | Average speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Practice (1 lap) |
2.621 miles (4.218 km) | August 17, 2012 | Dani Pedrosa | 1:39.783 | 94.561 mph (152.181 km/h) |
Qualifying* (1 lap) |
2.621 miles (4.218 km) | August 18, 2012 | Dani Pedrosa | 1:38.813 | 95.489 mph (153.675 km/h) |
Race (1 lap) |
2.621 miles (4.218 km) | August 19, 2012 (Lap 15) |
Dani Pedrosa | 1:39.088 | 95.214 mph (153.232 km/h) |
Race (28 laps) |
73.388 miles (118.107 km) | August 19, 2012 | Dani Pedrosa | 46:39.631 | 94.368 mph (151.871 km/h) |
* All-time track record, IMS reconfigured (2008) road course |
Source:[43]
Grand Prix of Indianapolis (IndyCar Series)
Type | Distance | Date | Driver | Time | Average speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Practice (1 lap) |
2.439 miles (3.925 km) | May 12, 2017 | Will Power | 1:07.7684 | 129.565 mph (208.515 km/h) |
Qualifying* (1 lap) |
2.439 miles (3.925 km) | May 12, 2017 | Will Power | 1:07.7044 | 129.687 mph (208.711 km/h) |
Race (1 lap) |
2.439 miles (3.925 km) | May 13, 2017 | Josef Newgarden | 1:09.3888 | 126.539 mph (203.645 km/h) |
Race (85 laps) |
207.315 miles (333.641 km) | May 13, 2017
|
Will Power | 1:42:57.6108 | 120.813 mph (194.430 km/h) |
* All-time track record, IMS reconfigured (2014) road course |
Seats
In 2004, The Indianapolis Star journalist Curt Cavin counted 257,325 seats, a world record.[44] The number of seats was reduced to an estimated 235,000 in 2013.[45]
Race winners
Oval dimensions
Region | Number | Distance | Width | Banking |
---|---|---|---|---|
Long straightaways | 2 | 0.625 miles (1.006 km) | 50 feet (15 m) | 0° |
Short straightaways | 2 | 0.125 miles (0.201 km) | 50 feet (15 m) | 0° |
Turns | 4 | 0.250 miles (0.402 km) | 60 feet (18 m) | 9°12' |
Total/average | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) | 54 feet (16 m) | 3°3' |
In popular culture
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway appeared in the 2013
Weather and climate
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a transitional climate with influences of both subtropical and continental. The nearest official weather station is at the Indianapolis International Airport, located just a few miles from the speedway.
Due to the cold winters, including snow on the track, Indy 500 testing is often impossible during winter months. During the main event in late May, the local climate is transitioning from spring to summer. May is the rainiest month of the year, which makes rain delays a large risk during various parts of the event. Ambient temperatures on average for the month is in the lower 70's Fahrenheit/lower 20's Celsius, with temperatures in the 80's not being uncommon later in the month when the race takes place.
For the Brickyard 400 in the summer, the track is much more prone to heatwaves, with the wet season carrying on into July as well.
The defunct Formula One and MotoGP roval infield road course events ran in June/September and August respectively. Since oval racing is not conducted in wet conditions, the
Climate data for Indianapolis (Indianapolis International Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1871–present[b] | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
77 (25) |
85 (29) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
104 (40) |
106 (41) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
92 (33) |
81 (27) |
74 (23) |
106 (41) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 58.8 (14.9) |
64.4 (18.0) |
74.0 (23.3) |
80.8 (27.1) |
87.1 (30.6) |
91.9 (33.3) |
93.4 (34.1) |
92.6 (33.7) |
90.7 (32.6) |
82.8 (28.2) |
70.5 (21.4) |
61.7 (16.5) |
94.9 (34.9) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36.1 (2.3) |
40.8 (4.9) |
51.9 (11.1) |
63.9 (17.7) |
73.4 (23.0) |
82.0 (27.8) |
85.2 (29.6) |
84.3 (29.1) |
78.2 (25.7) |
65.6 (18.7) |
51.8 (11.0) |
40.4 (4.7) |
62.8 (17.1) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 28.5 (−1.9) |
32.5 (0.3) |
42.4 (5.8) |
53.6 (12.0) |
63.6 (17.6) |
72.5 (22.5) |
75.8 (24.3) |
74.7 (23.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
55.5 (13.1) |
43.3 (6.3) |
33.3 (0.7) |
53.6 (12.0) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.9 (−6.2) |
24.2 (−4.3) |
33.0 (0.6) |
43.3 (6.3) |
53.7 (12.1) |
62.9 (17.2) |
66.4 (19.1) |
65.0 (18.3) |
57.4 (14.1) |
45.5 (7.5) |
34.9 (1.6) |
26.2 (−3.2) |
44.4 (6.9) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −2.1 (−18.9) |
4.8 (−15.1) |
14.9 (−9.5) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
37.8 (3.2) |
49.2 (9.6) |
56.1 (13.4) |
55.1 (12.8) |
43.1 (6.2) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
6.8 (−14.0) |
−4.9 (−20.5) |
Record low °F (°C) | −27 (−33) |
−21 (−29) |
−7 (−22) |
18 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
37 (3) |
46 (8) |
41 (5) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
−5 (−21) |
−23 (−31) |
−27 (−33) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.12 (79) |
2.43 (62) |
3.69 (94) |
4.34 (110) |
4.75 (121) |
4.95 (126) |
4.42 (112) |
3.20 (81) |
3.14 (80) |
3.22 (82) |
3.45 (88) |
2.92 (74) |
43.63 (1,108) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.8 (22) |
6.0 (15) |
3.2 (8.1) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.8 (2.0) |
6.4 (16) |
25.5 (65) |
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 5.0 (13) |
3.6 (9.1) |
2.3 (5.8) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
3.4 (8.6) |
7.3 (19) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.3 | 10.3 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 13.3 | 11.5 | 10.3 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 128.2 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 7.0 | 5.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 5.6 | 22.4 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
75.0 | 73.6 | 69.9 | 65.6 | 67.1 | 68.4 | 72.8 | 75.4 | 74.4 | 71.6 | 75.5 | 78.0 | 72.3 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 18.1 (−7.7) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
30.9 (−0.6) |
39.7 (4.3) |
50.5 (10.3) |
59.9 (15.5) |
64.9 (18.3) |
63.7 (17.6) |
56.7 (13.7) |
44.1 (6.7) |
34.9 (1.6) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
42.4 (5.8) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 132.1 | 145.7 | 178.3 | 214.8 | 264.7 | 287.2 | 295.2 | 273.7 | 232.6 | 196.6 | 117.1 | 102.4 | 2,440.4 |
Percent possible sunshine | 44 | 49 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 62 | 57 | 39 | 35 | 55 |
Average ultraviolet index | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Source 1: | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[49] |
See also
- Donald Davidson – historian of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Ron McQueeney – former IMS Director of Photography from 1977 until 2011
- List of fatalities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Notes
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- ^ Official records for Indianapolis kept at downtown from February 1871 to December 1942, and at Indianapolis Int'l since January 1943. For more information, see Threadex
References
- ^ a b "USATODAY.com - Take a seat: Study puts Indy's capacity at 257,325". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway". National Historic Landmarks Program. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
- ^ Charleton, James H. (October 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form: Indianapolis Motor Speedway". National Park Service. and Accompanying two photos from 1985
- ^ "100 000+ Stadiums". World Stadiums. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ Ryckaert, Vic; Horner, Scott (October 4, 2019). "Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar are being sold to Penske Corp". USA Today. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "FEATURES: Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Birthplace of Speed". automobilemag.com. May 2009. Archived from the original on August 13, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Indy 500: Indianapolis Motor Speedway History". Indystar.com. May 14, 2010. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ "Fun Facts". indianapolismotorspeedway. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-9766149-0-1.
- ^ "IMS Milestones: 1906–1911 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway". Indianapolismotorspeedway.com. March 26, 2013. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010.
- ^ "FAQs about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway". Indianapolismotorspeedway.com. March 26, 2013. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010.
- ^ Dill, Mark; "A Forgotten Classic;" 2006 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Official Program; Indianapolis Motor Speedway; 2006.
- ^ "1916 AAA National Championship Trail". Champcarstats.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ "Compete channel". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ^ Kettlewell, Mike. "Indianapolis: The Richest Race in the World", in Northey, Tom, ed. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 9, p.1014.
- ^ a b Kettlewell, p.1014.
- ^ a b c Kettlewell, p.1015.
- ^ a b c d e Kettlewell, Mike. "Indianapolis: The Richest Race in the World", in Northey, Tom, ed. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 9, p.1015.
- ^ "INDYCAR: CART/USAC Memories – Indy 1979". Fox Sports. May 6, 2009. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009.
- ^ "FAQs about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway". Indianapolismotorspeedway. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ "James Hinchcliffe doesn't recall life-saving efforts of IndyCar safety team after crash". Global News.ca. June 10, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ^ "Simon Pagenaud wins 103rd running of Indianapolis 500 over Alexander Rossi". CBS News. May 26, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ^ Albert, Zack (May 15, 2020). "Indianapolis Motor Speedway to run road course for NASCAR Xfinity Series race". NASCAR. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "United States Grand Prix history". formula1.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ Miersma, Seyth (March 7, 2008). "Formula One could Return to Indy by 2009". Next Autos. Retrieved November 23, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "New IMS motorcycle circuit". racecar.com. July 17, 2007. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ "Motorcycle Racing Returning to IMS in August 2020 with MotoAmerica". IMS. September 12, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
- ^ "Board approves Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event for May 2014". IndyCar Series. September 26, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ DiZinno, Tony (October 1, 2013). "Grand Prix of Indianapolis set for May 10, 2014 on revised course". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ISSN 0192-9674.
- ^ "Bold Casper edges rook". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 10, 1968. p. 2B.
- ^ "Consistent Wright 'speeds' to crown". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 17, 1968. p. 2B.
- ^ "Scorecard". Brickyard Crossing. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Course Rating and Slope Database™ - Brickyard Crossing GC". USGA. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Brickyard Crossing Information". Brickyardcrossing.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ Higgins, Will (August 6, 2017). "Brawlers, provocateurs, even assassins: How Indy became a sports town". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-9619676-0-4.
- ^ "Centennial Era". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. February 2, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ "Hoosier Hospitality: Super Bowl Festivities Underway In Indianapolis". Street & Smith's SBJ Daily. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ "Lights at the Brickyard". Indy's Child Magazine. November 28, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
- ^ Glaspie, Akeem (April 15, 2020). "Officer Breann Leath's funeral will be first ever held at IMS, historian says". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Race Results at Indianapolis Motor Speedway". racingreference.info. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ Take a seat: Study puts Indy's capacity at 257,325 – Curt Cavin, The Indianapolis Star, May 27, 2004
- ^ Indy 500 will have smallest capacity since 2000 Archived April 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine – Curt Cavin, The Indianapolis Star, May 16, 2013
- ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "Station: Indianapolis, TN". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- ^ "WMO Climate Normals for INDIANAPOLIS/INT'L ARPT IN 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "Indianapolis, Indiana - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
External links
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Official website
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway race results at Racing-Reference
- BBC's circuit guide
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Page on NASCAR.com
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Indianapolis, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Collection
- Historic Purpose Built Grand Prix Circuits on Google Maps