Indianapolis 500

"Indy 500" redirects here. For other uses, see Indy 500 (disambiguation).
Indianapolis 500
IndyCar Series
Venue Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Location Speedway, Indiana
First race 1911
First IndyCar race 1996
Distance 500 miles (805 km)
Laps 200
Previous names International Sweepstakes (1911–1915, 1920–1980)
Liberty Sweepstakes (1919)
Indianapolis 500 (1981-2015)
Most wins (driver) A. J. Foyt (4)
Al Unser (4)
Rick Mears (4)
Most wins (team) Penske (16)
Most wins (manufacturer) Chassis: Dallara (15)
Engine: Offenhauser (27)
Circuit information
Surface Asphalt
Length 2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Turns 4
Lap record 37.895 sec (237.498 mph; 382.182 km/h) (Arie Luyendyk, Reynard/Ford-Cosworth XB, 1996)

The Indianapolis 500 is an automobile race held annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. The event is held over Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) weekend, which is typically the last weekend in May. It is contested as part of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the top level of American Championship Car racing, an open-wheel formula colloquially known as "Indy Car Racing".

The event, billed as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, is considered part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, which comprises three of the most prestigious motorsports events in the world. The official attendance is not disclosed by Speedway management, but the permanent seating capacity is upwards of 250,000, and infield patrons raise the race-day attendance to approximately 300,000.[1]

The inaugural running was won by Ray Harroun in 1911. The race celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011, and the 100th running will be held in 2016. Juan Pablo Montoya is the defending champion. The most successful drivers are A. J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears, each of whom have won the race four times. Rick Mears holds the record for most career pole positions with six. The most successful car owner is Roger Penske, owner of Team Penske, which has 16 total wins and 17 poles.

For a list of races and winners, see List of Indianapolis 500 winners.

Race specifics

The Indianapolis 500 is held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.5 mile oval circuit. Drivers race 200 laps, counterclockwise around the circuit, for a distance of 500 miles. Since its inception in 1911, the race has always been scheduled on or around Memorial Day. Since 1974, the race has been scheduled for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Practice and time trials are held in the two weeks leading up to the race.

Traditionally, the field consists of 33 starters, aligned in a starting grid of eleven rows of three cars apiece. The event is contested by "Indy cars", a formula of professional-level, single-seat, open cockpit, open-wheel, purpose-built race cars. As of 2015, all entrants utilize 2.2 L V6, twin-turbocharged engines, tuned to produce a range of 550–700 horsepower (410–520 kW). Chevrolet and Honda are the current engine manufacturers involved in the sport. Firestone, which has a deep history in the sport, dating back to the first 500, is the exclusive tire provider.

The race is the most prestigious event of the IndyCar calendar, and one of the oldest and most important automobile races. It has been avouched to be the largest single-day sporting event in the entire world. Likewise, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway itself is regarded as the world's largest sporting facility in terms of capacity. The total purse exceeded $13 million in 2011, with over $2.5 million awarded to the winner, making it one of the richest cash prize funds in sports.

Due to safety issues, the race is not held in wet conditions. In the event of a rain delay, the race will be postponed until rain showers cease, and the track is sufficiently dried. If rain falls during the race, officials can end the race and declare the results official if more than half of the scheduled distance (i.e., 101 laps) has been completed.

History

The early years

Joe Dawson winning the 1912 Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex was built in 1909 as a gravel-and-tar track and hosted a smattering of small events, including ones for motorcycles.[2] The first long distance event, in "fearful conditions",[3] was the 100-lap Prest-O-Lite Trophy in 1909, won by Bob Burman in a Buick.[4] Breakup of the asphalt led to two fatal accidents in the first two long-distance events (a 250 mi (400 km) and 300 mi (480 km), which was shortened to 235 mi (378 km) after two severe wrecks).[5]

That these spectacles had attracted 15,000 paying customers (and crowds of up to 40,000)[6] persuaded principal owner Carl G. Fisher to spend US$155,000[7] on repaving the track with 3.2 million bricks;[8] he also added a 2 ft 9 in (0.84 m) concrete wall around the track's circumference.[7] During the 1910 Decoration Day weekend, the first events on the newly paved circuit drew 60,000 spectators; Ray Harroun won the 200 mi (320 km) Wheeler-Schebler Trophy in a Marmon.[7]

The crowds grew progressively smaller for the rest of the season, however, so the track owners chose to focus on a single race. They considered a 24-hour contest, in the fashion of Le Mans, or a 1,000 mi (1,600 km).[7] They instead chose a 500 mi (800 km) contest, and offered a spectacular purse of $US25,000, equivalent to 37.615 kilograms (82.93 lb) of pure gold.[7] The combination allowed the track to rapidly acquire a privileged status for automobile races.

The first "500" was held at the Speedway on Decoration Day (as Memorial Day was known from its inception in 1868 to 1967 when Federal Law made Memorial Day the official name), May 30, 1911,[9] run to a 600 cu in (9,800 cc) maximum engine size formula.[7] It saw a field of 40 starters,[7] with Harroun piloting a Marmon Model 32-based Wasp racer — outfitted with his invention, the rear view mirror.[10] Harroun (with relief from Cyrus Patschke)[11] was declared the winner, although Ralph Mulford protested the official result. 80,000 spectators were in attendance, and an annual tradition had been established. Many considered Harroun to be a hazard during the race, as he was the only driver in the race driving without a riding mechanic, who checked the oil pressure and let the driver know when traffic was coming.[12]

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In 1912, the purse was raised to US$50,000.[11] The field was limited to 33 (where it remains) and a riding mechanic was made mandatory.[13] This second event was won by Joe Dawson in a National,[14] after Ralph de Palma's Mercedes broke.[11] Although the first race was won by an American driver at the wheel of an American car, European makers such as the Italian Fiat or French Peugeot companies soon developed their own vehicles to try to win the event, which they did from 1912 to 1919. The 1913 event saw a change to a 450 cu in (7,400 cc) maximum engine size.[11]

After World War I, the native drivers and manufacturers regained their dominance of the race. Engineer Harry Miller set himself up as the most competitive of the post-war builders.[15] His technical developments allowed him to be indirectly connected to a history of success that would last into the mid-1970s.

For musical entertainment prior to the start of the race, the Purdue All-American Marching Band began performing on the track near the finish-line in 1927 and has been the host band of the race ever since. In 1946 American operatic tenor and car enthusiast James Melton started the tradition of singing "Back Home Again in Indiana" with the Purdue Band before the race when asked to do so on the spur of the moment by Speedway president Tony Hulman. This tradition has continued through the years, notably by actor and singer Jim Nabors from 1972 until 2014.[16] Nabors announced in 2014 that the 2014 Indy 500 would be the last at which he would sing. In 2015, the a cappella group Straight No Chaser sang the song before the race.[17]

Miller and Offenhauser

The Mercedes-Benz W154 entered by Don Lee at the 1947 Indianapolis 500 with Duke Nalon as driver

Following the European trends, engine sizes were limited to 183 cu in (3,000 cc) during 1920–1922, 122 cu in (2,000 cc) for 1923–1925, and 91 cu in (1,490 cc) in 1926–1929.[11] The 1920 race was won by Gaston Chevrolet in a Frontenac, prepared by his brothers, powered by the first eight-cylinder engine to win the 500.[11] For 1923, riding mechanics were no longer required.[18] A supercharged car, ID, first won the race in 1924.[18] In 1925, Pete DePaolo was the first to win at an average over 100 mph (160 km/h), with a speed of 101.13 mph (162.75 km/h).[11]

In the early 1920s, Miller built his own 3.0 litre (183 in³) engine, inspired by the Peugeot Grand Prix engine which had been serviced in his shop by Fred Offenhauser in 1914, installing it in Jimmy Murphy's Duesenberg and allowing him to win the 1922 edition of the race.[15] Miller then created his own automobiles, which shared the 'Miller' designation, which, in turn, were powered by supercharged versions of his 2.0 and 1.5 liter (122 and 91 in³) engine single-seaters, winning four more races for the engine up to 1929 (two of them, 1926 and 1928, in Miller chassis).[19] The engines powered another seven winners until 1938 (two of them, 1930 and 1932, in Miller chassis), then ran at first with stock-type motors before later being adjusted to the international 3.0 liter formula.

After purchasing the Speedway in 1927, Eddie Rickenbacker prohibited supercharging and increased the displacement limit to 366 cu in (6,000 cc), while also re-introducing the riding mechanic.[18]

In 1935, Miller's former employees, Fred Offenhauser and Leo Goosen, had already achieved their first win with the soon-to-become famous 4-cylinder Offenhauser or "Offy" engine. This motor was forever connected with the Brickyard's history with a to-date record total of 27 wins, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged form, and winning a likewise record-holding 18 consecutive years between 1947 and 1964.[20]

European incursions

Meanwhile, European manufacturers, gone from the Indianapolis 500 for nearly two decades, made a brief return just before World War II, with the competitive Maserati 8CTF allowing Wilbur Shaw to become the first driver to win consecutively at Indianapolis in 1939–1940.[21] With the 500 having been a part of the Formula One World Drivers' Championship between 1950 and 1960,[21][22] Ferrari made a discreet appearance at the 1952 event with Alberto Ascari,[23] but European entries were few and far between during those days. Among the Formula One drivers who did drive at the speedway was the legendary Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio, though he failed to qualify for the 1958 race.

In fact, it was not until the Indianapolis 500 was removed from the Formula One calendar that European entries made their return, with Australia's two-time and reigning World Drivers' Champion Jack Brabham driving his slightly modified F1 Cooper in the 1961 race.[24] In 1963, technical innovator Colin Chapman brought his Team Lotus to Indianapolis for the first time, attracted by the large monetary prizes, far bigger than the usual at a European event. Racing a mid-engined car, Scotsman Jim Clark was second in his first attempt in 1963,[25] dominating in 1964 until suffering suspension failure on lap 47, and completely dominating the race in 1965, a victory which also interrupted the success of the Offy, and offering the 4.2 litre Ford V8 its first success at the race.[26] The following year, 1966, saw another British win, this time Graham Hill in a Lola-Ford.[27]

Offenhauser too would join forces with a European maker, McLaren, obtaining three wins for the chassis, one with the Penske team in 1972 with driver Mark Donohue,[28] and two for the McLaren works team in 1974[29] and 1976 with Johnny Rutherford.[30] This was also the last time the Offy would win a race, its competitiveness steadily decreasing until its final appearance in 1983. American drivers kept on filling the majority of entries at the Brickyard for the following years, but European technology had taken over. Starting in 1978, most chassis and engines were European, with the only American-based chassis to win during the CART era being the Wildcat and Galmer[31] (which was actually built in Bicester, England) in 1982 and 1992 respectively. Ford and Chevrolet engines were built in the UK by Cosworth and Ilmor, respectively.

World Series

Emerson Fittipaldi driving the Penske PC-23 at the 1994 event

After foreign cars became the norm, foreign drivers began competing in the Indianapolis 500 on a regular basis, choosing the United States as their primary base for their motor racing activities. Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, Italian Teo Fabi and Colombian Roberto Guerrero, were able to obtain good outings in the '80s, as did Dutchman Arie Luyendyk. However, it was not until 1993 that reigning Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell shocked the racing world by moving to the United States, winning the CART PPG IndyCar World Series Championship and only losing the 500 in his rookie year because of inexperience with green-flag restarts.[32] Foreign-born drivers became a regular fixture of Indianapolis in the years to follow. Despite the increase in foreign drivers commonly being associated with the CART era, it should be noted that four of the first six Indianapolis 500 winners were non-American drivers.

Race name

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The race was originally advertised as the "International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race"[9] from 1911 to 1916. However, from its inception, the race has been widely known as the Indianapolis 500 or, more simply as "the 500". In 1919, the race was referred to as the "Liberty Sweepstakes" following WWI.[33] From 1920 to 1980, the race officially reverted to the "International Sweepstakes" moniker, as printed on the tickets and other paraphernalia, with slight variations over the years.

Following WWII, the race was commonly recognized as "The 500", "The 500-Mile Race", "Indianapolis 500-Mile Race", "Indianapolis 500", or the simple form "Indy 500". Usually the ordinal (e.g. "50th") preceded it. Often the race was also advertised on the radio as the "Annual Memorial Day race," or similar variations.

For the 1981 race, the name "65th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race" was officially adopted, with all references as the "International Sweepstakes" dropped. Since 1981, the race has been formally advertised in this fashion, complete with a unique annual logo with the ordinal almost always included. Around that same time, in the wake of the 1979 entry controversy, and the formation of CART, the race changed to an invitational event, rather than an Open, rendering the "sweepstakes" description inappropriate.

Since its inception, the race has eschewed any sort of naming rights or title sponsor, a move, though uncommon in the modern sports world, has been well received by fans. While the facility has numerous sponsor billboards around the grounds, including some mildly controversial ads on the retaining walls and infield grass, the Speedway has preferred to feature a contingent of several prominent official race sponsors rather than one primary title sponsor. In the 21st century on television, the race broadcast has been advertised with a title sponsor. Currently on ABC-TV, the race is referred to as the Indianapolis 500 Telecast Presented by Firestone, but this appears only on the U.S. telecasts, and mention of the sponsor is not visible for patrons at the track.

The Borg-Warner Trophy, introduced in 1936,[34] proclaims the event as the "Indianapolis 500-Mile Race", with no reference at all to the name "International Sweepstakes".

Centennial Era

In 2009, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began a three-year-long "Centennial Era" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the track (1909), and the 100th anniversary of the first Indy 500 (1911).[35] As a gesture to the nostalgic Centennial Era celebration (2009–2011), tickets for the 2009 race donned the moniker "93rd 500 Mile International Sweepstakes".[36] It is the first time since 1980 that the "Sweepstakes" title has been used. During the month of May 2009, the ordinal (93rd) was used very sparingly, and for the first time since 1981, was not identified on the annual logo. Instead, in most instances in print, television, and radio, the race was referred to as the "2009 Indianapolis 500". Since the race was not held during the United States' participation in the two World Wars (1917–18, 1942–45), the advertised Centennial Era occurred during the 93rd to 95th runnings. To avoid confusion between the 100th anniversary, and the actual number of times the race has been run, references to the ordinal during the Centennial Era were curtailed. Four local Indiana actors were asked to portray the four original founders of the track. They appeared multiple times over the course of the Centennial Era Events. Posing for pictures and signing autographs at the Track, Hall of Fame Museum and more. All were coached by track historian Donald Davidson on their characters. Carl G. Fisher was Tom Harrison, Frank H. Wheeler was Jeff Angel, James A. Allison was Hal Hefner, and Arthur C. Newby was Matthew W. Allen. The Founding Four added to the excitement of the Centennial Era Events, bringing the history of the track to life.

Female drivers

Danica Patrick on Pole Day at Indy, 2007

Female participation of any sort at Indianapolis was discouraged and essentially banned throughout the first several decades of competition. As such, female reporters were not even allowed in the pit area until 1971.[37] There have been nine female drivers to qualify, starting with Janet Guthrie in 1977.

Sarah Fisher has competed nine times, the most of any woman. Danica Patrick led 19 laps in the 2005 race and 10 laps in the 2011 race, the only times a woman has led laps during the race. Her third-place finish in 2009 is the best finish for a woman.

Race sanctioning

AAA and USAC

The Borg-Warner Trophy, presented to the Indy 500 winners in victory lane, and kept the rest of the year on permanent display at the Hall of Fame Museum.

From 1911 to 1955, the race was organized under the auspices of the AAA Contest Board. Following the 1955 Le Mans disaster, AAA dissolved the Contest Board to concentrate on its membership program aimed at the general motoring public. Speedway owner Tony Hulman founded USAC in 1956, which took over sanctioning of the race and the sport of Championship racing.[38]

From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 also counted toward the FIA's World Championship of Drivers (now synonymous with Formula One), although few drivers participated in the other races of that series. Italian driver Alberto Ascari was the only European-based driver to actually race in the 500 during its World Championship years. His appearance in 1952 in a Ferrari was also the only time a Ferrari has ever appeared in the race. Juan Manuel Fangio practiced at the track in 1958, but declined an offer to race.

Control issues of monetary prizes and squabbles over technical regulations caused conflict in the 1970s. Soon after the death of Tony Hulman in 1977, and the loss of several key USAC officials in a 1978 plane crash, several key team owners banded together and formed CART in late 1978[39] to sanction the sport of Indy car racing.

The Indianapolis 500 itself, however, remained under the sanctioning control of USAC. It became the lone top-level race the body still sanctioned, as it ultimately dropped all other Indy car races (as well as their stock car division) to concentrate on sprints and midgets. For the next three years, the race was not officially recognized on the CART calendar, but the CART teams and drivers comprised the field. By 1983, an agreement was made for the USAC-sanctioned Indy 500 to be recognized on the CART calendar, and the race awarded points towards the CART championship.

Despite the CART/USAC divide, from 1983 to 1995 the race was run in relative harmony. CART and USAC occasionally quarreled over relatively minor technical regulations, but utilized the same machines and the CART-based teams and driver comprised the bulk of the Indy 500 entries each year.

IndyCar Series

The starting field of the 2007 Indianapolis 500 in formation before the start

In 1994, Speedway owner Tony George announced plans for a new series, to be called the Indy Racing League.[40] The Indy 500 would serve as its centerpiece. Opinions varied on his motivations, with his supporters sharing his disapproval of the race's lack of status within CART, the increasing number of foreign drivers (as American drivers were gravitating towards NASCAR), and the decreasing number of ovals in the season series. Detractors accused George of throwing his weight around and using the race as leverage to gain complete control of the sport of open wheel racing in the United States.

In 1995 and in response to a change in schedule by the CART series that put several races in direct conflict with Indy Racing League events, George announced that 25 of the 33 starting positions at the 1996 Indy 500 would be reserved for the top 25 cars in IRL points standings (similar in practice to NASCAR's Top 35 rule introduced years later). The move effectively left only eight starting positions open to the CART-regulars that chose not to participate in the IRL races. CART's reaction was to refuse to compromise on the schedule conflicts, skip the IRL races required to accumulate the qualifying points, boycott the race,[41] and stage a competing event, the U.S. 500, on the same day at Michigan. Veteran Buddy Lazier won a competitive but crash-filled 1996 Indy 500. Two CART teams, Walker Racing and Galles Racing, competed in the Indianapolis 500 to fulfill sponsor obligations and were welcomed without incident. The U.S. 500, meanwhile, failed to garner as much interest and was marred by a huge crash on the pace laps that forced ten teams to use backup cars. CART would run at Gateway International Raceway a 300-mile race in ensuing years (1997–99) instead.

Helio Castroneves, winner in 2001, 2002 and 2009

For 1997, new rules for less expensive cars and "production based" engines were put into place. The move made it such that the IRL utilized different and incompatible equipment; no CART-based teams would enter the Indy 500 for the next three years.

In 2000, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, still a CART-mainstay, made the decision to cross lines and compete at Indianapolis with drivers Jimmy Vasser and Juan Pablo Montoya. On race day, Montoya dominated the event, leading 167 of the 200 laps to victory.[42] In 2001, Penske Racing returned, and won the race with driver Hélio Castroneves.[42] Penske and Castroneves repeated with a win in 2002.

By 2003, Ganassi, Penske and Andretti Green all defected to the IRL permanently. CART went bankrupt later in the year, and its rights and infrastructure were purchased by remaining car owners, and it became the Champ Car World Series. The two series continued to operate separately through 2007. In early 2008, the two series were unified to create a single open wheel championship after a 12-year split being run under Indy Racing League/IMS control—known as the IndyCar Series.[43]

The 2012 race was the return of Turbocharged engines for the first time since 1996 with the use of the Dallara DW12 chassis and 2.2 L V-6 single turbo and twin turbocharged engines.

NASCAR and the 500

In the 1960s and early 1970s, the Indy 500 and the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway were held on different days of the week. A handful of NASCAR regulars participated in both events in the same year, including Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, and Lee Roy Yarbrough. From 1974–1992, the two events were scheduled for the same day and same starting time, making participation in both impossible. A few stock car drivers during that time, namely Neil Bonnett in 1979, nevertheless still attempted to qualify at Indy, even if that meant skipping Charlotte altogether.

"Double Duty"

From 1994 to 2004, several NASCAR drivers were able to compete in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in the same day. Since 1993, the Coca-Cola 600 has been scheduled in the evening the same day as the Indy 500. The effort has been known as "Double Duty". At the conclusion of the Indy 500, drivers would catch a helicopter directly from the Speedway to the Indianapolis International Airport. From there they would fly to Concord Regional Airport, and ride a helicopter to the NASCAR race. John Andretti, Tony Stewart, and Robby Gordon, attempted the feat, with Kurt Busch being the latest in 2014. In 2001, Tony Stewart became the first driver to complete the full race distance (1100 miles) in both races on the same day.[44]

For 2005, the start of Indianapolis was pushed back to 1 p.m. EDT to improve television ratings. This significantly closed the window for a driver to be able to race both events in the same day. (The race's original starting time had been set at 11 a.m. EST – 12 noon EDT – because in 1911, race promoters estimated it would take six hours to complete the event, and they did not want the race to finish too close to suppertime. Nowadays the race is routinely completed in under three and one-half hours.)

Two drivers, Mario Andretti and A. J. Foyt, have won the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. Foyt also won the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, America's premier endurance races, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while Andretti won the 1978 Formula One World Championship and is a three time Sebring winner (he also won the 6 Hour version of Daytona). Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford once won one of the Daytona 500 qualifying races. In 2010 Chip Ganassi became the first car owner to win the Daytona and Indianapolis 500s in the same year, with Jamie McMurray winning the Daytona 500 and Dario Franchitti winning the Indianapolis 500.

In 2010, Bruton Smith (owner of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.), offered $20,000,000 to any driver, IndyCar or NASCAR, who can win both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day starting in 2011 – a feat that has never been done before. For 2011, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway moved the start time of the Indy 500 back to 12:15 PM EDT (prior to 2005, the engines started at 10:52 AM EST; under the modern schedule, engines start around 12:05 PM for a start around 12:15 PM), which re-opened the window for travel. Brad Keselowski suggested that he would consider answering the challenge in 2014.[45] It was announced on March 4, 2014 that Kurt Busch would attempt to qualify for the 2014 Indianapolis 500, driving a fifth car for the Andretti Autosport team.[46] Busch completed all 500 miles at Indy to finish sixth, but dropped out of the 600 with a blown engine just past the 400-mile mark.

Technical regulations

Penske PC-23 Mercedes, 1994 Indianapolis 500 winning car

Technical specifications for the Indianapolis 500 are currently written by IndyCar. Rules are generally the same as every other IndyCar race. In the past, particularly during the era in which USAC sanctioned the Indy 500 (but CART sanctioned the other Indy car races), rules at Indy slightly differed at times. The result, for example, would be a particular chassis or engine configuration being legal at Indy, but not so at the CART-sanctioned events. This was rather commonplace in the 1980s and early 1990s, when "stock-block" engines (namely the V-6 Buick) was allotted an increased level of turbocharger boost by USAC at Indy, compared to the purpose-built V-8 quad-cam engines. While the "stock block" engines were technically legal in CART competition, they were not given the increased boost advantage, which effectively rendered them uncompetitive, and precluded their use by teams. The most famous manifestation of the USAC rules disparity was the Ilmor-built Mercedes-Benz 500I engine fielded by Roger Penske in 1994.[47]

Teams may enter up to two machines under a given car number – the "primary" car and a "backup" car. The backup car is identified by the letter "T". For example, the two cars for the #2 team would be numbered #2 and #2T. Both cars may be practiced during the month, but due to engine lease rules, they must share the same engine. It is not uncommon for teams to prefer their backup car, if it is deemed faster, or for other strategic reasons. Additionally, as the month wears on, a "T car" may be split off into its own entry, and reassigned a new number, or be sold to another team.

All cars must pass a rigorous technical inspection before receiving a sticker signifying that the car is eligible to practice. Various criteria includes minimum weight, dimensions, and approved parts, particularly safety equipment. Prior to and following qualification attempts, cars must pass another inspection. The pre-qualifying inspection is focused on safety aspects, and is done on the pit lane qualifying queue. It is relatively brief, due to the time constraints of the qualifying procedure. The post-qualifying inspection is much more stringent and lengthy, and takes place in the garage area. It is to detect deviations from the performance guidelines set forth by the league, and cars can and have been fined or outright disqualified if they fail inspection.

Qualifying procedure

For more details on this topic, see List of Indianapolis 500 pole-sitters.
Scott Dixon makes his pole-winning qualification run for the 2008 Indianapolis 500.

Throughout the years, the race has used a number of different qualifying procedures. The current four-lap (ten-mile) qualifying distance was first introduced in 1920, and has been used every year since 1939.[48]

In 2014, the qualifying procedure was refined, such that the pole position winner, and the starting grid would be determined over two days. On the weekend before the race (Saturday and Sunday), all cars are entered into a blind draw for the qualifying order.

For each attempt, cars are allowed two warm-up laps. At that time, a member of the team is stationed at the north end of the mainstretch. He/she must wave a green flag, signaling an attempt, or else the car will be waved off. The attempt can be waved off during any of the four laps by the team, driver, or race officials. (The series will wave off the run if it is obvious the run will not be fast enough to qualify and it is getting late in the day.) If an attempt is waved off after the run starts, the attempt counts towards the three-attempt limit and the previous time is still forfeited, unless race officials waved off the attempt because of weather.

Culture

An IndyCar on the Indiana state quarter

Memorabilia

Many people promote and share information about the Indianapolis 500 and its memorabilia collecting.[49] The National Indy 500 Collectors Club is an independent active organization that has been dedicated to support such activities. The organization was established January 1, 1985 in Indianapolis by its founder John Blazier and includes an experienced membership available for discussion and advice on Indy 500 memorabilia trading and Indy 500 questions in general.

The longest-running Indy racing memorabilia show is the National Auto Racing Memorabilia Show.

Entertainment

The Indianapolis 500 has been the subject of several films, and has experienced countless references in television, movies, and other media.

Indianapolis 500 Legends, a Wii and DS game based on the race was released on December 18, 2007.[50]

Milk

Louis Meyer requested a glass of buttermilk after winning his second Indy 500 race in 1933. After winning his third title in 1936, he requested another glass but instead received a bottle. He was captured by a photographer in the act of swigging from the bottle while holding up three fingers to signify the third win. A local dairy company executive recognized the marketing opportunity in the image and, being unaware Meyer was drinking buttermilk, offered a bottle of milk to the winners of future races. Milk has been presented each year since then apart from 1947 to 1955. Modern drivers are offered a choice of whole, 2%, and skim.[51]

At the 1993 Indianapolis 500, winner Emerson Fittipaldi, who owned and operated an orange grove, notoriously drank orange juice instead of milk during the televised winner's interview. He eventually relented and also drank from the milk bottle later in the post-race ceremonies after the broadcast was over, but the public relations damage had been done.[52] The snub led to him being booed at the next ChampCar race in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the heart of dairy country, and by some, as late as the 2008 Indianapolis 500 in which he drove the pace car.

Broadcasting

Radio coverage of the race dates back to 1922. The race has been broadcast live on the radio in its entirety by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network since 1953.

The Hulmans were somewhat resistant to allow live television coverage of the 500, largely to maximize gate attendance. The race was briefly televised live in 1949 and 1950 on WFBM-TV, after which the practice was discontinued. From 1964 to 1970, the race was broadcast live on closed-circuit television in theaters around the country. From 1965 through 1970, a highlighted version of the race was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports. From 1971 through 1985, an edited same-day, tape delay broadcast of the race was shown in prime time. The race broadcast was edited down to either two or three hours in duration (including commercials).

Since 1986, ABC has televised the race live in its entirety. However, at the request of the Speedway, Indianapolis affiliate WRTV is required to blackout the live broadcast and carry it on tape delay in prime time to encourage local race attendance. In 2007 (the first year in which the race was carried under the ESPN on ABC branding), the race was first aired in high-definition.[53]

Coverage of time trials on ABC dates back to 1961. ABC covered time trials in various live and in tape-delayed formats from 1961-2008 and from 2014-present. ESPN (and later along with ESPN 2) carried various portions of time trials from 1987-2008. Versus (now NBCSN) covered time trials from 2009-2013.

Practice sessions have been streamed live online dating back to at least 2001.[54]

In 2015, ABC celebrated its 50th anniversary of covering the Indianapolis 500.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "World Stadiums - Stadium List :: 100 000+ Stadiums". Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Kettlewell, Mike. "Indianapolis: The Richest Race in the World", in Northey, Tom, ed. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 9, p.1012.
  3. ↑ The track was potholing even in practise.
  4. ↑ He averaged 53.77 mph (86.53 km/h) Kettlewell, p.1013.
  5. ↑ Wilfred Bourque (Kettlewell, p.1013, mistakenly identifies him as William) and his riding mechanic were killed after hitting a pothole in the 250, and Charley Merz's riding mechanic, Claude Kellum, as well as two spectators, were killed in the 300; following Merz's crash, there was another serious crash, also. Kettlewell, p.1013.
  6. ↑ Kettlewell, pp.1012–3.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kettlewell, p.1013.
  8. ↑ "Yard of Bricks". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  9. 1 2 "IMS Milestones: 1906–1911". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  10. ↑ "The Marmon Wasp". The Marmon Group.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kettlewell, p.1014.
  12. ↑ Leerhsen, Charles, "100 Years of the Indy 500", Sports Illustrated, 30 May 2011, pp. 52–56.
  13. ↑ Kettlewell, p.1014
  14. ↑ The company was owned by Speedway investor Arthur C. Newby.
  15. 1 2 "Miller History". The Miller/Offenhauser Historical Society.
  16. ↑ "James Melton Autorama". Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions.
  17. ↑ "Watch Straight No Chaser step into Jim Nabors' shoes, sing to kick off the Indy 500". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 Kettlewell, p.1015.
  19. ↑ "1926 Miller 91 FWD". Supercars.net.
  20. ↑ [http://www.google.com/url q=http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/var/assets/stats/500/indianapolis_500_race_winners.pdf&sa=X&ei=kXP8S5arB9CB_Qbhr8ibBQ&ved=0CBcQzgQoATAA&usg=AFQjCNEOOuoFdJ1r4uKS8oiAYJ07kK-Iiw "INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE WINNERS"] Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Indianapolis Motor Speedway. line feed character in |url= at position 26 (help)
  21. 1 2 "Boyle Special". Maserati.
  22. ↑ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Indiana, USA)". F1complete.com.
  23. ↑ "1952 Indianapolis 500". Formula One Administration.
  24. ↑ "Indianapolis 500, 1961". jackbrabham.com.
  25. ↑ "Jim Clark, the Scottish driver who became an American idol". The Scotsman.
  26. ↑ "RACING HISTORY: The Great Races: 1965 Indianapolis 500". The Auto Channel.
  27. ↑ "50th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Monday, May 30, 1966". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  28. ↑ "56th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday, May 27, 1972". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  29. ↑ "58th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 26, 1974". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  30. ↑ "60th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 30, 1976". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  31. ↑ "76th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 24, 1992". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  32. ↑ "Nigel Mansell". Formula One Administration.
  33. ↑ "Limit Auto Race Entries: Only Thirty-Three Drivers to Start in Indianapolis Sweepstakes". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). May 6, 1919. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  34. ↑ "The Borg-Warner Trophy". IndySpeedway.com.
  35. ↑ "Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era, 2009–2011". Indiana Office of Tourism Development.
  36. ↑ "Page Not Found". Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "Women in Racing- Indy 500 Style!". Zimbio.
  38. ↑ "USAC National Sprint Car Series". world-sprintcar-guide.com.
  39. ↑ "Penske, Roger – Overview, Personal Life, Career Details, Social and Economic Impact, Chronology: Roger Penske". encyclopedia.jrank.org.
  40. ↑ "The Hulman Family, Owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1945". IndyStar.com.
  41. ↑ Ryan, Nate (April 17, 2008). "Indy car racing on track with new era, new issues". USA Today (Gannett Company).
  42. 1 2 "84th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 28, 2000". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  43. ↑ "IRL, Champ Car entities sign merger deal". ESPN.
  44. ↑ "Winning Charlotte, Indy proving an impossible feat". NASCAR.
  45. ↑ "Gunning for first NASCAR Sprint Cup win of the year in the Coca-Cola 600: Brad Keselowski's Autoweek blog". Autoweek.
  46. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (March 4, 2014). "Kurt Busch to attempt Indianapolis 500, Coke 600 'double'". USA Today. McLean, VA. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  47. ↑ "The Penske-Mercedes PC23-500I". forix.autosport.com.
  48. ↑ Mittman, Dick. Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Has Evolved Over The Years, Indy500.com, September 22, 2004
  49. ↑ "National Indy 500 Collector Club". Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "Indianapolis 500 Legends" for Wii and Nintendo DS Now Racing to Store Shelves from Destineer, GameZone, December 18, 2007
  51. ↑ , Yahoo, May 22, 2009
  52. ↑ Profile of Emerson Fittipaldi at indianapolismotorspeedway.com, 12 June 2012
  53. ↑ "91st Indianapolis 500 To Be Televised On ABC In Sony HD Technology". Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  54. ↑ IndyCar and WhiteBlox Cross the Finish Line; Tens of Thousands of Viewers Surf to Live Online Indy 500 Video Coverage – Houston Chronicle, 1 June 2006

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Coordinates: 39°47′41″N 86°14′04″W / 39.79472°N 86.23444°W / 39.79472; -86.23444

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Grand Prix of Indianapolis		 Current
IndyCar Series races 		Succeeded by
Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
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