History of the Indy 500
The Indy 500 is one of the oldest races in the world. Over 100 editions of the race have been held, and it has grown into one of the most important races in the world. Let’s dive into the illustrious history of the race.
The First Indy 500
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) was built in 1909 within five months as a 2.5-mile oval with an unpaved surface. The first races held on the track showed that the surface was highly unstable and dangerous.During the second race weekend, five fatalities occurred, prompting owner Carl G. Fisher to take charge and finance a project to pave the track with 3.2 million bricks, which gave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway its nickname: the "Brickyard." Today, a 90-centimeter strip of the original bricks remains at the start/finish line.
A year later, the newly renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) reopened for a few small events. However, the owners had bigger plans, which led to the idea of the first 500-mile race in 1911. This race was attended by 80,000 paying spectators. Ray Harroun won the race after over 6.5 hours with an average speed of 74.6 mph (120.060 km/h).
The Indy 500 Quickly Grows into a Global Event
The race quickly became a global event, attracting not only American car manufacturers, but also European brands such as Fiat, Mercedes, and Peugeot, as well as drivers from Europe.Despite the Great Depression, average speeds in the 1930s steadily increased on the smooth bricks, leading the track owners to asphalt the 2.5-mile oval. Despite the improvements of the 1930s, the IMS faced a dark period in the 1940s. This began in 1941 with a major fire that destroyed half of "Gasoline Alley", leading to the cancellation of the 1942 Indianapolis 500. Due to World War II, a ban on motorsports was imposed, and the race was not held for four years, leaving the track in disrepair.
A New Beginning Under Tony Hulman
At the end of the war, the IMS was put up for sale in 1944. To prevent the track from being purchased for housing development, three-time Indy 500 winner Wilbur Shaw sought a buyer who could restore the track to its former glory. Tony Hulman purchased the track for $750,000 and oversaw extensive renovations, allowing the Indianapolis 500 to resume in 1946.
The race quickly reached greater heights than before the war and was included in the Formula 1 Championship from 1950 to 1960, alongside the IndyCar Championship (under AAA until 1955, and USAC starting in 1956).After Tony Hulman's death, who had established USAC in 1955 as a governing body, tensions arose in the late 1970s between USAC and team owners over power and money. As a result, some team owners established CART in 1978, a breakaway series that dealt a severe blow to USAC. The Indianapolis 500 faced turbulent times in the following years.
The Indy 500 Remains Loyal to USAC and Eventually Forms the IRL
The IMS remained loyal to USAC, which it had established 25 years earlier. As a result, the 1981 and 1982 editions of the Indy 500 did not count towards CART's Indy Car World Series. A compromise was reached in 1983, where the Indy 500 retained USAC as its governing body, but counted towards the CART championship. However, tensions between the two parties persisted.
These tensions escalated when Tony George, Tony Hulman's grandson, became the director of IMS. George was openly critical of CART, especially its shift towards permanent road and street tracks, increasing costs and increased international influences.After being removed from CART's board of directors, George announced in 1994 the creation of the Indy Racing League (IRL). George introduced regulations ensuring that 25 of the 33 positions in the Indy 500 were reserved for IRL drivers, excluding the race from the CART championship. This decision led to the loss of prominent names and prestige for the Indianapolis 500.
In 2000, major names from CART returned to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time. The race's enduring appeal proved strong, prompting Honda, Toyota, and many top CART teams (Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Green, and Team Rahal) to join the Indy Racing League between 2002 and 2004.
In 2008, Champ Car and the Indy Racing League officially reunited. The 100th edition in 2016 saw the grandstands sell out, and Fernando Alonso's participation with McLaren in 2017 reignited worldwide interest.The Indy 500 Gains New Momentum with Roger Penske
In early 2020, a new chapter began for the track: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, along with the IndyCar Series, was sold to Roger Penske. Penske immediately modernized the track in several areas.