Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tickets

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate city completely surrounded by Indianapolis), is the oldest surviving auto racing track in the world, having existed since 1908. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indiana�s capital city in spring 1909. The speedway was originally built as a test facility for the burgeoning Indiana car industry and as a competition facility. Carl G. Fisher, along with three investors, founded the Speedway and later sold it to Eddie Rickenbacker in 1927. In 1945, the speedway was purchased by Terre Haute, Indiana, businessman Anton "Tony" Hulman Jr. Hulman passed away in October 1977, but to this day members of his family still run the Speedway, which now encompasses 559 acres . The 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, original had it's tracks surface as crushed stone and tar and when the first race took place in August 1909, several drivers were however killed because of the uneven surface. This eventually led to the surface being paved with 3.2 million bricks, that gave the track its popular nickname, "The Brickyard." All but the main straight was paved with asphalt by the late 1940s and then completely paved following the 1961 race. The 36-inch "Yard of Bricks" at the start/finish line are the only visible bricks, however most of the bricks remain in place today under the Speedway's modern asphalt surface with only the famous "yard of bricks" still exposed at the start/finish line as a reminder of the past. In 1910, poor attendance at a trio of three-day meets on the revamped surface caused the owners to rethink their plans and focus instead on a single event for 1911. They envisioned it as an event of gigantic proportions offering a huge purse. On May 30 - Memorial Day - a grueling 500-mile race paying $14,250 to win took place, enjoying instant success and attracting universal recognition and making history as the inaugural Indianapolis 500. The speedway now has a seating capacity for 300,000, people and it often fills to the brim. Since 1911, the Brickyard has hosted one of the most famous races in the world -- the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. With the exception of an additional program of racing on a single day in September 1916, no race other than the Indianapolis 500 took place at the Speedway until successful NASCAR stock car event, the Brickyard 400, debuted in 1994. In the inaugural 1994 Brickyard 400, fan favorite Jeff Gordon won the first of his three titles. The Indianapolis 500, was suspended during America�s involvement in the two world wars, 1917-1918 and 1942-1945, but held in all other years. By 1999, the "500" was running for it's 83rd time. Today, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest permanent-seat facility and hosts three of the largest single-day sporting events in the world, including the 88th Indianapolis 500, which was on May 30, 2004. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has changed ownership only twice. With Carl Fisher heavily involved in the development of Miami Beach and Jim Allison�s nearby engineering company growing rapidly, the original owner foursome sold the speedway in 1927 to a group headed up by WWI flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Rickenbacker had driven in several "500s," before he ever knew how to fly. One of Rickenbacker�s first actions was to install an eighteen hole golf course on the grounds in 1929, now known as Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort and Inn and home of an annual SENIOR PGA TOUR golf tournament, the Comfort Classic at the Brickyard in September. In December 1997, the United States Grand Prix Formula One race would took place at the speedway. It has now become an annually event on the new road course at the Speedway starting in 2000. Construction began immediately on a 2.55-mile, FIA-approved road course that incorporates Turns One and the main straightaway of the existing oval. As of 2004, the Major Races that take part at the speedway are Indy Racing League's - Indianapolis 500, the Formula One's-United States Grand Prix and NASCAR Nextel Cup-Brickyard 400. Other races include Porsche Michelin Super Cup Support Race, Formula BMW USA Support Race and Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series - Futaba Freedom 100. Records made at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are for qualifying in the Indianapolis 500, Arie Luyendyk made the record books with the speed of 237.498 mph, on May12, 1996, in the Indianapolis 500 race the record was made by Luyendyk, at 185.961 mph, on May 27, 1990. Other record holders include Kevin Harvick, who hold the qualifying record, with 184.343 mph, and he made it on August 2, 2003. there is also Bobby Labonte, who made the NASCAR race record of 155.912 mph, on August 5, 2000.

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