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| Track Facts | |
| Construction | Spring 1909: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indiana's capital city. |
| The "Brickyard" | The track was once paved with 3.2 million bricks. With the original surface of crushed rock and tar proving to be disastrous at the opening motorcycle and automobile racing events in August 1909, 3.2 million paving bricks were imported by rail from the western part of the state in the fall. The bricks were laid on their sides in a bed of sand and fixed with mortar, thus inspiring the nickname "The Brickyard." |
| Asphalt | Asphalt was first applied to the rougher portions of the track in 1936, and by 1941, all but the greater part of the mainstraight had become blacktop. The remainder of the bricks was finally covered over in the fall of 1961. Most of the original paving bricks are still in place underneath the modern asphalt surface, with only the famous "yard of bricks" still exposed at the start/finish line as a nostalgic reminder of the past. |
| First race | May 30, 1911: Won by Ray Harroun on Memorial Day, a grueling 500-mile race paying $14,250 to win. |
| War years | The Indy 500 has traditionally run on Memorial Day Weekend since 1911, except war years, 1917-1918 and 1942-1945. |
| Capacity | More than 250,000 permanent seats (world's largest sporting facility) |
| Museum | The Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum is one of racing's most famous museums. |
| Promoter | Owned by the Hulman -- George family, Hulman & Co., Terre Haute, Ind. |
| Indy Racing League records | |||||
| Competition | Driver | Car | Speed | Year | |
|
Qualifying (1 lap) |
Billy Boat | Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear | 224.573 mph | 1998 | |
|
Qualifying (4 laps) |
Billy Boat | Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear | 223.503 mph | 1998 | |
| Race | Arie Luyendyk | G Force/Aurora/Firestone | 145.827 mph | 1997 | |
| Track records | |||||
| Competition | Driver | Car | Speed | Year | |
|
Qualifying (1 lap) |
Arie Luyendyk | 95 Reynard/Cosworth/Firestone | 237.498 mph | 1996 | |
|
Qualifying (4 laps) |
Arie Luyendyk | 95 Reynard/Cosworth/Firestone | 236.986 mph | 1996 | |
| Race | Arie Luyendyk | 90 Lola/Chevy Indy V8 | 185.961 mph | 1990 | |