Lets Learn about: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Earlier this year, Indianapolis Motor Speedway tweeted this out for all to see. Its what 108 years of Track Surface that was laid down. This is a time capsule into the past. But what happened in that 108 years of history? 2 World wars and 20 US Presidents (Starting at Theodore Roosevelt).

But what about the track itself? Lets learn, shall we?

How do you map out what your race track looks like? Like this. Some chalk dust and a piece of land. This was when the idea of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was born. A 2.5 Mile oval, or rectangle, that would play host to the greatest race in the world.

The track would be built in 1909, the corners banked and the straightaways long. This was a street course like some races were used to racing. When the race track was built, it cost 3 million dollars, as of 2016, it was estimated that the race track this size, to build a 1:1 replica, it would cost you 73 Million dollars to build.

This Ticket? 1$.
2018's Ticket prices? 50$ to 205$

In the tracks 108 year history, only 101 races were held in its Open Wheel division. Racing would stop during World war 1 and 2, the track serving as a depot for supplies for the war effort.

This car is 108 years old. It won the first Indianapolis 500. The race, in previous years, wasn't 500 miles. It started at 100 miles, then 200, and climbed to 500. Why 500 miles? It seemed to be the distance an engine would last, Ray Harroun would win in that #32 machine. Sadly a few years later, he'd lose his life in a wreck at the same speedway.

So just how big is the course? Well, you can fit Vatican City, the White House, the Statue of Liberty, and the Taj Mahal inside comfortable.

As the years went on, the cars got faster, and more dangerous. Back in the early 1900's, Auto Racing was deadly, and many have perished chasing the 500 mile title.

This is the trophy they chase. Its got a carved face of every winner from 12 different nations. The latest face to join the cast was Takumo Sato, of Japan.

The Race track has been in operation since the early 1900's, and now here it has stood. The track is a historical monument.

The race track wasn't afraid to let it be known, to then Governor Mike Pence, that ALL people, no matter who, are welcomed to the track.

If you would like to learn more, here is the Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Motor_Speedway

I hope you enjoyed this. Thank you.