The Indy 500 is an automobile race held annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States….in an event that is held over Memorial Day weekend in late May. It is contested as part of the Verizon INDYCAR Series….which is the top level of American Championship Car Racing….as an open-wheel open-cockpit formula colloquially known as “Indy Car Racing”…..while the track itself is nicknamed “the Brickyard“….cuz the racing surfacing was paved in brick in the fall of 1909…..when the race 1st started. The event is billed as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing….which is considered part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport….comprising of three of the most prestigious motor sports events in the world….including the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The official attendance is not disclosed by Speedway management….but the permanent seating capacity is upwards of 250,000….while the infield patrons raise the race-day attendance to approximately 300,000.The inaugural race was held in 1911 and was won by Ray Harroun…..as the event celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011….and the 100th running was held in 2016.
The most successful drivers are A. J. Foyt….Al Unser Sr…..and Rick Mears….each of whom have won the race four times. The active driver with the most victories is Hélio Castroneves with three…as 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 17 total wins and 17 poles. The event is steeped in tradition….in pre-race ceremonies….post-race celebrations….and race procedure….with the most noteworthy and most popular traditions are the 33-car field…..the annual singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana,” ….and the victory lane bottle of milk.
