History of the Indy 500 - P1

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway did not start out as the most famous racetrack in the world. It started out as a test-drive track for the cars in the early 1906, by Carl Fisher. He wanted an area where he could build something with long straightaways and tight turns for use as an auto testing ground, and the occasional race pitting auto manufactures against each other. Carl wanted it built in French Lick, Indiana.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp was formed in February of 1909, on 328 acres bought by Fisher and his partners. The first unofficial race on a 2 and a half-mile track, 5 mile dash was a disaster. Fisher then decided that an all out extravaganza was in order, The Indy 500 was born. The first official race in 1911 had 40 drivers and was a grueling 6 hour and 42 minute long race. The average speed was 74.59 mph.

The 1916 race was only 300 miles because Speedway Management thought there was a shortage of cars due to the war in Europe. There were only 21 cars in that race. The track was closed in 1917 and 1918 due to WWI. Then in 1919, the track opened again. Howard Wilcox won that race, and also broke the 100 mph barrier. By 1923, Carl Fisher said he no longer wanted the track and sold it for $750,000 to Eddie Rickenbacker in 1927.

The Speedway nearly lost for good

The Depression and WWII took its toll on the track. The 1933 race was a bad year, 5 men was killed. The prize money was reduced, and there was a driver's strike that did not long too long. Then in 1941, the track was closed for 4 years due to WWII. By the time it re-opened in 45, the grandstands were in dire-straights and weeds had taken over. Eddie Rickenbacker was ready to leave the business.

Wilber Shaw, a 3-time race winner seen a bright future for the Indy 500, but needed help in making sure it would continue. Homer Cochran, a banker got Richenbacker and Tony Hulman Jr together, and on November 14 of 1945, a deal was made with just a handshake to keep the track open and races ran. Eddie sold the track to Tony for $750,000. Then with the clock ticking, Tony got the track ready for the 1946 race and re-opening. Tony Hulman over saw the track for 30 years then, until his death in 1977.

After the 1956 race, the track under went major improvements. Thousands of new infield seats were added, a tunnel was put in under the backstretch, and a safer pit area off the main stretch. However, the centerpiece was the newly added 8-story Control Tower.

The late 60's and 70's saw the popular drivers win and win again, like A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti. A.J. Foyt ties with Al Unser with 4 Indy wins. After years of trying, Mario finally won in 1969. The 70's also saw the coming of the women drivers. Not ready to accept women yet, the women had to gain the other drivers respect even before they got on the track. Janet Guthrie broke the ice when she entered the race in 1977. It was also in this time, another major improvement project went on.

Added to the track, a double-decked Paddock Grandstand, on the main straightaway for what was at the time, a whopping 1.4 million dollars. In addition, the old wooden grandstands were replaced by 10,400 new seats.

1963 opened up the new Speedway Motel, and the track suits were added in 1973. The Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1976, and Gasoline Alley got new garages with concrete bunkers after the race in 1983.