Memorial Day weekend signals the official start of the summer season and causes us to pause and remember the many veterans who have laid down their lives in serving our country. And, as anyone who is a fan of racing knows, it's the weekend of the big 500-mile race at the beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway, known as "The Brickyard."
This year marks the 100th year of the speedway, with the Indianapolis 500 turning 100 in 2011. The Brickyard also hosts NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race.
The original track of crushed rock and tar was the surface on which a motorcycle race first took place on August 14, 1909. Even before the first races, however, the U.S. National Championship for Gas-filled Balloons was the first competitive event held at the IMS.
Spearheaded by Carl Fisher, with the assistance of three partners (Arthur Newby, Frank Wheeler and James Allison), originally the plans were for the IMS to serve as a testing ground for the automobile industry, with occasional racing events featuring the manufacturer's latest models. In 1909, Indianapolis ranked fourth in the country for automobile production and it rose to second four years later.
After season one, it was obvious a more sturdy and substantial track material was needed. In just 63 days, 3.2 million 10-pound street paving bricks from Wabash Valley Clay Company in Veedersburg, Indiana were laid, a surface that would hold up for a quarter-century before some patchwork was done.
In 1910, when attendance at three multi-day races wasn't as large as expected, a decision was made to focus on just one large event in 1911. The Memorial Day crowd at the track had topped 50,000 spectators and became the weekend for the 1911 big event, which would cover 500 miles. The winner would bring in an award of $10,000.
That first race included 40 cars and was won in a time of 6 hours and 42 minutes with an average speed of 74.6 miles per hour. The event was so successful Fisher doubled the purse on what would become an annual race.
The IMS has seen many great moments over its 100-year history.
"There have been so many monumental moments. It's difficult to quantify which is most significant," said Eric Powell, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Media Coordinator.
He's seen a few firsts at the IMS in recent years. One he recalls vividly and considers one of the greatest moments in IMS history was just four years ago.
"In 2005, Danica Patrick led in the 500 and it was the first time a woman had done so," Powers said.
"I've never heard a roar from the crowd like I did at that particular moment."
Powell thinks the IMS holds a special place for so many fans for a variety of reasons.
"There are different things that bring people to the speedway. It depends on personal taste. There are history buffs with a real appreciation of the speedway.
"It's the oldest speedway in the country in terms of racetracks that have continually had racing every year. Also, there's the history of the 500. It's such a glorious event and a lot of well-known things have happened at that event," Powell said.
"In the last 20 years or so, it's become more family friendly and just a great place to bring the kids out for a pretty affordable price. And a lot of people just enjoy racing for the competition, technology and daring aspect of it. Not everyone can get onto a racetrack at 200 miles per hour," he said.
The IMS is a facility steeped in tradition, from the "Yard of Bricks," a row of original bricks left exposed to serve as the start/finish line to the celebratory drinking of milk by the winner, a practice that originated in 1936 after winner Louis Meyer enjoyed a bottle of buttermilk in Victory Lane.
Although the race is a one-day event, the month of May becomes a flurry of activity at IMS. This year's activities began May 1 with a hot-air balloon glow to honor that first competitive balloon event at the site 100 years ago.
Powers said it was such a success that it may return next year. Other centennial events have included wine tasting, live music and fireworks. The days leading up to the race also include qualifying and practicing. Although this year has been different because of the month-long centennial events, it is usually a 4-day event.
"It kind of takes over the race track and the city," Powell said.
Even if you don't plan to be a spectator in the stands at this year's Indy 500, the facility is open 364 days a year to visitors. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum gives an extensive overview of the IMS with approximately 75 vehicles that have played a part in the history of the magnificent venue.
When not in use, you can purchase a ticket for a track-lap, which is a leisurely ride around the track via tour bus. A popular grounds tour is also available on select dates. The guided tour includes a narrated history of the Racing Capital of the World's past century with a behind the scenes look at spots within the IMS usually only accessible to drivers and officials, such as Victory Podium and the "Yard of Bricks" at the start/finish.
Grounds tours sell out quickly and advance tickets are recommended. FYI: INDIANAPOLISMOTORSPEEDWAY.COM.
Fun Facts about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
* Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 driving a racing version of the locally produced Marmon passenger car called the "Wasp." He devised a rod with a mirror attached that was placed on his car for the race and it is believed to be the first rearview mirror ever used on an automobile.
* There are 200 laps in the Indianapolis 500. Each lap around the track is 2.5 miles. The four turns on the oval are banked at exactly 9 degrees.
* The Borg-Warner Trophy, introduced in 1936, is 64 3/4 inches tall and 110 with the base.
* The Indianapolis 500 was put on hold during the world wars. Racing did not take place in 1917 or 1918 or from 1942 -1945.
* There have been three four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500: A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977), Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991).
* The youngest winner of the Indianapolis 500 was Troy Ruttman, who won the 36th race in 1952 at 22 years old.
* The oldest winner of the race was Al Unser, who was 47 years old when he won the 71st Indy 500 in 1987.
* Janet Guthrie was the first female to race in the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. Four more females have raced since then (Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, Danica Patrick and Mika Duno).
* Eight times the race has been won by a rookie driver.
* Five drivers have won back-to-back races: Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48), Bill Vukovich (1953-54), Al Unser (1970-71) and Helio Castroneves (2001-02).
* 1936 was a significant year for the Indy 500. Louis Myer is the first driver to ever become a three-time winner. He is also part of three Brickyard traditions: he was the first winner to be presented with the keys to the Pace Car, it is the first year for the Borg-Warner Trophy and he is photographed drinking buttermilk after the race, which began the tradition of handing milk to the winners.
* At 220 miles per hour, Indy Car Series cars travel slightly more than the length of a football field every second.
* A front tire for the Indy Car Series weighs approximately 18 pounds.
* The draft (or "hole" created by an Indy Car Series car extends 25 feet behind the car.
* Nine different flags with different meanings are used during racing.
* The IMS has a seating capacity of 250,000 permanent seats and is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world.
* In 1929, a golf course was added to the speedway. The current Brickyard Crossing Golf Course sits on the same land outside the oval backstretch and inside the oval's field.
* At the 2008 race, more than 12,000 gallons of Coca-Cola products were consumed, more than 10 tons of fries and enough Indy Dogs that, if laid end-to-end, would circle the track oval more than 2 1/2 times.
* In May 2008, more than 4,000 Firestone tires were used by racing teams.
Highlights of the 100 years of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 race
* 1911: Inaugural Indianapolis 500 takes place. Forty cars race. Winner is Ray Harroun with a time of 6 hours, 42 minutes at an average speed of 74.602 MPH.
* 1919: Howdy Wilcox becomes first driver to turn a qualifying lap in excess of 100 MPH.
* 1923: Tommy Milton is the first two-time winner of the race.
* 1936: Louis Meyer becomes first three-time race winner.
* 1940: Wilbur Shaw is first driver to win back to back races.
* 1942: World War II puts a halt to the Indianapolis 500 for the next four years.
* 1951: 40-year-old World War II veteran Lee Wallard becomes first to win in less than four hours.
* 1960: Rookie Eddie Sachs is just short of hitting 150 MPH.
* 1965: Scottish driver, Jim Clark, becomes first driver to win in a rear-engined car.
* 1969: Mario Andretti wins Indy 500 after original car was destroyed in practice crash.
* 1977: Janet Guthrie becomes first female to qualify for the race and Gordon Johncock wins the race for fourth time.
* 1984: Tom Sneva breaks five track records and hits the 210 MPH mark.
* 1991: Willy T. Ribbs becomes first African-American driver to qualify.
* 1992: Closest finish ever. Al Unser, Jr. wins by .043 of a second.
* 2005: Danica Patrick becomes first female to lead the race and finishes fourth, the highest ever won by a woman.
* 2007: Two-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves snags another trophy as winner of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
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