Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate city completely surrounded by Indianapolis) in the United States, is the second-oldest surviving auto racing track in the world (after The Milwaukee Mile), having existed since 1909. The track is a relatively flat two and a half mile oval, almost rectangular in shape. It has a spectator capacity of over 300,000, making it the largest sporting facility in the world. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Asphalt

After the last Indy 500 to be part of the World Championship, the track became completely asphalt, with the exception of a distinct three-foot-wide line of bricks at the start/finish line, turning the "Brickyard" into the "Yard of Bricks." Ironically, a wave of F1 drivers went to the Speedway in the 1960s, and the rear-engine revolution that was started in F1 by the Cooper team changed the face of the 500 as well; since Jim Clark's win in 1965, every winner has driven a rear-engined car. Graham Hill won the following year at his first attempt. There were enough Americans to compete with them, with A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Bobby and Al Unser leading the charge in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1970s the Speedway became more than a race track, as it began to feature a golf course and a hotel.

Related Topics:
1960s - Cooper - Jim Clark - 1965 - Graham Hill - A.J. Foyt - Mario Andretti - Bobby - Al Unser - 1970s

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From 1970 to 1981, Indianapolis had a twin in the city of Ontario, California by the name of the Ontario Motor Speedway, this track was known as the "Indianapolis of the West" and the home of the California 500; but was a financial failure due to bad management and not holding enough races on the racetrack.

Related Topics:
Ontario, California - Ontario Motor Speedway

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The 1980s brought a new generation of speedsters, led by Rick Mears (who recorded the first 200 mph (320 km/h) race lap in 1982), Danny Sullivan, and Bobby Rahal. In 1989, F1 veteran Emerson Fittipaldi astounded drivers and fans when winning and recording the first 220 mph (350 km/h) race lap in the process. Indy had never even seen a 210 mph (340 km/h) lap during a race before then. Arie Luyendyk won the following year, and did so in the fastest 500 ever, with an average lap of 185.981 mph (299.307 km/h).

Related Topics:
1980s - Rick Mears - Danny Sullivan - Bobby Rahal - 1989 - Emerson Fittipaldi - Arie Luyendyk

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