Indy 500 Facts

The Big Race Hits the Big Apple

Lunchtime foot and motor traffic came to a complete standstill May 18 as Indianapolis 500 stars past and present converged on Herald Square. The 33 starting drivers of this year’s Indy 500 lined up in front of Herald Square/Macy’s as part of the week-long festivities before the big race.

Fronted by the yellow car that started it all - the 1911 Marmon Wasp - and the biggest prize in motorsports - the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy - drivers competing in the May 24 race lined up in the traditional 11 rows of three for a photo op in front of the Macy's flagship store (where it's been located since 1902). HVM Racing driver E.J. Viso, video recorder in hand, even stood on his helmet to get a better view of the front of the field.

To commemorate the track and the Centennial Era of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I decided to look up some facts about the track and the history of the Indy 500:

The track was built in the spring of 1909, on 328 acres of farmland northwest of Indianapolis. It’s a 2.5 mile flat oval with zero degree banking on all four turns. The first Indy 500 race took place in 1911 and was won by Ray Harround, who finished with a time of 6 hours, 42 minutes and 8 seconds. 44 cars started that first race and 26 finished, which is a record that still stands today.

The fastest qualifying lap in the race’s prestigious history is 237.498 mph, by Arie Luyendyk in 1998. Three drivers have won the race four times: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Foyt holds the mark for having raced in the event 35 consecutive times, from 1958-1992.

The tradition of drinking milk in the winner’s circle dates back to 1936, when Louis Meyer drank his favorite beverage, buttermilk, after winning the race.

I hope you will join me in saluting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as it celebrates 100 years of Indy Excitement. I’ll have more great news for you next week as the big day approaches.