The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been registered as a National Historic Landmark since 1987. The Speedway is located at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis, Indiana. The raceway was first built in 1909 and is most known as the permanent home of the Indy500 race which takes place annually on Memorial Day weekend. The first 500 mile race took place in May of 1911. Today the event attracts more than 250,000 spectators and is broadcast around the world.
The historic 2.5 mile oval race track is also called the Brickyard. The track was originally built of crushed rock and tar but switched to brick in order to provide a smoother surface the same year of construction (1909). Resurfacing with asphalt did not occur until 1976. Today a line of the original brick surfacing remains in place marking the start/finish line of the track. The track was originally built to test new automobile designs and race them in order for the public to see them competing and thus promote auto industry sales.
A new 2.605 mile Formula One track was inaugurated at the Speedway in 2008.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted Grand Prix Formula One events and NASCAR racing as well as the Indianapolis 500 race and other events. It is undeniably the most renowned automobile racing venue in the world. The Speedway also operates a neighboring hotel and 18-hole golf course.
Just inside the main entrance to the facility the Hall of Fame Museum is found. The museum displays more than 75 race cars, as well as a wall of winners' photos of the Indy 500 and other memorabilia of the Indy 500 and other racing history from around the globe. One of the major attractions at the museum is being able to sit in a race car chassis and pose for a souvenir photo.
Ninety minute tours of the track and its different areas are available 4 times a day between March and Thanksgiving, spaces on the tours are limited and special tours can be arranged for groups.
The Hulman family, which owns the track today, bought the raceway in 1945. Tony Hulman named Wilbur Shaw General Manager and President. In the early 50's it was Shaw who would coin the now world famous racing phrase of "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" here at the Speedway.
The Speedway has always been at the forefront of pioneering new racing technologies. One example is the SAFER barrier made of steel and foam installed originally at the track's corners in 2002 and later upgraded. The barriers were designed and improved by the Indy Racing League in conjunction with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility. These barriers were built to lessen crash impact for a vehicle and thus improve safety for its driver.
The Nomex fiber firesuit is another one of the innovations in the sport first designed and used at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
