History of Car Racing

The speed and competition of auto racing has appealed to drivers and spectators for many years. European racers led the way, with Americans quickly following in the pursuit of racing adventure. The Indy series, Formula One, CART, NASCAR and a multitude of other forms of car racing have since developed, leading to an international racing industry that claims the passion of millions of fans. In 2010, auto racing is one of the most widely viewed spectator sports in the world.

  1. History

    • Drivers began racing cars nearly as soon as they were invented. According to AutoSport.com, the first attempt at organizing a race occurred in Paris in 1887. However, only one entrant materialized, so credit for the first, actual race belongs to a Paris-to-Rouen competition in 1894. It took only slightly longer for the racing bug to catch on in America. "The first car race in the United States took place in Chicago in 1895. That first race took place on a 53-mile (85km) course and took over 10 hours to complete," says Charles Hofer in his book "Race Cars."

    Europe

    • European organizers took the lead in fostering extensive racing extravaganzas. "The first big auto races were in Europe, starting with the great city-to-city events such as Paris to Bordeaux and the tragic Paris-to-Madrid race in 1903," writes Mark Dill on TheFirstSuperSpeedway.com. In that race, 275 vehicles participated in a free-for-all that led to the deaths of at least eight people in multiple accidents (including spectators). Marcel Renault, co-founder of the Renault car company, was also killed in that event. The French Grand Prix staked its claim as the premier auto race in 1906.

    Indy 500

    • America answered back with the advent of what would become one of the world's supreme racing events--The Indianapolis 500. The 500 took form in 1909, with the first races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway featuring motorcycles. This was followed just days later by autos taking to the track. The first official Indy 500 occurred two years later. "In 1911, Indianapolis held its first Indy 500, with Ray Harroun winning with an average speed of 74.602 miles per hour," writes ESPN.com.

    NASCAR

    • The roots of stock car racing stretch to the era of Prohibition, when moonshiners developed speedy cars to transfer their illegal goods from place to place while outrunning the law. By the end of Prohibition, dirt track races featuring these vehicles, especially in the American south, were commonplace. "Racing at Daytona Beach, Florida started in 1936," says Michael Dregni in his book "Stock Car Racing." NASCAR (The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) was formed in 1947.

    Drivers

    • Auto racing fans have developed fierce allegiance to the men and women who steer these cars around the track. Drivers like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (killed in the 2001 Daytona 500) have achieved legendary status in racing circles. Traditionally a male-dominated genre, women drivers like Danica Patrick (who began her career in the Indy series and later moved into NASCAR) are slowly gaining prominence behind the wheel.