The History of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race

The Indianapolis 500 auto race, or the Indy 500, is a 500-mile American automobile race that takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Drivers compete in Indy Car class or open-wheel cars, which are not the same as the cars we drive on open roads. The Indy 500 is one of the oldest automobile races in the world and has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious car races of all time.

  1. Founding

    • In 1906, Carl Graham Fisher, an ex-bicycle racer and automobile dealer, founded the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The original track was made of 3.2 million bricks. A 3-foot-wide strip of bricks still marks the start/finish line. The entire track is 21/2 miles long, and to complete the 500-mile race, drivers circle the track 200 times.

    First Race

    • After trying to promote many other races, including motorcycle and balloon racing, Fisher and his partners decided to establish an automobile race that would take both endurance and speed. The first Indy 500 was born in 1911. After rejecting cars that were too slow or not up to the required mechanical standards, 40 contestants entered into the first Indy 500. The first winner was Ray Harroun, but because of a gap in scoring because of a multi-car accident mid-race, second-place finisher Ralph Mulford went on believing he was the rightful winner of the race until the day he died.

    Post-war Racing

    • The race has taken place every year since its inception, except during the war years of 1917-18 and 1942-45. By 1945, the Speedway was a ghost town and the track was overrun with weeds. In 1945, three-time race winner Wilbur Shaw partnered up with Indianapolis investment banker Homer Cochran, and together they convinced Tony Hulman to buy the Speedway for $750,000. Hulman ran the Speedway for the next 30 years until his death in 1977. The Speedway remains the property of the Hulman family.

    Renovations

    • In 1956, the Speedway underwent major renovations, including adding a control tower, thousands on infield seats, a tunnel under the backstretch and a safer pit area that was protected by a wall. That year also marked the establishment of The 500 Festival, which celebrated the race with a parade and mini-marathon in downtown Indianapolis.

    Deaths

    • Over the years, at least twelve different drivers have been killed during the Indy 500 race. And at least 23 drivers were killed during practice or qualifiers. But the Indy 500 is dangerous for more than just drivers. At least 14 crew members have been killed during the race, as well as eight spectators. Another bystander, Wilbur Brink, was killed in 1931 outside the track when a tire from a collision flew over the fence and landed on him.

    Winners

    • The following is a list of Indy 500 winners through 2009:
      1911 - Ray Harroun?
      1912 - Joe Dawson?
      1913 - Jules Goux?
      1914 - Rene Thomas?
      1915 - Ralph DePalma?
      1916 - Dario Resta?
      1919 - Howard Wilcox?
      1920 - Gaston Chevrolet?
      1921 - Tommy Milton?
      1922 - Jimmy Murphy?
      1923 - Tommy Milton?
      1924 - L.L.Corum and Joe Boyer?
      1925 - Pete DePaolo?
      1926 - Frank Lockhart?
      1927 - George Souders?
      1928 - Louis Meyer?
      1929 - Ray Keech?
      1930 - Billy Arnold?
      1931 - Louis Schneider?
      1932 - Fred Frame?
      1933 - Louis Meyer?
      1934 - Bill Cummings?
      1935 - Kelly Petillo?
      1936 - Louis Meyer?
      1937 - Wilbur Shaw?
      1938 - Floyd Roberts?
      1939 - Wilbur Shaw?
      1940 - Wilbur Shaw
      1941 - Floyd Davis, Mauri Rose?
      1946 - George Robson?
      1947 - Mauri Rose?
      1948 - Mauri Rose?
      1949 - Bill Holland?
      1950 - Johnnie Parsons?
      1951 - Lee Wallard?
      1952 - Troy Ruttman?
      1953 - Bill Vukovich Sr.?
      1954 - Bill Vukovich Sr.?
      1955 - Bob Sweikert?
      1956 - Pat Flaherty?
      1957 - Sam Hanks?
      1958 - Jimmy Bryan?
      1959 - Rodger Ward?
      1960 - Jim Rathmann?
      1961 - A.J. Foyt?
      1962 - Rodger Ward?
      1963 - Parnelli Jones?
      1964 - A.J. Foyt?
      1965 - Jimmy Clark?
      1966 - Graham Hill?
      1967 - A.J. Foyt?
      1968 - Bobby Unser?
      1969 - Mario Andretti?
      1970 - Al Unser Sr.?
      1971 - Al Unser Sr.?
      1972 - Mark Donohue?
      1973 - Gordon Johncock?
      1974 - Johnny Rutherford?
      1975 - Bobby Unser?
      1976 - Johnny Rutherford?
      1977 - A.J. Foyt?
      1978 - Al Unser Sr.?
      1979 - Rick Mears?
      1980 - Johnny Rutherford?
      1981 - Bobby Unser?
      1982 - Gordon Johncock?
      1983 - Tom Sneva?
      1984 - Rick Mears?
      1985 - Danny Sullivan?
      1986 - Bobby Rahal?
      1987 - Al Unser Sr.?
      1988 - Rick Mears?
      1989 - Emerson Fittipaldi?
      1990 - Arie Luyendyk?
      1991 - Rick Mears?
      1992 - Al Unser Jr.?
      1993 - Emerson Fittipaldi?
      1994 - Al Unser Jr.?
      1995 - Jacques Villeneuve?
      1996 - Buddy Lazier?
      1997 - Arie Luyendyk?
      1998 - Eddie Cheever?
      1999 - Kenny Brack?
      2000 - Juan Montoya?
      2001 - Helio Castroneves?
      2002 - Helio Castroneves?
      2003 - Gil de Ferran?
      2004 - Buddy Rice?
      2005 - Dan Wheldon?
      2006 - Sam Hornish Jr.?
      2007 - Dario Franchitti
      2008 – Scott Dixon
      2009 - Hélio Castroneves