In its 115-year history, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted a race over the July 4 holiday weekend only once. After resurfacing the Speedway with brick, the owners planned four events for the 1910 racing season—races on Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends, and a 24-hour ...
Frank Wheeler
Twin Cities Motor Speedway
The success of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway had many other groups wanting to build a speedway. Carl Fisher headed a group to convert the old Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility in Brooklyn, New York. Others were building speedways in Chicago, Detroit and Cincinnati.
Two groups wanted to build a racetrack ...
Eddie Rickenbacker Purchases the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
After Frank Wheeler, one of the original founders, committed suicide on May 27, 1921, Jim Allison bought his shares making Allison the largest stockholder at 56.75%. Carl Fisher had moved to Miami Beach where he was busy developing Miami Beach and was planning an upscale development in Montauk, Long Island. ...
The IMS Pagoda
The iconic Pagoda at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a history of over 100 years. To many, seeing the Pagoda brings back a flood of memories of racing at the Speedway.
When the Speedway opened in 1909, there were two three-story buildings located at the start/finish line. The primary ...
The Borg-Warner Trophy
Part of the tradition of the Indianapolis 500 is the presentation of the Borg-Warner Trophy to the winner. The trophy has each winner’s face, name and winning year permanently etched. A silversmith is commissioned to create the new champion’s portrait in bas-relief for placement on the trophy. Sculptor Will Behrends, ...