With the Indianapolis Motor Speedway serving as home to the world’s two largest single-day sporting events, the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, Indianapolis unquestionably is the [8220]Racing Capital of the World.[8221] Motorsports in Central Indiana is a significant local industry, paying more than $425 million in annual wages and employing nearly 9,000 workers. Add in the presence of MotoGP (coming to Indianapolis in September 2008), the National Hot Rod Association’s national drag racing championships and a full menu of stock, sprint and midget car racing, Indy is unchallenged in its passion and support for life in the fast lane.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
To test and showcase automobiles at the turn of the last century, entrepreneur Carl Graham Fisher and three other investors conceived the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and arranged for its construction. Completed in 1909 and initially paved with bricks [8212] hence, its nickname [8220]The Brickyard[8221] [8212] the 2.5 mile oval began to host automobile and motorcycle races.
Under the post-World War II ownership of Anton [8220]Tony[8221] Hulman and now his grandson, Tony George, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has grown into the largest spectator sporting facility in the world with more than 250,000 permanent seats. The speedway plays host to the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, the two largest single-day sporting events in the world.
Under the post-World War II ownership of Anton [8220]Tony[8221] Hulman and now his grandson, Tony George, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has grown into the largest spectator sporting facility in the world with more than 250,000 permanent seats. The speedway plays host to the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, the two largest single-day sporting events in the world.
The Indianapolis 500
On May 30, 1911, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the first Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. The Indianapolis 500, a part of the Indy Racing League, is widely known as [8220]The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.[8221] The next 500-mile race will run on May 24, 2009.
The 500 Festival is organized each May for a full month of celebrations honoring the Indy 500. Highlights include the country’s largest half-marathon, a downtown parade, memorial celebrations for the nation’s service men and women, Kid’s Day festivities and Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
The first Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (formerly the Brickyard 400) took place in Indianapolis in 1994 and is now one of most anticipated events in the NASCAR Spring Cup series. The 16th running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will take place July 25, 2009.
Red Bull Indianapolis GP
Motorcycle racing returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in nearly a century with the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008 for MotoGP, the world’s premier motorcycle road racing series. The first vehicles to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway were motorcycles in 1909. The inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP took place on the new 16-turn, 2.601-mile (4.186 km) motorcycle road course at the Speedway.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
O’Reilly Raceway Park
Approximately 75 cars are always on display, representing a widely diversified collection of early day passenger cars, European sports cars, motorcycles and other special interest vehicles, plus more than one-third of all the Indianapolis 500 winners, including the 1911-winning Marmon [8220]Wasp.[8221] Also on display are trophies, photographs, helmets, uniforms, goggles and other artifacts. A historic video is shown every 20 minutes in a 48-seat theater at no additional cost, while bus rides around the track are offered for an additional fee whenever the track is not in use.
Grounds Tour: Behind-the-Scenes at IMS
A unique behind-the-scenes [8220]grounds tour[8221] of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway gives unprecedented access to the Speedway’s most important landmarks, including the Gasoline Alley Suites, the four-story Media Center, the Bombardier Pagoda’s timing and scoring suite, the victory platform, the Gasoline Alley garage area and the start/finish line, where fans can stand on the famous [8220]Yard of Bricks.[8221] The 90-minute guided tour of the 2.5-mile oval offers an in-depth view of the Speedway’s evolution over the last century.
O’Reilly Raceway Park
Recently named one of the top 12 racing venues in the world by Racer magazine, the .683-mile oval features grandstand seating, 12 VIP suites, race control, a broadcast booth and pressroom. The oval plays host to a jam-packed season spanning March through November and notable series such as NASCAR’s Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series, and the ASA ACDelco Series.
The Park is home to a Labor Day weekend tradition - the NHRA’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, which feature roaring top fuel dragsters, funny cars, pro stock cars and motorcycles. More than 1,100 drag racing entries and 100,000 fans attend the richest drag racing event in the world.
Indianapolis Speedrome
Edge-of-your-seat action abounds with United States Auto Club modified competition and hair-raising World Figure 8 challenges. Don’t miss the demolition derbies or midget and pro-stock action at this east side facility that has promoted motorsports for 67 consecutive seasons.
Indiana State Fairgrounds
Used once a year for auto racing, the Indiana State Fairgrounds is part of an annual May tradition with A.J. Foyt’s Hoosier Hundred. Known as the [8220]Track of Champions,[8221] the dirt oval has seen famous drivers such as Foyt, Al Unser and Tony Stewart compete in the 100-mile event.
Gasoline Alley
Gasoline Alley, a street on Indianapolis’ west side, is one of the world’s largest auto racing industrial parks. It is home to more than 25 motorsports-related businesses including race teams, manufacturers and suppliers. The historic garage area of Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also known as [8220]Gasoline Alley.[8221]
Get in the Driver’s Seat
Participatory racing experiences put visitors in the driver’s seat!
Sinden Racing Series
During this once-in-a-lifetime experience, an Indy Racing League driver pilots an IndyCar that’s been specially built with a second seat. Participants are strapped into the ‘backseat’ and taken for a fast-paced spin around the 2 ½ -mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lap speeds approach an average of 180 miles an hour!
Fastimes Indoor Karting
Race European-style karts at speeds in excess of 40 mph at the Midwest’s only indoor, two-level track. Both the young and the young-at-heart will enjoy this heart-stopping racing excitement!
Richard Petty Driving Experience
The Richard Petty Driving Experience takes participants one step closer to the first-hand experience and thrill of stock car racing. Choose from the Ride-Along experience or get behind the wheel for some intense laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Flag to flag, participants feel the heat of side-by-side racing, drafting, passing, pit stops and more!
Track Attack
Receive high speed driver training from professional racing instructors at this specialized racing school. Learn racing basics and the fundamentals of driving a race car. Then, hop inside a closed-wheel, open-cockpit racing car and fly through a half-mile, six-turn road course!
Whiteland Raceway Park
Built in 1958, this outdoor track is the oldest karting track in the country. Many professional drivers got their start at Whiteland Raceway Park, including Tony Stewart and John Andretti. Visitors can rent a kart by a single ride or by the hour and may even see an IndyCar vet taking a few laps!
