History of Indianapolis Motor Speedway

     The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is located in Speedway, IN. The IMS is home of the Indianapolis 500, a 500 mile race, and the Brickyard 400. The racetrack was founded by Carl G. Fisher with help from Arthur C. Newby, Frank H. Wheeler, and James A. Allison in 1906. By 1909, the track was finished. On August 19, 1909, the first race at IMS was held. The original idea for the 328 acre plot of previous farmland, was to use the facility as a testing ground for the sate's thriving car industry. Only a few races a year were planned. Each car manufacturer would have their own race team. However, the first race proved to be a disaster with the pavement crumbling underneath the tires as the race went on. The material caused the death of two mechanics, two drivers, and two spectators. Carl Fisher was appalled. The citizens of the town wanted the track to be ripped apart completely. Instead, Fisher repaved it with 3.2 million paving bricks. The track became an instant success after the modifacations. Ray Haroun was the first man to win the Indy 500. He was also the only car in 1911 that ran with only a driver and not a mechanic. Ever since that 1911 race on August 19, the Indiapolis Motor Speedway has been a sports attraction to fans all over the world.