You do not need to be a pro racer to know about the Indy 500. It was the year of 1906 when the Indiana auto dealer Carl Fisher started to build a private auto testing facility. In 1911 he decided to host one race a year but make it the biggest racing event in the US. It was a huge success and by 1920 the track had become a place for the most expensive cars.
The last race that took place in May 2019 was the 103rd running of the Indy 500. 33 drivers competed at speeds over 220 mph on the oval track. Since there can only be 33 cars, drivers must first go through qualifying to prove that they are competitive.
But the prize is always worth it. The winner gets the gigantic Borg-Warner Trophy that was first introduced in 1936. Here are 15 fast facts about the Indy 500 that will make you want to burn rubber.
15 Celebrity Pace Car
It's one of the many traditions to have a pace car usually driven by a celebrity. It leads the cars around the track at the beginning. In 1971 this tradition almost ended in tragedy when the brakes on the pace car went out. The car with a legendary astronaut John Glenn crashed into a stand.
14 Winners Drink Milk
In 1936 Louis Mayer asked for a bottle of buttermilk milk after he won the race for the 3rd time. This moment was captured in a photo and became iconic. Since 1956, the winner traditionally drinks milk in Victory Lane. Nowadays, drivers even have a choice of skimmed, whole, or 2% milk.
13 A Flying Start Behind A Pace Car
Unlike the majority of Formula 1 races, the Indy 500 features a flying start behind a pace car. It was Carl Fisher who developed the concept. He suggested that it would be safer to lead the field on one unscored lap with a car at 40 mph and then pull the pace car into the pits.
12 .043 Second Is The Closest Margin Of Victory
Al Unser Jr holds the record for the closest victory margin at Indy when he beat Scott Goodyear by .043 seconds. That situation was like something out of a movie. Al Unser Jr. moved all over the place trying to break, and Scott Goodyear tried to find a way around Unser Jr.
11 Only One Trophy
There is only one trophy for the Indy 500, the Borg-Warner Trophy, which is handed over to the next winner every year. It's topped by a tiny statue of a naked man. It also has little carved faces of every driver who has ever won the race. It's one of the heaviest and the creepiest trophies in sports.
10 2 Drivers Lost the Lead On The 199th Lap
1999 was the unfortunate year for Robby Gordon. In the closing lap, he ran out of fuel. Kenny Bräck took the lead and won. It was also the most successful race for A. J. Foyt Enterprises. The same happened to Marco Andretti in 2006. Another driver passed him just 450 feet from the finish line.
9 The Indy 500 Is Also The Brickyard
The official nickname of the Indy 500 is the Brickyard. The name comes from how the track was initially paved with real bricks. Eventually, they were replaced with asphalt, but the speedway features a 36-inch wide brick strip at the starting line. Today, Indy 500 winners kneel and kiss these bricks after the victory.
8 The Carb Day On Friday
After drivers know who's qualified for the Indy 500 they get to practice. This always happens on Friday and the event is known as the Carb Day which is short for Carburation Day. In the past, teams used the time to calibrate the carburetors. Other people can also show up.
7 A. J. Foyt Won The Indy 500 4 Times
A. J. Foyt is an American auto racing driver who raced in dozens of motorsport genres. However, he is known for two things: a total of 159 victories throughout his career, and for being the guy who won the Indy 500 4 times. He is also the third-oldest winner of the Indy 500.
6 More Than A Race Track
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts a variety of sporting events aside from the Indy 500 such as the Verizon IndyCar Series, NASCAR, and LPGA. This is a 1 000-acre facility with the IMS Museum, EDM concerts, and a Brickyard Crossing Golf Course. You can rent a two-seat Indy car to get the most authentic experience.
5 It Takes 6 Seconds To Fill A Car With Gas
Time is a premium in the Indy 500, and the crew at the pit stop has perfected the art of filling up a car with gas in less than 6 seconds. There is even the Pit Stop Challenge that happens on Carb Day. Twelve top teams must change 4 tires and simulate a refuel.
4 The 4-Month Race
In 1981, Bobby Unser seemed to win the Indy 500 by 5.8 seconds over the second-place finisher Mario Andretti. But Andretti filed a protest, claiming that Unser should have been penalized for passing cars under a yellow flag. The case dragged on for 4 months and stated Unser's victory.
3 Billy Arnold Led 198 Laps Out Of 200
Pole position driver Billy Arnold could take the lead on lap 3 and he led the rest of the race. He got the all-time Indy 500 race record for leading a total of 198 consecutive laps. It's worth noting that he was accompanied by the pro riding mechanic Spider Matlock.
2 Best Female Finish
In 2005, Danica Patrick became the first female Indy 500 driver to take the lead. She finished in 4th place, behind Vitor Meira and Bryan Herta. Her amazing performance earned her a place in history books alongside Janet Guthrie, who was the first woman to drive in the Indy 500.
1 Sliding Out Of The Racing Lane On The Last Turn
John Randal Hildebrand was the most successful rookie during the premiere race in 2011. He stretched his fuel to last long enough to earn him a lead on the final lap. In the last turn, he slid out off the track and straight into the wall, allowing Dan Wheldon to win.