Indianapolis 500 facts for kids

The Indianapolis 500 is an automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, which is near Indianapolis, Indiana. It is one of the biggest racing events in the world. Every year more than 200,000 people come there to watch the race. It occurs once a year on the day before Memorial Day. This event gives its name to the IndyCar class, a type of open-wheel race car that races in it. Fans of this race sometimes call the race the Indy 500.

History

The early years

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex was built in 1909 as a gravel-and-tar track and hosted an assortment of small events, including ones for motorcycles.

Images for kids

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Joe Dawson winning the 1912 Indianapolis 500
The Mercedes-Benz W154 entered by Don Lee at the 1947 Indianapolis 500 with Duke Nalon as driver
Emerson Fittipaldi driving the Penske PC-23 at the 1994 event
The Chrysler 300 pace setter used in 1963 in the 47th running of the Indianapolis 500
Danica Patrick on Pole Day at Indy, 2007
The Borg-Warner Trophy presented to Indy 500 winners in victory lane, otherwise on permanent display at the Hall of Fame Museum
The starting field of the 2007 Indianapolis 500 in formation before the start
Hélio Castroneves, winner in 2001, 2002 and 2009
Penske PC-23 Mercedes, 1994 winning car
Scott Dixon makes his pole-winning qualification run for the 2008 Indianapolis 500
An IndyCar on the Indiana state quarter
2011 winner Dan Wheldon holding a bottle of milk