INDIANAPOLIS 500

byname Indy 500, U.S. automobile race held annually from 1911, except for the war years 191718 and 194245, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, near Indianapolis, Ind. It was originally run on Memorial Day, May 30, but later began taking place on the preceding Saturday or Sunday. The track was designed in 1909, but before the first race it was paved with brick. Resurfacing with asphalt in 1935 and 1962 covered all but a historical 91 cm (36 in.) strip of the bricks. The 4.023-km (2 1/2-mi) track has two 1,006-m (1,110-yd) straightaways, two 402-m (about 440-yd) straightaways, and four equally banked quarter-mile turns. From 1912 (except for 193133), 33 cars, qualified with the best times in four-lap trials, have started three abreast. Riding mechanics were mandatory only in the 1930s. In 192236 Miller and Duesenberg cars had a near monopoly on winning, and U.S. drivers prevailed. European cars and drivers had been well represented in the earlier races. After World War II, cars became more highly specialized. Prize money (including lap money) had by the 1980s exceeded $1,500,000. Crowds in the augmented grandstand and infield reached 300,000. The race was supervised from 1956 by the United States Auto Club and before that by the American Automobile Association.