by Alex Johnston
The incredible history that surrounds the Indy 500 is part of the allure ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ holds when the event comes round each year. The 108th running of the 500 takes place this month but just what is so good about it? In this piece, I’ll take you through the milk, the bricks and the history of one of the jewels of the coveted Triple Crown.
The Circuit
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana is a multi track mostly known for the 2.4 mile long ‘Road Course’ and the 2.5 mile ‘Rectangular Oval’, the famous circuit used for the Indy 500.
📸 The main straight.
The notable aspect of the course is the start-finish line, a yard of bricks, the last remaining of the original surface of the circuit which was paved with bricks at the inception of the track in 1909, but is now just the single yard after resurfacing in 1961. The term ‘The Brickyard’, which the circuit is often referred to, is taken from the original track surface.
The other notable aspect is the famous banking on the circuit. The circuit feature 9.2° banking, which presents a challenge for drivers and creates opportunities for building further pace. For context, the Arie Luyendykbocht corner - or the final corner - at Zandvoort is banked at 18°, double that of Indianapolis.
The Milk
The winner of the Indy 500 is treated to their choice of milk as part of the celebrations - a tradition started in 1936 by winner Louis Meyer who requested buttermilk in Victory Lane because his mother told him it would refresh him on a hot day! A executive within America’s dairy industry saw a marketing opportunity and since 1956 - milk has been a fixture in the celebrations.
Drivers are offered 2%, skim or whole milk. Just one driver (slightly) veered away from the tradition - Emmerson Fittipaldi in 1993 - choosing to chug orange juice, before a traditional milk chaser. Absolutely disgusting combo Emmo, I’m sure you can still taste it today.
📸 Emerson Fittipaldi bucks the trend with orange juice.
The Grid
There are 33 entries allowed for the race as has been standard since 1911. This plan was to allow a safe distance between the cars of 400 feet, allowing all 33 cars to run. This number has changed just twice, going up to 35 in 1979 and 1997.
📸 33 cars is the ‘set in stone’ number allowed in the Indy 500.
The Triple Crown
Just one driver still holds the triple crown - Graham Hill. The Triple Crown consists of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, a win at the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500. Fernando Alonso attempted to complete the crown in 2017 with McLaren but failed.
📸 Fernando Alonso has entered the Indy 500 three times, with a best qualifying of fifth, but has failed to qualify once.
The record holders
First winner: Ray Harroun - 1911 - 6h 42m 08s.
📸 The first ever Indy 500 winning car.
Last winner: Josef Newgarden - 2023 - 2h 58m 21.9611s.
📸 Reigning 500 winner, Josef Newgarden.
A.J Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves have each won the 500 on four occasions, the most of any driver.
📸 Rick Mears.
Arie Luyendyk holds the qualifying lap record of 0.37.895s.
📸 Arie Luyendyk, ‘The Flying Dutchman’.
Eddie Cheever holds the race lap record of 0.38.119s.
Alex Palou holds the pole run record, which 2m 33.7037s.
📸 Alex Palou.
Rick Mears has six pole positions, the most of any entrant.
Despite leading the most laps in Indy 500 history - 665 - Scott Dixon has just one victory in the 500.
📸 Probably IndyCar’s greatest ever driver has just one Indy 500 title to his name.
Miscellany
The ‘500’ came from the fact that 500 miles was originally long enough to race before it got dark.
Rain = no racing. Safety standards don’t allow for wet racing on ANY oval, not just for the 500.
No lengthy late ‘full course caution’. In the event of late accidents, a red flag can be thrown and a restart can take place - as seen in the last two events.
📸 Image credits: NTT IndyCar Series, Arrow McLaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, Sky Sports, Formula Motosport Limited.
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