The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most iconic tracks of all time. A Mecca for motorsport fans, the track welcomes thousands of visitors every year. It is also one of the most well-known tracks in the world due to its unique design that encourages various types of racing. For years, speculation has swirled as to how wide the track actually is. Few have had the courage to actually measure it, and fewer still have had the imagination to visualize what it might look like. Thanks to the wonders of the digital age, we are finally able to answer this age-old question. Thanks to Google Earth and the amazing folks over at Stamen Maps, we were able to create an image that is both beautiful and breathtaking in its detail. Before we get into it, let’s take a quick look back at the history of the track.
A Brief History Of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway began in 1911 when two men decided to build a track in what was then considered rural central Indiana. One of the first permanent sports arenas in the world, the track initially hosted automobile racing events like those we know and love today. The track was originally known as the Indy 500 mile race until it became popularly known as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was originally designed as a 1.25-mile oval, though over the years the track was extended to a mile and a quarter and was redesigned into its current configuration. It would later be the site of the Brawner Homestead 4-H School Restoration Project in 2010. Today, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still owned by the descendants of the men who originally founded it, and it is still home to the Indianapolis 500, the premier event of the Indy car racing season. While much has remained the same, the world of motorsport has changed dramatically. For example, back in 1911, auto racing was considered sport and even those in the know had never really given it much thought. Today, the entire industry has become a multi-billion dollar business.
The Imagination Of A Genius
We often think of geniuses as being people with exceptional IQs that can accomplish amazing things. However, the real genius behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was someone else entirely. While the two men that founded the track were indeed very intelligent, they were not the ones who had the genius idea of having a race track there. That person was Arthur Frommer, a renowned travel agent who at the time was interested in expanding his business to include sports entertainment. It was he who envisioned a sports arena that could become the Mecca of sports fans. He also believed that people would flock there to see the exciting sports events that were being held there. He was right on both counts. The first sporting event held at the track was a rodeo in 1912. It was not until several years later that any sort of motorsport events were held there. The track continued to be used for various types of racing and entertainment events until the 1950s when serious automobile races were halted due to car safety concerns. At the time, the track was deemed unsafe due to the lack of safety devices or walls that would prevent accidents. A year later, the Indy 500 was revived and has remained a staple of the racing calendar ever since. While little has changed at the track over the years, our modern understanding and appreciation of how wide it is has come about thanks to the genius of a single person; Arthur Frommer.
A Sprawling Yacht Club
If you happen to be a billionaire and the owner of a yacht club, you no doubt have the resources to do whatever you desire. In the case of the wealthy gentlemen who founded the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, they had the desire to create the ultimate sporting arena – one that could accommodate the crowds that they believed would come to see them and their friends race. It was he who spent countless hours drawing up plans and specifications for what was to become one of the great landmarks of the 20th century. With the help of over 300 laborers and 20,000 sq ft of fencing, the boys at the Indy Motor Speedway built what is widely considered to be the greatest sports arena of all time. Even today, it is difficult to put into words the feeling that one gets when walking around the place. It still amazes me that men of such means would build something that was not only functional but also turned out to be something that could be considered artistic. As if building the greatest sports arena of all time and continuing to expand it was not enough, these men also had the desire to create a place where they could enjoy high-quality drinks and dinner. To this day, the yacht club continues to this day with a lavish dinner service and some of the best drinks in the area. You can visit the place for yourself if you ever get the chance. It is well worth the effort.
The legend of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway lives on today mostly because it is such an amazing place. It is estimated that over 1.5 million people visit the track each year, creating one of the largest crowds at any sports arena in the world. This is in part because the track continues to attract racing fans from around the world, but mainly because it is just such an amazing structure that people feel a need to go there. I still remember the first time that I went there. I was only 12 years old, but it is etched in my memory as if it were yesterday. It was raining, and I was forced to take cover under the awning of a nearby restaurant. As I watched the cars go racing by, I couldn’t help but get a little wet. It really is an amazing sight to behold. Even now, as I write this, it is raining outside and the sound of thunder rolling across the sky makes it almost seem as if we are there again. It is truly incredible how much the world has changed, yet the track has remained the same. While technology has moved forward, creating a more convenient world for us, the Indy 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway continue to embrace the spirit of the original founders and keep it alive today.