There was a time when Indianapolis was known as the ‘Speedway Capital of the World.’ It was once home to the Indianapolis 500, the greatest single-day racing event in history. Today, the city is still famous for its racing culture and the annual Indianapolis 500 Festival, which celebrates everything there is to love about motor racing.
The Indianapolis 500 Festival is now in its 90th year and, this year, it’s set to be the biggest and the best ever. This June, more than 20,000 fans will descend upon the city for a five-day period and there will be plenty to see and do, including a major motorsport event and the opportunity to catch some great racing.
The speedway‘s centennial anniversary is also this year. The sport’s most famous oval was originally built by and for auto manufacturers and this year will mark its 100th anniversary of serving that purpose. With all these great events, it’s sure to be a celebration to remember. Just don’t expect the weather to cooperate too much!
When it comes to major sporting events, few cities can rival the atmosphere and excitement in and around Indianapolis. The speedway has always been synonymous with stock car racing and, even today, the Indianapolis 500 Festival continues to this day to be the biggest and the best annual motorsport event in the world. The city itself has a unique and vibrant culture that is uniquely American, which is reflected in its hospitality and friendliness toward others. It would be a great place to visit and, for a race fan, it’s a dream venue.
The End Of An Era
Now, however, times are a’changing. There was a time when the Indianapolis 500 was the premier event of the motorsport calendar, drawing in huge crowds and earning the city a place on the motorsport map. Today, the Indianapolis 500 is a memory. The NASCAR season is now underway and the hype and excitement surrounding the upcoming IndyCar season is unprecedented. There is now even a Grand Prix of Indy, an open-wheel race, to add to the already existing Indy 500 Festival. This weekend also marks the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500, making it arguably the most important race of the year. That’s a lot of significance for one single event.
It would be accurate to say that today, the Indianapolis 500 is an event held in honor of the legendary 500-mile race that was first held in 1916. It’s a shame that the city’s biggest event has been reduced to a mere commemoration, held every year on the same weekend as the 100th anniversary of the original race. It’s no longer considered the centerpiece of the motorsport calendar. It’s not even considered a major event. The city of Indianapolis has, over time, reduced the prestige of their biggest annual sporting event, which is a huge shame.
Why The Change?
Let’s be frank here: The Indianapolis 500 has always been a rather odd event. Sure, it’s a prestigious motor racing event, drawing thousands of people, but it doesn’t really offer the best viewing experience, especially when compared to today’s modern attractions. In the age of social media and live streaming, people want to be able to share their experiences with friends and family, who then want to come out and see the action for themselves. The fact that it’s been reduced to a glorified test event, one that’s limited to 500 miles, doesn’t exactly do the city’s image any favors, either. It’s a damn shame that, considering the grandiose size and scope of the city’s main square, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that the city’s biggest annual sporting event has been reduced to a rather unimpressive, almost pathetic, 500-mile spectacle. It’s clear that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wants nothing to do with the Indianapolis 500 anymore and it’s abundantly clear that this is a marketing decision, made to raise awareness not just for the 2019 festival, but for all future events, too.
The Future Of The Races
It’s rather hard to put into words the disappointment that I feel, as a proud American and former resident of the city, that the Indianapolis 500 Festival has become an afterthought, when compared to some of the other events in the city’s prestigious calendar. Sure, the annual IndyCar race will always hold a special place in the hearts of every racing fan, but it doesn’t hold the same place as the other events that have been added to the festival’s line-up, including the Indy 500, which serves as its centerpiece. Let’s be frank here: The original plan was to have four straight days of festival activities, starting with the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 in mid-June, followed by the 125th anniversary of the IndyCar race in early August, the 150th anniversary of the Indy 500 in 2022 and the 200th anniversary of the IndyCar race, in 2027.
By having these additional events, the city has diluted the significance of the festival’s original race. It’s a damn shame that, considering the grandiose size and scope of the city’s main square, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that the city’s biggest annual sporting event has been reduced to a rather unimpressive, almost pathetic, 500-mile spectacle. It’s clear that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway wants nothing to do with the Indianapolis 500 anymore and it’s abundantly clear that this is a marketing decision, made to raise awareness not just for the 2019 festival, but for all future events, too.
Raising Awareness
The city’s mayor, Bart Stindler, had this to say about the move: “The recent decision by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to pull out of the annual Indy 500 Festival was a difficult one, as it was a pleasure to host the world’s greatest racing fans at the 2017 festival. However, as we move toward the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500, it’s clear that the need for new marketing opportunities exceeds the desire to continue with the existing format. I’m pleased that the 2021 festival will once again honor the legacy of the Indy 500 and its impact on the city, as well as provide fans and participants with the best possible experience.”
Hindsight Is 20/20
Even today, as I write these words, it’s two weeks before the start of the Indy 500 Festival and I still can’t believe that, just two weeks from now, I’ll be standing at the starting line, once again, awaiting the green flag. The countdown has begun and, like every year, my hopes and dreams of seeing my beloved Indianapolis take the checkered flag again are once again alive and well. Like every year, I’m dreading the long, hot summer days and looking forward to racing, once again, against some of the best drivers in the world. It’s truly a blessing that, even today, the city’s biggest event still has the power to excite and, perhaps, even disappoint, as well. Looking back, it’s rather hard to say if my 2016 excursion was the beginning of the end or the beginning of something new. It’s rather fitting that these are almost the exact same words that Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, used when he asked, “Is this the best you can do?” When he said it, he probably wasn’t thinking about motor racing, but it certainly applies here.