200 laps. 500 miles. 235mph. All cumulating in one bottle of cold milk and a rather large paycheck! First ran in 1911, the Indy 500 has grown to become one of the most famous races in Motorsports and is part of the prestigious Triple Crown, along with the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The origins of the Indy 500 date back to 1909 when the now famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built. Initially it was a gravel-and-tar track but this caused huge problems in the long distance races as the gravel and tar broke apart and caused multiple deaths. However, the early races had been a success and with tens of thousands of paying customers attending, this then persuaded the owner Carl G. Fisher to re pave the whole track with 3.2 million bricks. “The Brickyard” as it has since become known, is born!
Formula One fans will notice a similarity between the cars and they are in the sense that they are both open wheel racers with a similar visual appearance. However, they are very different in their specification and rules. Unlike F1, IndyCar runs the same chassis with only two engine manufacturers (Honda and Chevrolet). The aerodynamic kits are unique depending on the engine supplier however the cars across the field are on a much more level playing field than in Formula One. For instance, in their respective 2019 seasons, IndyCar had 7 different winners of races out of 17 events, whereas Formula One only had 5 different winners in 21 races.
Despite a postponement this year to August due to Covid-19, the Indy will return to it’s traditional slot next year over Memorial Day weekend in late May, Indianapolis as a city and the Motor Speedway provide the perfect setting to take in the celebrations with 300,000 other petrol heads. Our packages include a perfectly located downtown hotel that also provides a viewing party of the Indy 500 parade on the Saturday. Then head to the track on Sunday with transfers included to experience the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500! If that’s not enough, you’ll also get admission to the Indy Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, a must visit attraction for all Motorsports fans alike.
Whether you’re an IndyCar nut already or a Motorsports fan in general, the Indy 500 should be on your bucket list. If you want to head to Indianapolis in 2021 to see what is considered “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” then get in touch and we will make it happen!
