“The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”

Joe Dawson Wins 1912 Indy 500- Photo Library of Congress©

Once again it’s May in Indiana…time to ask those gentlemen…and ladies…to start their engines!

The Indianapolis 500 a.k.a. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” has now been thrilling race fans for a century. The 500 mile race is held annually over Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The first Indy 500 was held on Memorial Day May 30, 1911 with driver Ray Harroun taking home the then enormous prize of $25,000! Harroun’s Marmon Model 32-based Wasp racer was outfitted with his invention, the rear view mirror.

The Indy 500 is a nationally known event attended by hundreds of thousands of race fans each year and it is one of the highlights of Hoosiers as the entire month of May is celebrated in numerous events held at the track throughout the month of May. There’s no better place to be for race fans than Indianaolis in the month of May.

This year, the Official Pace Car (2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible) will be driven by global icon Donald Trump. The 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, “The Most Important Race in History,” starts at noon (ET) Sunday, May 29 and will be televised on ABC for the 47th consecutive year.

Mark S. Orr