A Day At The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Track ~ Part 3 ~ "Facts & Trivia" (Driven Tour)

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an American icon and the world's greatest racecourse. With more than 260,000 permanent seats, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also the world's largest seating facility. Since its opening, the Speedway has been a proving ground for automobiles and an important factor in the development of the present-day automobile. The Speedway also has been the scene of 94 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races, 17 Brickyard 400 NASCAR events, eight United States Grand Prix Formula One events and 3 Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP races, playing host to some of the biggest names in racing history.

The first event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a helium gas-filled balloon competition on Saturday, June 5, 1909, more than two months before the oval was completed.

In a span of 63 days in fall 1909, 3.2 million paving bricks, each weighing 9.5 pounds, were laid on top of the original surface of crushed rock and tar to upgrade the Speedway. Asphalt gradually was added to various section of the brick surface, with patches added to rougher sections of the turns in 1936 and all turns being completely paved with asphalt in 1937. In 1938, the entire track was paved with asphalt except for the middle portion of the front straightaway. In October 1961, the remaining bricks on the front straightaway were covered with asphalt. A 36-inch strip of the original bricks was kept intact at the start/finish line, where it remains today as the fabled Yard of Bricks.

The Pagoda is one of the most recognizable structures at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in worldwide motorsports. It was built during the massive construction project from 1998-2000 at IMS that included the original, 2.605-mile road course, Formula One-style pit side garages and media center. The Pagoda towers in its magnificence centered on the start-finish line. It has nine tiers or viewing levels and reaches a height of 153 feet, equal to a 13-story building. The flagpole on top extends to 199 feet. The glass panels facing the main straightaway were specially built in England. Housed in the new Pagoda are state-of-the-art facilities for race control, safety, timing and scoring and radio broadcast booths.

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[2306Punky]

Great video Indy,thank you...It's not France my friend.

[ImHiYrStnd]

@2306Punky Thank you Sylvie :)

[Pensygirl54]

Wow this is a great video Indy !!!! Very Amazing Place hope some day I can visit this place !!!!! Thanks for sharing it with me !!!!!

[SOAPBOX1965]

INDY YOU ARE THE MAN!!

[ALBINOSSMALLBIGCATS]

Thanks buddy for your love and support , i have been offline because i changed all my electronics but now i am back again and thanks for sharing your awesome videos. Johnny .

[austinsplace1]

So you all had a brick kissing time. A lot of history there.

Bear

[ElvisGraceland77]

great tour video

[jasminequeentagaholi]

you kissed the bricks and your son did awesome Indy

awesome bloody awesome Indy

hugs kisses

[hysonly]

Interesting..great vid :)

[klenovsky1]

Thanks Indy !!!!