2008 Indy 500 - It’s all about Speed and Curves
November 1, 2007 – 1:55 amThe Indy 500 or the Indianapolis 500 is an IndyCar race seeped in tradition. It is one of the oldest and richest motorsport events and one of the three most important race events in existence, with one of the largest attendances and radio and television audiences, of any single-day sporting event worldwide. While the official attendance is not disclosed by Speedway management, the media estimate is an attendance of over 270,000.
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, is historically known, simply, as ‘The 500′. It is an American automobile race, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The event lends its name to the ‘IndyCar’ class of formula race cars that have competed in it.
The first Indy500
The first ‘500′ was held at the Speedway on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911. Ray Harroun bested the other 39 drivers in the field, winning the race with an average speed of 74.59 miles-per-hour in 6 hours and 42 minutes. Following several lean years and the suspension of racing during World War II, the track was sold to Anton Hulman Jr. in 1945. He spent millions of dollars improving the facility and turned the Indianapolis 500 into one of the greatest races ever.
Despite rain delays, deaths and a power struggle in auto racing circles, there has been an Indianapolis 500 each year since 1946.
Some past Indy 500 winners
- 2000 Juan Montoya
- 2001 Helio Castroneves
- 2002 Helio Castroneves
- 2003 Gil de Ferran
- 2004 Buddy Rice
- 2005 Dan Wheldon
- 2006 Sam Hornish Jr.
- 2007 Dario Franchitti
Indy 500 in the glamor world
The Indy 500 has been the subject of various films. Some of them are :
- Speedway (1929)
- The Big Wheel (1949)
- Winning (1969)
- To Please a Lady (1950)
- Roar of the Crowd (1953)
2008 Indy 500
On Sunday, May 25, 2008, the traditional Indianapolis 500 will be raced for the 92nd time. As always the venue will be the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It will mark the 63rd consecutive year of uninterrupted occurrence of the Indy 500.
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