Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Track Info

Location	Speedway, Indiana
Type	Rectangular Oval
Length	2.5 miles (4.023 km)
Turns	4
Surface	Asphalt (with original brick start/finish line)
Banking	9 degrees, 12 minutes in all four turns
Capacity	257,325 permanent seats (~400,000 with infield)
Opened	1909

Track Characteristics

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the most famous racetrack in the world. With 257,325 permanent seats and infield capacity that brings the total to approximately 400,000 spectators, it is the largest sporting venue on Earth. The 2.5-mile rectangular oval has remained essentially unchanged since its construction in 1909, and every year on the last Sunday of May, it hosts the Indianapolis 500, the greatest spectacle in racing.

The four turns may appear identical from above, but they are anything but equal in practice. Each turn has its own personality due to wind patterns, sun exposure, surface temperature variations, and the subtle differences in how the car loads through each corner. Getting comfortable in all four turns at 230+ mph is one of the most demanding challenges in motorsport. The long straights produce incredible drafting battles, and the relatively low 9-degree banking means drivers must manage enormous loads through the corners.

The Speedway's famous "Brickyard" nickname comes from its original surface: 3.2 million 10-pound paving bricks laid in 1909. Today, a 36-inch strip of the original bricks remains exposed at the start/finish line, and winners traditionally kiss these bricks in celebration. The facility is more than a racetrack - it is a cathedral of motorsport, with over a century of history woven into every inch of its grounds.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Indianapolis International Airport (IND) - approximately 15 minutes southwest. Be aware that flights book up months in advance for the Indianapolis 500.
Nearest City	Speedway, IN. Downtown Indianapolis is about 10 minutes east. The town of Speedway has its own restaurants, bars, and hotels along Main Street.

Series That Race Here

• NTT IndyCar Series - Home of the Indianapolis 500 since 1911
• Indy NXT by Firestone - Freedom 100 on Carb Day
• NASCAR Cup Series - Brickyard 400 (1994-2020, oval), road course (2021-2024)
• Historic: Formula One (2000-2007 United States Grand Prix), MotoGP (2008-2015)

2026 Event Info

Race Name	110th Indianapolis 500
Round	7 of 17
Date	May 24, 2026 (Sunday of Memorial Day weekend)
TV	FOX (extended 6-hour broadcast starting 10:00 AM ET)
Race Time	~12:45 PM ET (green flag)
Distance	500 miles (200 laps)
Qualifying	4-lap qualifying runs (2 weekends before race); Bump Day for final spots
Field Size	33 cars

Track Record

1-Lap Qualifying	237.498 mph
Record Holder	Arie Luyendyk
Year	1996
4-Lap Qualifying	236.986 mph (Arie Luyendyk, 1996)

Notable Past Races

• 2025: The 109th Indianapolis 500 continued the tradition of dramatic finishes that make this the greatest race in the world.
• 2024: Josef Newgarden won his second consecutive Indianapolis 500, joining an elite group of back-to-back winners in the race's storied history.
• 2019: Simon Pagenaud chased down Alexander Rossi in the closing laps in one of the most thrilling finishes in 500 history, winning with a last-lap pass.
• 2011: The 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500. Dan Wheldon won from the back of the field in a poignant victory that became even more emotional after his tragic death later that year at Las Vegas.
• 1992: Al Unser Jr. edged Scott Goodyear by 0.043 seconds in the closest finish in 500 history, a margin so slim that photo finish technology was required.

Track Facts

• The entire facility, including the grandstands, could fit the Roman Colosseum, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, Churchill Downs, and the Vatican City inside its grounds simultaneously.
• The original 3.2 million paving bricks were laid in 1909 in just 63 days. A 36-inch strip of original bricks remains exposed at the start/finish line.
• Winners drink milk in Victory Lane, a tradition that began when Louis Meyer requested buttermilk after winning the 1936 race.
• The Speedway is the third-oldest permanent automobile racing facility in the world, behind Brooklands (1907) and the Milwaukee Mile (1903).
• The Indianapolis 500 is the largest single-day sporting event in the world, with estimated attendance exceeding 300,000 on race day.

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