The month of May is an exciting time in Indianapolis, with the world’s grandest racing event bringing more than a quarter of a million fans to the Circle City each year. The Indianapolis 500 is affectionately referred to as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and there’s no doubt as to why. In the more than 100 years since the race’s first laps were run in 1911, the event has evolved to include not only the most theatrical pre-race ceremonies for the race itself, but a celebration that includes events during the entire month leading up to race day.
The History of the Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500 became a staple of Memorial Day (or Decoration Day as it was known until 1971) and eventually the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend when the race was moved to that day beginning in 1974 to ensure it was always on a weekend. Since the start of the first race, it has had 75 different winners, with 20 (or 21 as the most dedicated Indy 500 fans would argue) drivers winning at least twice, 10 drivers winning at least three times, and 4 drivers winning four times (considered by many to be the “Mt. Rushmore of the Indianapolis 500”). It has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, and now three global pandemics, even if just barely. It has survived through 20 US Presidents, 25 iterations of summer Olympic games, and 6 NASA manned missions to the moon. But through the 107 races the Speedway has hosted, it has only changed hands in ownership three times, which some might consider the most remarkable Indianapolis Motor Speedway statistic of them all. While Wilbur Shaw may have been the original savior of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1940s, if not for the current owner, Roger Penske, having purchased it from the Hulman-George family in 2019, it is very likely that the race would not have survived the COVID-19 pandemic, as Penske has proven to have the financial fortitude to survive the revenue losses from multiple years with races being run without fans in attendance. Penske made it possible to continue a tradition that fans and the city of Indianapolis crave at their core.
This May that tradition will see another race added to the string of more than 100 races. In those 107 races there have been so many spectacular moments, moments when drivers became icons, moments when icons became legends. And this year that tradition continues as IMS welcomes a crowd of nearly 400,000 fans “Back Home Again” to witness the spectacle that is the Indianapolis 500.
If you’re interested in flying privately to Indianapolis for the Indy 500, book private jet charter with Jet Access and experience seamless travel from the runway to the speedway. Book a flight
Blog written by Ryan Hamilton, Jet Access team member.
