Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Indy 500 History and Fun Facts

 Indy 500 History

It's easy to say that auto racing history is made at the Indianapolis 500. But it's probably more accurate to say auto racing history is the Indianapolis 500.

The races are legendary. The 500 miles each year are circular path to immortality for the winner. The place is hallowed ground.

No other race in the world has legends, traditions and statistics like the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Its history is rich, vast and entertaining. It is agony and ecstasy. It is triumph and tragedy.

Capture the spirit of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" by learning about its storied past, which helps you appreciate its vivid present even more.

Indy 500 Fun Facts
Some interesting, fun facts about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500:

    Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City all can fit inside the IMS oval, which covers 253 acres.
    The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, with more than 250,000 permanent seats. If the seat boards from the grandstands at IMS were laid end-to-end, they would stretch 99.5 miles.
    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.

IMS Grounds Information

    IMS total acreage: 1,025 (includes track, Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, all parking lots)
    IMS infield: 253 acres; Parking acreage: 750 acres
    26 bridges, six tunnels
    17 grandstands with a 220-acre footprint (if the seat boards were laid end-to-end, they would stretch 99.5 miles)

Indianapolis 500 Food & Beverage Information

    Coca-Cola products: More than 16,000 gallons, which would fill two tanker trucks
    Miller Lite and other beer products: More than 14,000 gallons
    Indy Dogs: If laid end-to-end, would circle the 2.5-mile IMS oval more than two times
    Bratwurst: If laid end-to-end, would circle the 2.5-mile IMS oval more than one time
    Brickyard Burgers: More than 10,000 pounds, equal to the weight of six IZOD IndyCars
    Track fries: More than 24,000 pounds, equal to the weight of an elephant
    Chicken tenders: More than 2,000 pounds, equal to the weight of 13 Borg-Warner Trophies
    Ketchup: More than 475 gallons, which would fill 10 bathtubs
    Ice: More than 300,000 pounds

Indianapolis 500 Food & Beverage Information

    Not-for-profit group and third-party vendor workers on site: More than 1,000
    IMS concession stands: 61
    IMS Margarita/Bloody Mary bars: 29
    Beer/soft drink vendors in grandstands: Approximately 100
    Ice cream/frozen lemonade locations: 44
    Pretzel/fresh-squeezed lemonade locations: 35

Indianapolis 500 Television Information

    Miles of cable run outside of the Broadcast Compound: 42
    Miles of cable run within the Broadcast Compound: 10
    Additional staff hired by IMS Productions: 223
    Worldwide television distribution of the Indianapolis 500 broadcast: 213 countries, with an audience reach of over 292 million households

Indianapolis 500 Retail Information )

    If all the post cards sold in IMS Gift Shops were laid end to end, they would span more than 3 miles
    The most popular item sold in the Gift Shops was the Indianapolis 500 Official Program
    The most expensive item in the Gift Shops: A TAG-Heuer watch, $1,450
    The least expensive item in the Gift Shops: A post card, 33 cents
    If all T-shirts sold at IMS were stretched end to end, they would reach Terre Haute, Ind.

 Miscellaneous Indianapolis 500 Information

    Firestone tires teams used throughout the month: More than 4,900
    Total laps officially completed, including all practice days and Race Day: 18,263
    Total miles officially completed, including all practice days and Race Day: 45,657.5
    Total laps officially completed in Rookie Orientation Program: 402
    Total miles officially completed in Rookie Orientation Program: 1,005

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