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- National Race Car Driven by Howdy Wilcox at the 1911 Indianapolis 500 Race, Photograph Taken by Henry Ford - Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 with multiple races each season. In 1911, track promoters decided instead to host just one spectacular event each Memorial Day. The inaugural Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, with $27,500 in prizes, drew 40 qualifying cars and 80,000 spectators. Ray Harroun won with the yellow #32 Marmon Wasp, and the Indianapolis 500 became an American institution.
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
National Race Car Driven by Howdy Wilcox at the 1911 Indianapolis 500 Race, Photograph Taken by Henry Ford
Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 with multiple races each season. In 1911, track promoters decided instead to host just one spectacular event each Memorial Day. The inaugural Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, with $27,500 in prizes, drew 40 qualifying cars and 80,000 spectators. Ray Harroun won with the yellow #32 Marmon Wasp, and the Indianapolis 500 became an American institution.
- Second Row in Lineup before Start of the 1916 Indianapolis 500 Race - Drivers, mechanics, and cars line up for the start of the 1916 Indianapolis 500. Among those visible is Barney Oldfield (with his trademark cigar) seated in the #15 Delage. This was the first year that riding mechanics were required in all participating cars. The win went to Italian-British driver Dario Resta in a French-built Peugeot.
- May 30, 1916
- Collections - Artifact
Second Row in Lineup before Start of the 1916 Indianapolis 500 Race
Drivers, mechanics, and cars line up for the start of the 1916 Indianapolis 500. Among those visible is Barney Oldfield (with his trademark cigar) seated in the #15 Delage. This was the first year that riding mechanics were required in all participating cars. The win went to Italian-British driver Dario Resta in a French-built Peugeot.