Monday Memo

Indy 500 fun facts celebrating 100 years of racing

The Speedway was constructed on 328 acres of land in 1909.

The first race was on May 30, 1911 and was won by Ray Harroun. Ray was also the first person to use a rear-view mirror on a motor vehicle. His race winnings were $14,250.

$1.00 was paid for admission by 80,200 spectators at this first race in 1911.

The track was once paved with 3.2 million bricks, thus, the name the “Brickyard”. A 3-foot strip of bricks still designates the start/finish line.

When peanut shells were found in the seat of a crashed car in the 1940’s, they became known as bad luck.
It is also considered bad luck to enter and exit from the same side of the car.

Louis Meyer was the first driver to drink mile after winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1936.

The fewest number of cars to finish the race was 7 in 1966.
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Up to 8 miles of hot dogs and 475 gallons of ketchup are consumed during the race.