| One of the largest single-day sporting event in | | | | determining who handed in their signup forms first. |
| history is the Indy 500. The running of the Indy 500 | | | | Now the qualifying, since it is by invitation only, is a |
| has been going on since 1911. The 93rd running of the | | | | little tougher. The current speed-based qualifying was |
| race will take place in May of 2009, making it the | | | | started in 1915 and the field was limited to 33 entries, |
| 64th consecutive year without interruption. Other | | | | which is still the case for today's race. The qualifying |
| names of the race throughout history have been the | | | | process today consists of a four-lap distance and it |
| International 500-Mile Sweepstakes (twice), the | | | | was introduced in the year 1933. |
| International 300-Mile Sweepstakes and the Liberty | | | | With each race comes traditions at the Indy 500 |
| Sweepstakes. The race has been carried on television | | | | from year to year. The most popular tradition, and |
| and radio. It debuted on radio in 1952 on the | | | | most popular words in sports aside from "Play Ball," is |
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. The firs | | | | "Gentlemen, start your engines!" Other traditions |
| time the race was televised from start to finish was | | | | include the detonation of an explosive to signal the |
| in 1986 by ABC. | | | | opening of the arena's gates at 6am on the day of |
| The race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, | | | | the race, "Taps" is played to symbolize the |
| which was built in 1909. Its first track was a gravel | | | | remembrance of Memorial Day along with a flyover, |
| and tar track which was then changed to all brick and | | | | "God Bless America" is performed by Florence |
| then pavement. The first Indy 500 took place on | | | | Henderson and "The Star-Spangled Banner" is |
| May 30, 1911. The venue currently holds | | | | performed by a different popular artist each year. |
| approximately 400,000 people. The first race was | | | | There have been a multitude of accidents during the |
| seen by just over 80,000 people who paid $1 for | | | | running of the Indy 500 and a handful of deaths |
| admission. The first race included Ray Harroun, the | | | | involving drivers, crew, spectators and driving |
| inventor of the rear view mirror. The race was | | | | mechanics (which haven't been used since the early |
| originally an open event which meant that anyone | | | | years of the race). The last death during the Indy |
| could race in the event if they wished to do so. Now | | | | 500 was in 1973 when Swede Savage died on July |
| the race is by invitation only. Drivers must qualify for | | | | 2nd in a hospital from injuries suffered in the race. |
| participating in the event. | | | | Some believe that Savage might have died do to |
| When the race was an open event the qualifying | | | | contaminated blood from a transfusion. Savage was |
| procedure entailed the admission fee and maintained | | | | the 14th driver to die either at the race or after the |
| a certain speed was allowed to join the field. The | | | | race to due injuries from an accident or from heat |
| order of start was determined at random, by | | | | exhaustion. |