Concept

Indianapolis

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Indianapolis is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana. Its international reputation rests primarily on the Indianapolis 500, described as the world's largest single-day sporting event, and the city is a global center for auto racing. "Indy" is itself a metonym for auto racing, particularly when referring to American open-wheel car racing.

Indianapolis is home to numerous motorsports facilities and events, two sanctioning bodies — INDYCAR and the United States Auto Club — and more than 500 motorsports-related companies. Auto racing is one of the city's notable niche markets, alongside amateur sports.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was completed in 1909 as an automotive test track. It is a National Historic Landmark and the world's largest sports venue by capacity, with 235,000 permanent seats. Since 1911, its 2.5-mile (4.0 km) rectangular oval has hosted the Indianapolis 500, an open-wheel automobile race contested as part of the IndyCar Series and traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend. Steeped in tradition, the race is considered the world's largest single-day sporting event and part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport.

Ray Harroun won the inaugural running of the Indianapolis 500, held May 30, 1911, at the Speedway. Beyond the 500, the track also hosts the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in May and NASCAR's Brickyard 400 and Pennzoil 250 in July. The venue earlier hosted the United States Grand Prix from 2000 to 2007.

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, in nearby Brownsburg, contains a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) road course, a 4,400-foot (1,300 m) dragstrip, and a 0.69-mile (1.11 km) oval short track. Each Labor Day weekend the facility hosts the NHRA U.S. Nationals, the largest and most prestigious drag racing event in the world. The city's Indianapolis Speedrome is believed to be the oldest operating figure-8 racing venue in the United States.

Once home to 60 automakers, Indianapolis rivaled Detroit as a center of automobile manufacturing and design in the early 20th century. The city was home to several luxury car companies, including Duesenberg, Marmon, and Stutz Motor Company, though the automakers did not survive the Great Depression of the 1930s. Detroit's Big Three maintained a presence in the city into the 2000s: Ford Motor Company (1914–1942, 1956–2008), Chrysler (1925–2005), and General Motors (1930–2011). The city remains home to Allison Transmission's headquarters and manufacturing facilities, designing and producing automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems; Rolls-Royce North America dates its local presence to the establishment of the Allison Engine Company in 1915.

Located inside the Speedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum exhibits an extensive collection of auto racing memorabilia showcasing various motorsports and automotive history; daily grounds and track tours originate from the museum. The Indianapolis 500 has influenced entertainment for decades, referenced in film, television, video games, and other media. Three motion pictures filmed at the Speedway are Speedway (1929), To Please a Lady (1950), and Winning (1969).

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