Indy Centennial Approaches

March 25 - Needing a test facility for Indianapolis' burgeoning automobile industry, Carl Fisher and three other investors purchased 325 acres of land in 1909. They built a 2.5-mile racetrack and dubbed it Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"The Brickyard" -- a nickname coming about later that year when 3.2 million bricks were used to pave the track -- is the world's largest sports venue, with the ability to seat about 400,000 spectators.

One hundred years after the first of more than 300 races at the speedway, it remains home of the world-famous Indianapolis 500, as well as NASCAR's Brickyard 400, and some motorcycle and Formula One events.

The 93rd Indy 500 on May 24, 2009, is being billed as the first race in the track's "Centennial Era" of 2009-2011. Friday, March 20, 2009 was the 100th anniversary of the signing of the company's articles of incorporation by its four founding fathers.

As part of the celebrations, a Balloon Festival will take place May 1-3 at IMS with a full schedule of evening balloon glows and daytime ascensions. The event will commemorate the first competitive event ever at the Speedway, a gas-filled balloon race June 5, 1909.

For additional information, visit the IMS web site.