August 19th, 1909
In front of some 12,000 spectators, automotive engineer Louis Schwitzer wins the two-lap, five-mile inaugural race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with average speed of 57.4 mph.
(Photo; historicindianapolis.com)
Louis Schwitzer (center)
Conceived by local businessmen as a testing facility for Indiana's growing automobile industry, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would later become famous as the home to the now world-famous "Indianapolis 500" race, which was first held in 1911. In that inaugural race, Schwitzer drove a stripped-down Stoddard Dayton touring car with a four-cylinder engine. He achieved an average speed of 57.4 mph on the new track, which was then covered in macadam, or crushed pieces of rock layered and bound by tar. Later, the speedway would be covered with 3.2 million paving bricks, which earned it its enduring nickname, "The Brickyard."
In front of some 12,000 spectators, automotive engineer Louis Schwitzer wins the two-lap, five-mile inaugural race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with average speed of 57.4 mph.
(Photo; historicindianapolis.com)
Louis Schwitzer (center)
Conceived by local businessmen as a testing facility for Indiana's growing automobile industry, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would later become famous as the home to the now world-famous "Indianapolis 500" race, which was first held in 1911. In that inaugural race, Schwitzer drove a stripped-down Stoddard Dayton touring car with a four-cylinder engine. He achieved an average speed of 57.4 mph on the new track, which was then covered in macadam, or crushed pieces of rock layered and bound by tar. Later, the speedway would be covered with 3.2 million paving bricks, which earned it its enduring nickname, "The Brickyard."
And in comparison to Schwitzer's inaugural race speed of 57.4 mph, after 100 years of history at the famed Brickyard;
May 10, 1996
Arie Luyendyk of the Netherlands,
photo credit: United Autosports via photopin cc
turned in an unofficial practice lap of 239.260 mph, which is the fastest single lap speed to this date.
This Day In Motorsport History - Home Page
This Day In Motorsport History - Home Page
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