Qualifications for the Indy 500 take place the weekend prior to the race.
Practice takes place on four consecutive days before qualifications begin, and is the first time teams are allowed to test their speed on the oval during May.
Indy by the Numbers
1911: The first Indy 500, won by Ray Harroun (who used a rearview mirror instead of a driving mechanic).
33: The maximum number of cars in the Indy 500 field. Cars are lined up in eleven rows of three at the start of the race.
200: Number of laps it takes to complete 500 miles. Each lap of the famous oval covers 2.5 miles.
250,000: The number of permanent seats at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Infield fans, Snake Pit, teams, or track and support staff add up to an additional 100,000 spectators on race day.
What’s up with All Those Traditions?
Yard of bricks: The original track surface was built from over three million paving bricks (hence the nicknameThe Brickyard), but as time and technology advanced, the track was converted to asphalt. A yard of bricks remains at the start-finish line in homage to the original “Brickyard.”
Winners drink milk: After his win in 1936, Louis Meyer requested a glass of cold buttermilk, and a tradition was born. Indy 500winners are given a liter of milk, a wreath of orchids and a sizable winnings purse.
Borg-Warner Trophy: Each winner has their name and likeness sculpted onto the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy, valued at over $1 million (but we think it’s priceless).
