Indianapolis 500 facts

While investigating facts about Indianapolis 500, I found out little known, but curios details like:

The Triple Crown of Motorsports, defined as winning the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix, has only been completed by one driver ever: Graham Hill.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is NOT located in Indianapolis, IN. Speedway, IN is the home of the Indy 500 and has its own town board, police and fire departments, school system and water company

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 16 of the best facts about Indianapolis 500 I managed to collect.

1. Graham Hill is the only racecar driver to have won the Triple Crown of Motorsport, consisting of the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 hours of Le Mans.

2. On May 30, 1931 - - 12 year old Wilbur Brink was playing in his front yard when a tire fell from the sky and killed him. His house was on Georgetown Road across from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the incident happened during the 500 mile race.

3. Indianapolis Motor Speedway was home to the first long-distance car race, in 1911. Today, this speedway is home to the Indianapolis 500 each year on Memorial Day weekend.

4. About Eddie Rickenbacker, Teen Race Car Driver (1911 Indy 500), WWI Ace (26 kills), Owner/Operator of Indianapolis Speedway 1937-45, Survived 24 Days in a Life Raft in WWII, Founder of Eastern Airlines, and Survivor of Numerous Airplane Crashes.

5. Since the first race in 1911, no driver with the surname Smith has ever raced in the Indianapolis 500. Several have attempted to qualify and failed.

6. The Indianapolis 500 doesn't take place in Indianapolis but rather in an enclave of the city called "Speedway"

7. About Double Duty, the achievement of a driver running both the Indianapolis 500 Indycar and Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR races in the same day.

8. There's a golf course surrounding part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500. Originally built in 1929, The Brickyard Crossing has four holes which go inside (and under) the track, as well as an additional 14 outside of the stadium.

9. The 6th running of the Indianapolis 500 was only scheduled for 300 miles

10. At the 1986 Indianapolis 500, Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier, drove the yellow pace car.

Indianapolis 500 data charts

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Over 1,500 people attended Ryan White's funeral, a standing-room only event held at the Second Presbyterian Church on Meridian Street in Indianapolis. White's pallbearers included Elton John, football star Howie Long, Phil Donahue, Michael Jackson, and Barbara Bush.

The winner of the first Indianapolis 500 went an astonishing average of 75 mph! - source

the first time a pace car was used in any race was at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 as the track founder, Carl Fisher, felt that 40 cars could be too dangerous so he led the first lap at 40 to 45 mph. - source

The Pole Position for the 1952 Indianapolis 500 was claimed by a Diesel. this is the only Pole Position for a Diesel in both Indy and F1 history