Indy 500 (2009): Race 101
Quick Summary
Indianapolis 500: The Event
The Indy 500 is one of the oldest sporting events in the United States and is steeped in almost 100 years of traditions. It is the largest single-day sporting event in the world and for this reason it called the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Estimated attendance is in excess of 270,000 and as much as 500,000 people on race day. This year, the May 25th race will be the 92nd running of the event. But don't be fooled into thinking that the Indianapolis 500 race is a one day event; it is preceded by a month of events attended by millions of fans during May.
Indianapolis 500: The Race
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5 mile long track, making it one of the longest ovals in the world.
The Indy 500 race is 500 mile race, or 200 laps, and takes about 3 hours to complete barring crashes and other delays like rain.
Winning the Indy 500 means racing immortality for these drivers and no other title is as coveted, or elusive.
| IMS Blimp View | Indianapolis 500: Race Day |
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IndyCar vs. NASCAR
IndyCar is a slang term for what are actually "open-wheel" race cars; in fact, they look like mostly wheels. That is good for speed but is also requires extreme precision. Open-wheel cars are purpose-built for speed and racing, frequently with a degree of sophistication unknown in other forms of motorsport. Due to their light weight, aerodynamic capabilities, and powerful engines, they are the fastest track racing vehicles ever, and among the most challenging to master.
IndyCar vehicles reach speeds of 240mph in qualifying and 230 at race time, much faster that the 180 mph of a 'Stock' racing car (Nascar).
Unlike other types of racing, wheel-to-wheel contact in IndyCars is is extremely dangerous and all contact is avoided at all costs. Crashes happen often in the heat of the race, and at high speed can be fatal. Until safety measures/improvements over the past 20 years (and especially the last 10 years), death came all to often at the track. Even with these measures, Indy racing is far from 'safe'.
| IndyCar | NASCAR |
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| Click for larger version & details |
Click for larger version & details |
Get a feel for the Indy 500 with Video:
Speed Perspective:
How Fast are Indy Cars closeup?, Fly-bys
Drivers and Speed: The Andretti's
Recent IndyCar video, Close Finish
Fan Perspective:
Is it a Race or a Party? Fan Video
The start of the 2007 Indy 500 from the stands
Lingo: Terms to Know
Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
Also known as the IMS. This is the actual speedway where the Indy 500 is held. It also includes the Hall of Fame, Brickyard Crossing Golf Course and is technically located in Speedway, Indiana which is a small enclave in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis 500:
Also known as; The Indy 500, The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, The 500, and formerly known as the Indianapolis 500 Mile Sweepstakes. It is affectionately referred to as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Pace Car: Part function part tradition. The pace car is usually a featured commercially available vehicle that ceremoniously begins the race and has a celebrity driver. The car also “paces” the drivers around the track during track starts and cautions. Every year a new Pace Car is selected. This year's pace car is a Chevy Corvette: See it Here
Grid:
The grid, or starting grid, refers to the starting race positions of the drivers. There are 11 rows of 3, making 33 drivers at the beginning of the race. 33 has been the magical number since the 1920's and is not expected to change despite the large number of drivers that attempt to qualify for the race.
Pole:
The pole, or polesitter, is the driver who holds the front left (inner) position in the starting grid. Pole may also be used to refer to the race leader at later points in the race. “Who’s the current polesitter?”
Caution:
A caution means an accident or incident has occurred on the track. When this happens, the pace car comes out and leads the race cars around the track while the track is cleaned of debris and cleared for a re-start.
Yellow Flag:
The yellow flag is waved when the race goes under caution. See caution for more info. For 'checkered flag' and other flag meanings, go here.
Pit Stop:
During the race, a car is either on the track or “in the pits”. “In the pits” refers to a driver taking his/her car into the “pit” area and to be serviced. Servicing includes re-fueling, tire changes, car adjustments and repairs. In long races like the 500, the drivers must stop to refuel several times, so getting in a out quickly is critical to winning the race.