The Indy Tradition

Last year we celebrated a century of Grand Prix racing. The Grand Prix de l’Auto Club France was the first to bear the title and we still have a French Grand Prix, therefore it must be the world’s oldest race, right? I disagree and nominate the Indianapolis 500.

The 500 was first run in 1911, but it has always been 500 miles of an oval in Indianapolis. Apart from the surface, the track has undergone changes, but they have affected only the competitors. When IRL commandeered the race, you heard about the turns being eased to increase lap speed and, thus, the IRL’s credibility.