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Indy 500 Track

The Indy 500 has become synonymous with American nationalism because of its placement during the Memorial Day weekend. Even non racing fans usually tune in for at least part of the race as it is a great chance to get together with some buddies to toss back a few cold ones. All these Indy articles are my attempt to publicize this major sporting event where I feel the media actually fails. Below is a list of Indy 500 facts to let you in on some of the intricacies of the big race. Take note and you'll be able to impress your friends with come race day.

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#1 This year's race marks the 92nd running of the Indy 500. The first race was run in 1909. If you're a math guy, you'll notice the discrepancy in years, but the race took breaks during both world wars.

#2 This year's race purse is the largest we've ever seen with the winner earning $2.5 million and the entire purse for all the weekend's festivities totaling over $13 million.

#3 The Indy 500 has the largest single-day attendance of any sporting event in the entire world. Even more than those crazy European soccer games. There will be roughly 257,000 people in the stands and another 150,000 in the infield.

#4 Emerson Fittipaldi will be driving the pace car. If your friends ask who he is, you'll be able to tell them a two-time Indy 500 winner.

#5 Julianne Hough will grace us with the singing of the national anthem. She was Indy racing superstar Helio Castroneves' partner on Dancing with the Stars.

#6 Here comes some more name dropping. Floyd Mayweather Jr., boxing's bad boy, will be the honorary starter of the race.

#7 Indy car racing is as global a sport as you'll find with drivers from 11 countries - United States, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Australia, South Africa, U.K., Venezuela, Japan, Italy, and Mexico.

#8 The race was broadcast for the first time in High-Definition just last year and it was about time.

#9 The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the second oldest track in the U.S. and originally featured a gravel and tar surface.

#10 A little known fact is that the storied race track is actually located in Speedway, Indiana.

#11 Why is it called the Brickyard you ask? The track was paved with 3.2 million bricks after the gravel and tar surface caused several deaths. A three-foot strip of those original bricks still exist s on the starting line.

#12 Ray Harroun won the very fist Indy 500 and he also invented the rear view mirror. I'll bet you didn't know that.

#13 The original name for the Indy 500 was the International 500-mile Sweepstakes Race. It had no chance of sticking if you ask me.

#14 The winner of the race gets the famous Borg-Warner Trophy. This trophy is over five feet tall and weighs more than some of the drivers at 153 pounds.

#15 The winner of the Indy 500 has his face sculpted and attached to the famous trophy.

I hope you enjoyed those fun facts. Check out my 2008 Indy 500 odds and predictions to see who I like to take the checkered flag on race day.

May 20th, 2008