Indianapolis Indiana USA
Home of the brickyard and the fastest race in the world the Indy 500.
History of the track is interesting.
Indianapolis was the car manufacturing capitol of America and in the closing stages of the 19th century 1890s the car industry was flourishing BUT they had nowhere to test the cars.
Yes you guessed it a track was laid in the shape of an oval to test speed and endurance.
The track is 2.5 miles long a convenient length to measure endurance and mile per gallon etc.
It was an earth track for testing but as boys and their toys are.
Q.Two cars on the track what have you got?
A. A race
Why 500?
Q. Easy 200 laps sounds cool today but imagine at the old speeds of 60 mph - 100 mph in the 20-30s. 9-10 hours [one would need a big esky].
As the speeds increased something needed to be done to the surface. It was at first oiled. Then it was laid with tar. But nothing could stop the terrible dust and dirt which played hell with the cars. So the whole 2.5 mile track was laid with Bricks. So the track became known as "the Brickyard" and that name is the same today.
The track is still Oval and 2.5 length.
All that remains of the bricks is 1 yard strip denoting the start and finish line.
The cars today are high technology machines that qualify for the raceat 227 MPH which is close to 372 KPH. Just about the speed of air planes.
Today they are built and powered by similar engines, it is a Honda. This is to give standard racing. But this is not what car racing is about. The Indy track was built for research and development. The official word is. It is about to be reconverted to factory developed cars with aerodynamic innovations. Greater speeds.
For the ladies: 4 ladies drivers lined up in 2010. Danica Fisher came in 5. A great result for her. The other 3 fell out with mechanical problems.
Our Australian men; Will Power after starting on front of grid came in 8th which is not bad considering he had a drive through penalty. Briscoe did not finish.
the image. Will Powers car #12.
The track is close to centre of town and like all great races it creates Carnival and so it is with the Indy 500.
This race in 2010 drew 500,000 spectators the spectacle is one of awe. The sound of 30 high powered racers in full throttle is awesome. If that does not light up your buttons then you are not a pair of petrol heads like us!
This ends our road trip.
We fly from here to New York via Winsconsin to catch a plane to Australia.
Thank you for traveling with us from Las Vegas where we renewed our vows in front of Elvis then traversing America on old Route 66 finishing in Chicago. We motored 2240 miles on one of the worlds greatest road trips. Then out of magic Chicago on the Mega-bus to Indianapolis.
It was all exciting and fun.
"Take a tip and take the trip on route 66".
God bless America, We do love the place and the people.
"it is one of those places you are glad you are not poor".
