On August 19, 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted its first automobile races. The track was originally surfaced with crushed stone and tar, which proved hazardous and caused several accidents. Organizers soon repaved it with brick, leading to the famous nickname “The Brickyard.” Over time, the speedway became the site of the Indianapolis 500, one of the world’s premier auto races. The early events marked the beginning of a long association between the speedway and American motorsports. The track remains central to racing culture in the United States.
