The Indianapolis 500 has been around for over a century, with the first race taking place in 1911. The tradition is that thirty-three cars compete in the Indy 500, which takes its name from the 500-mile distance of the race. It was the first 500-mile car race by almost fifty years, and it is considered to be the most famous auto race in the world. Upon finishing the race, it is tradition that the winner of the Indy 500 pulls into Victory Lane and takes a sip of milk.
Based on the average speed the racecar drivers travel, they are able to cover the distance of a football field in less than a single second. The average pit stop, for adjustments, fuel, and wheel changes, takes approximately fifteen seconds. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where it takes place each year, is not actually in Indianapolis. It’s in its own town called Speedway, Indiana, which has a population of around 12,000. The town of Speedway has its own town government, police force, and schools.