The Indianapolis 500: Inside the Greatest Spectacle in Racing

by J. Craig Reinhardt

Overview

Known as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indy 500 humbly began in 1911. Labeled as the first speedway, this two-and-a-half-mile oval is now home to many of today's top races, including the Brickyard 400, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, and its most famous race, the Indianapolis 500. In The Indianapolis 500: Inside the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, speedway tour guide and racing aficionado James Craig Reinhardt shares what makes the legendary racetrack special. He reveals the speedway's unbelievable history, fast-flying action, notorious moments, and its secrets, including facts about the beginning of the brickyard, why the drivers kiss the finish line, how milk became the drink of choice, and much more. The perfect gift for the veteran or rookie, The Indianapolis 500 is a must-have for all race fans.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684350742
Publisher:	Red Lightning Books
Publication date:	04/01/2019
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,009,202
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

James Craig Reinhardt is an official tour guide for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and author of The Winning Cars of the Indianapolis 500.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Part 1: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
1. The Brickyard
2. The Yard of Bricks
3. The Wing and Wheel
4. Yellow Shirts
5. The Pagoda
6. The Scoring Pylon
7. Food
8. Gasoline Alley
9. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
10. Fore!
11. Donald Davidson
12. Tom Carnegie
Part 2: The Month of May
13. "Mr. First in Line"
14. 11 Rows of 3
15. Qualifications
16. Carb Day
17. Concerts
18. Last Row Party
19. Public Drivers' Meeting
20. Legends' Day
21. 500 Festival
22. Coke Lot
23. Snake Pit
24. Armed Forces Day
25. Radio and "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing
26. Gordon Piper
Part 3: Race Day
27. Percussion Grenades
28. Spectacle of Bands
29. 500 Festival Princesses
30. Purdue University All-American Marching Band
31. Celebrity Guests
32. "On the Banks of the Wabash"
33. "America the Beautiful" and God Bless America"
34. National Anthem
35. Flyover
36. Invocation
37. Remarks
38. "Taps"
39. "Back Home Again in Indiana"
40. Balloon Spectacle
41. The Command
42. Pace Car
43. Pace Lap
44. Honorary Starter
45. Green! Green! Green!
46. Winners Drink Milk
47. Kissing the Bricks
48. The Borg-Warner Trophy
49. The Borg-Warner Victory Lane Wreath
50. Quilt Lady
Part 4: Epilogue
51. Victory Banquet
52. Herff-Jones Champion of Champions Ring
Part 5: A Lifetime of Memories
Appendix
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Champions
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Records
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Qualifying Records
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Broken Speed Barriers (Qualifications)
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Pace Cars and Drivers
When The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Opened
Centennial Era
The Fans
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

"

This book is an amazing work about the 500 and all that surrounds this Super Bowl of Motorsports. Full of fact and the Real Deal.

"

Lyn St. James

"

People love traditions, and first as a race fan, and second as an Indy 500 racer, while reading this book I learned so much about the background and history of the Indianapolis 500 that it made me even more proud to say I've raced in the Indianapolis 500 seven times and was 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. It's a 'must read' if you love the Indianapolis 500.

"

Bill Simpson

"

This book is an amazing work about the 500 and all that surrounds this Super Bowl of Motorsports. Full of fact and the Real Deal.

"

Editorial Reviews

"People love traditions, and first as a race fan, and second as an Indy 500 racer, while reading this book I learned so much about the background and history of the Indianapolis 500 that it made me even more proud to say I've raced in the Indianapolis 500 seven times and was 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. It's a 'must read' if you love the Indianapolis 500."—Lyn St. James, racecar driver

"This book is an amazing work about the 500 and all that surrounds this Super Bowl of Motorsports. Full of fact and the Real Deal."—Bill Simpson, American racecar driver and owner of Simpson Performance Products

From the Publisher