The Indianapolis Motor Speedway began hosting motorsports events in 1909, initially featuring motorcycle and automobile races. After its original surface proved unsuitable, the track was paved with over three million bricks, earning the nickname “The Brickyard.” In 1911, Ray Harroun won the inaugural Indianapolis 500, which quickly became one of America’s most prestigious sporting events. Following World War II, businessman Tony Hulman purchased and revitalized the deteriorating facility, expanding it into the world’s largest sporting venue by permanent seating capacity. By 1961, the track had been fully paved with asphalt, preserving only the iconic yard of bricks at the start/finish line. The Speedway expanded its racing legacy by introducing NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 in 1994, Formula One’s U.S. Grand Prix in 2000, and MotoGP in 2008. In 2014, the Grand Prix of Indianapolis joined the schedule, further cementing the Speedway’s status as a cornerstone of American motorsports.