Indianapolis 500

The biggest event in American motor racing is the Indianapolis 500,which is not just a race but a day-long carnival.The auto race is part of the Memorial Day celebrations at the end of May and crowds of 250,000 flock to the Indianapolis raceway from all over the USA.

 The course,which opened in 1909,is known as The Brickyard because the original circuit was made out of thousands of bricks.The first Indy 500 was held in 1911 and was won by Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp.Contestants race over 200 laps of the 4km (2.48 miles) oval circuit.