PlingTalk

Start your engines for the INDY 500
Its time to your engines, for this year 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 or as its simply called the Indy 500 but in the early days of what has now become one of the biggest sporting events in the world, race track officials had a hard time choosing the name of its race.
The first race was advertised as the “International 500 mile sweepstakes “from 1911 -1916. In 1919, then the race was referred to as the “Liberty Sweepstakes” then after the following of WWI.
From 1920-1980, the race was revered to as the “International Sweepstakes “after slight variations of names over the time, in 1981 race track officials adopted “the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race” name.
The Indianapolis 500 is now annually held over the Memorial Day weekend, however the first 500 was held on Memorial Day on May 30th, 1911, in that first race Ray Harroun was piloting his yellow Firestone-shod #32 Marmon “Wasp” which was outfitted with his invention the rear view mirror to victory. Rather than riding the mechanic specified in the rules, which created controversy, but it was ultimately allowed in the end.
Ray went on to win the race, with an average speed of 74miles per hour, in which created another controversy; to this day, some say a scoring error cheated Ralph Mulford of his rightful victory, Ray, who came out of retirement to race in the first Indy 500 and as it turn out that was his last race.
The attendance at the Indianapolis 500 has never been a problem since it started the race, the first race in 1911, drew eighty thousands and two hundred people, who had paid one dollar to see the race. Since then the attendance at the Indy 500 has double into the two hundred thousand ranges and the prices of the tickets now ranges from 25 dollars all the way up to one thousand dollars.
In the end, this is one of those sporting events that have become a major part of our American culture, on this weekend we also take time out to remember and say thank you to those who have served and are serving in the United States armed forces.
Enjoy this great race, on such a great holiday weekend and thank you again to all that have served and are serving this great country of ours the land the of the free.