When the Indianapolis Speedway opened in 1909 it originally had a racing surface of crushed rock and tar. In its opening year this proved disastrous, with many injuries to drivers and spectators. This could not be repeated, so 3.2 million bricks were brought in to pave the track. They were laid on their sides in a bed of sand then fixed with mortar, hence earning this now famous oval the nickname ‘The Brickyard’.
In 1936 asphalt was laid over rough portions of the track. By1941 this treatment had been applied to most of the main straight as well and by 1961 the whole track had been covered by asphalt. Few people realize that most of the original bricks are still there, beneath the current track surface. Today a three foot (one yard) wide section of bricks is exposed at the start finish line, to serve as a reminder of the history behind the development of the track for this momentous race.
Tradition requires that the winner of the Indianapolis 500 kisses the bricks, as others have done before them.
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