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Fun Facts

Some interesting, fun facts about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500:
 
  • Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City all can fit inside the IMS oval, which covers 253 acres.
  • The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, with more than 250,000 permanent seats. If the seat boards from the grandstands at IMS were laid end-to-end, they would stretch 99.5 miles.
  • The first event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a helium gas-filled balloon competition on Saturday, June 5, 1909, more than two months before the oval was completed.

 

IMS Grounds Information

  • IMS total acreage: 1,025 (includes track, Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, all parking lots)
  • IMS infield: 253 acres; Parking acreage: 750 acres
  • 26 bridges, six tunnels
  • 17 grandstands with a 220-acre footprint (if the seat boards were laid end-to-end, they would stretch 99.5 miles)

 

Indianapolis 500 Food & Beverage Information (May 2009)

  • Coca-Cola products: More than 16,000 gallons, which would fill two tanker trucks
  • Miller Lite and other beer products: More than 14,000 gallons
  • Indy Dogs: If laid end-to-end, would circle the 2.5-mile IMS oval more than two times
  • Bratwurst: If laid end-to-end, would circle the 2.5-mile IMS oval more than one time
  • Brickyard Burgers: More than 10,000 pounds, equal to the weight of six IZOD IndyCars
  • Track fries: More than 24,000 pounds, equal to the weight of an elephant
  • Chicken tenders: More than 2,000 pounds, equal to the weight of 13 Borg-Warner Trophies
  • Ketchup: More than 475 gallons, which would fill 10 bathtubs
  • Ice: More than 300,000 pounds

 

Indianapolis 500 Food & Beverage Information (Race Day 2009)

  • Not-for-profit group and third-party vendor workers on site: More than 1,000
  • IMS concession stands: 61
  • IMS Margarita/Bloody Mary bars: 29
  • Beer/soft drink vendors in grandstands: Approximately 100
  • Ice cream/frozen lemonade locations: 44
  • Pretzel/fresh-squeezed lemonade locations: 35

 

Indianapolis 500 Television Information (May 2009)

  • Miles of cable run outside of the Broadcast Compound: 42
  • Miles of cable run within the Broadcast Compound: 10
  • Additional staff hired by IMS Productions: 223
  • Worldwide television distribution of the Indianapolis 500 broadcast: 213 countries, with an audience reach of over 292 million households

 

Indianapolis 500 Retail Information (Race Day 2009)

  • If all the post cards sold in IMS Gift Shops were laid end to end, they would span more than 3 miles
  • The most popular item sold in the Gift Shops was the Indianapolis 500 Official Program
  • The most expensive item in the Gift Shops: A TAG-Heuer watch, $1,450
  • The least expensive item in the Gift Shops: A post card, 33 cents
  • If all T-shirts sold at IMS were stretched end to end, they would reach Terre Haute, Ind.

 

Miscellaneous Indianapolis 500 Information (May 2009)

  • Firestone tires teams used throughout the month: More than 4,900
  • Total laps officially completed, including all practice days and Race Day: 18,263
  • Total miles officially completed, including all practice days and Race Day: 45,657.5
  • Total laps officially completed in Rookie Orientation Program: 402
  • Total miles officially completed in Rookie Orientation Program: 1,005
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