--(Cont'd From Front Page)-- It’s a 2.5 mile track that compares to no other. With its rich history that spans all the way back to 1909, its hidden bricks hold more memories than most fans can list. With the infield and grandstand seating combined, this small town in itself can entertain over 400,000 eager race fans, earning it the right of being the largest capacity sporting facility.

The first race that took place here in August of 1909 was memorable, but not in a way that brought pride to the local residents. The race was to be ten miles long, but was stopped at the halfway point. It seems the surface of the track, made up of crushed stone and tar nearly tore up everything that tried to tackle it. Cars caught on fire and devastating injuries and deaths occurred of both drivers and spectators.

The track was closed and re-evaluated, resulting in 3.2 million paving bricks being laid to replace the old track. This repaving brought with it the infamous nickname The Brickyard. Today, at the start finish line there are 3 feet of those original bricks still in place, holding hundreds of racing moments inside their aging boundaries. One has to wonder after all these years of racing just how many men have bent down and kissed those bricks after a race, another Indy tradition.

The track was used as a military repair center for a couple of years during World War I. When racing resumed, the engines were much improved and the best of those cars ran an average of over 100 mph.

By the early 1930’s the improved engines were seeing even higher speeds and more injuries at The Brickyard. Between 1931 -1935 there were 15 fatalities. This forced the hand of the track and another repaving was done, with tarmac taking the place of most of the bricks.

At the beginning of the 1940s, the track required further improvement, initiated by a fire in 1941 that burned half of the garage area known as "Gasoline Alley". World War II arrived and included a ban on all auto racing for four years (1942-1945). The track sat unused and abandoned, with local residents sure it would be incorporated into a housing development. But no, a new owner stepped in and refurbished the place, adding all kinds of fan friendly accommodations.

The 1950’s were by far the most dangerous years in racing history. Out of the 33 drivers that qualified for the 1953 Formula One race at Indy, 16 eventually died from racing incidents.

From 1919 to 1993, the Indy 500 was the only race run at The Brickyard, but NASCAR soon joined in and ran its first race there in 1994.

And here we are, about to step out onto the track that is blanketed in history for another chance to see the boys run The Allstate 400, all focused on crossing that 3 ft of bricks before anyone else.

As the fellows climb into their cars and buckle in, they’ll hear the roar of the 400,000 fans, and they’ll feel the spirit of the thousands that have raced before them as they prepare to slide those cars out onto the track. Even the seasoned fellows that have been here for many races will still feel that chill run up their spines when the green flag is dropped and they join the history of who has raced on this remarkable old speedway.

If those three feet of well worn bricks could talk, they would have story after story that would mesmerize most of us. While most of us get caught up in the moment of racing, there are some of us that will be pulled back in history when the cars line up and get ready to cross those bricks. For all of us though, Sunday’s race will be a race worth remembering.

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