O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis
Encyclopedia
Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park and O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis) is a racing circuit complex in Brownsburg, Indiana
. It has a 0.686 miles (1.1 km) oval, 2.5 miles (4 km) road course, and 4400 feet (1,341.1 m) drag strip.
, and Howard Fieber, invested $5,000 each to fund the development of a 267 acres (1.1 km²) farm tract into a recreational sporting complex that would focus on auto racing. The original intention was to create a 15-turn, 2.5 miles (4 km) road course, but as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5 miles (4 km) road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA
, the drag strip was the first to be completed, with the facility's first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. A year later, a 0.686 miles (1.1 km) paved oval was completed to finish off the track capabilities of the facility. The oval track was used as-is until an overall track renovation was completed in 1988 in order to increase speed on the track.
USAC Silver Crown, Sprint Car and Midget Car races are held on the oval, along with other events suited to a shorter track. Raceway Park also traditionally stages an extensive programs on the Saturday nights of major races at the big track nearby, with the Saturday night of Memorial Day
weekend USAC Midget race called the Night before the 500. The event is held the night before the Indianapolis 500
event at IMS, serving as something of an unofficial preliminary event to the far more famous one. Similarly, the NASCAR
Kroger 200 was given a "Night before the 400" status. When Formula One raced at IMS, midget, sprint, and stock car races were held at ORP in the "Night Before F1" meets, including the 2002 and 2003 USGP races that featured a twin 25-lap midget format, with a full inversion, and the winner winning $50,000 if he could win both features.
A major feature of the facility is a 4400 feet (1,341.1 m) long drag strip
. The one NHRA event held at Raceway Park is called "the oldest, and most prestigious race in the NHRA." The MAC Tools U.S. Nationals, held every year during the Labor Day
weekend, it is the only Monday event on the NHRA schedule, a small race is held the day before the main event, with the winner claiming the five hundred thousand dollar Big Bud Shootout for the Funny Car
Division, with the field consisting of the eight highest qualifying drivers in that division up to that race. The winner of the Big Bud Shootout is awarded a check for $500,000 US, while the race itself has the largest purse of any NHRA sanctioned event at over $250,000 US. O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis has held the event every year since 1961, when the race was moved from Detroit.
The 2.5 miles (4 km), 15-turn road course, is used by the Indianapolis area Sports Car Club of America
road racing
events. The initial Indianapolis Raceway Park road race was an SCCA event held in 1961. In 1965, rookie driver Mario Andretti
won his first Indy car race on the road course, in an event which was historic in that it was the first time in modern history that American Indy cars raced on a road circuit. For the next six years, the road course hosted the Hoosier Grand Prix
, a round of the USAC National Championship Series, the same series that included the Indianapolis 500
, as well as the USAC Stock Car
. Notably, in the 1969 movie Winning
, Paul Newman
's character, Frank Capua, competes in a USAC Stock Car event on the road course.
After a recent insurance investigation of the pit out opening for the road course, which is located along the left lane wall of the drag strip, the insurance carrier has demanded the pit out be closed off with a permanent concrete wall. This effectively means closing the road course for competition purposes as well, as there is no other area on the current track layout suitable to relocate a viable pit lane. However, club racing has used a section of track that runs parallel to the backstretch of the oval (Turns 6–8) as a makeshift pit for club racing, although enough section of the return road for the drag strip could also be used if realigned.
With the announcement of the Super Weekend at the Brickyard came the announcement that the track will no longer hold NASCAR events after the 2011 season.
Brownsburg, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,520 people, and 5,366 households residing in the town. The population density was 1,983.5 people per square mile . There were 5,574 housing units at an average density of 761.4 per square mile...
. It has a 0.686 miles (1.1 km) oval, 2.5 miles (4 km) road course, and 4400 feet (1,341.1 m) drag strip.
History
In 1958, 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals led by Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger WardRodger Ward
Rodger M. Ward was an American racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion.-Early history:...
, and Howard Fieber, invested $5,000 each to fund the development of a 267 acres (1.1 km²) farm tract into a recreational sporting complex that would focus on auto racing. The original intention was to create a 15-turn, 2.5 miles (4 km) road course, but as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5 miles (4 km) road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
, the drag strip was the first to be completed, with the facility's first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. A year later, a 0.686 miles (1.1 km) paved oval was completed to finish off the track capabilities of the facility. The oval track was used as-is until an overall track renovation was completed in 1988 in order to increase speed on the track.
USAC Silver Crown, Sprint Car and Midget Car races are held on the oval, along with other events suited to a shorter track. Raceway Park also traditionally stages an extensive programs on the Saturday nights of major races at the big track nearby, with the Saturday night of Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend USAC Midget race called the Night before the 500. The event is held the night before the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
event at IMS, serving as something of an unofficial preliminary event to the far more famous one. Similarly, the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Kroger 200 was given a "Night before the 400" status. When Formula One raced at IMS, midget, sprint, and stock car races were held at ORP in the "Night Before F1" meets, including the 2002 and 2003 USGP races that featured a twin 25-lap midget format, with a full inversion, and the winner winning $50,000 if he could win both features.
A major feature of the facility is a 4400 feet (1,341.1 m) long drag strip
Drag strip
Drag strip may refer to:*Dragstrip, track used for drag racing*Drag Strip , Transformer character who is one of the Stunticons*Videocart-9: Drag Strip, drag racing videogame released in 1976-See also:*Dover Drag Strip...
. The one NHRA event held at Raceway Park is called "the oldest, and most prestigious race in the NHRA." The MAC Tools U.S. Nationals, held every year during the Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend, it is the only Monday event on the NHRA schedule, a small race is held the day before the main event, with the winner claiming the five hundred thousand dollar Big Bud Shootout for the Funny Car
Funny Car
Funny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
Division, with the field consisting of the eight highest qualifying drivers in that division up to that race. The winner of the Big Bud Shootout is awarded a check for $500,000 US, while the race itself has the largest purse of any NHRA sanctioned event at over $250,000 US. O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis has held the event every year since 1961, when the race was moved from Detroit.
The 2.5 miles (4 km), 15-turn road course, is used by the Indianapolis area Sports Car Club of America
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
road racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
events. The initial Indianapolis Raceway Park road race was an SCCA event held in 1961. In 1965, rookie driver Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
won his first Indy car race on the road course, in an event which was historic in that it was the first time in modern history that American Indy cars raced on a road circuit. For the next six years, the road course hosted the Hoosier Grand Prix
Hoosier Grand Prix
The Hoosier Grand Prix was a sports car, Formula Libre, and Champ Car race held at Indianapolis Raceway Park between 1961 and 1994. The race began as a round of the USAC Road Racing Championship. After being run for sports cars in its first year, the race switched to Formula Libre for the next two...
, a round of the USAC National Championship Series, the same series that included the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
, as well as the USAC Stock Car
USAC Stock Car
The USAC Stock Car division was the stock car racing class sanctioned by the United States Auto Club . The division raced nationally; drivers from USAC's open wheel classes like IndyCars, Silver Crown, sprint cars, and midgets frequently competed in races and won championships...
. Notably, in the 1969 movie Winning
Winning
Winning is a 1969 American motion picture starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. A number of racecar drivers and people associated with racing appear in the film, including Bobby Unser, Tony Hulman, Bobby Grim, Dan Gurney, Roger McCluskey, and Bruce Walkup.-Plot summary:The film centers on...
, Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
's character, Frank Capua, competes in a USAC Stock Car event on the road course.
After a recent insurance investigation of the pit out opening for the road course, which is located along the left lane wall of the drag strip, the insurance carrier has demanded the pit out be closed off with a permanent concrete wall. This effectively means closing the road course for competition purposes as well, as there is no other area on the current track layout suitable to relocate a viable pit lane. However, club racing has used a section of track that runs parallel to the backstretch of the oval (Turns 6–8) as a makeshift pit for club racing, although enough section of the return road for the drag strip could also be used if realigned.
With the announcement of the Super Weekend at the Brickyard came the announcement that the track will no longer hold NASCAR events after the 2011 season.
.686-mile oval
- SCCA Formula Super VeeFormula Super VeeFormula Super Vee was a type of open-wheel motor created to act as a platform for the promotion of VW products, playing much the same role in the 1970s as formulae such as Formula Renault play today. The idea for Formula Super Vee is generally attributed to Josef Hopen, who worked as the Special...
Qualifying: Mark Smith, 19.581 sec. = 126.122 mi/h, May 27,1989 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series Qualifying: David GreenDavid Green (NASCAR)David A. Green is a NASCAR driver. He won the Nationwide Series championship in 1994. His two younger brothers, Jeff and Mark have also competed in the NASCAR circuit...
, 21.766 sec. = 113.462 mi/h, August 5, 1994 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series Race: Jimmy HensleyJimmy HensleyJimmy Hensley is a former NASCAR driver. With a career spanning 27 seasons in all three of NASCAR's elite divisions, Hensley may be best remembered for his Rookie of the Year award won in 1992, his 15th season in the series, and for his nine career Busch Series wins. He spent most of his career...
, 96.923 mi/h, June 22, 1985 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck SeriesThe NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
Qualifying: Joe RuttmanJoe RuttmanJoe Ruttman , is an American former racecar driver. He currently lives in Franklin, Tenn. He actively competed in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series and is a 13 time winner in the Truck Series, the seventh most wins by any driver in the Truck...
, 22.081 sec. = 111.843 mi/h, August 3, 2000 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck SeriesCraftsman Truck SeriesThe NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
Race: Greg BiffleGreg BiffleGregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
, 88.704 mi/h, August 5, 1999
2.5-mile road course
- SCCA Formula Atlantic Race: Larry Connor, Ralt RT41, 1:24.529 sec. = 106.472 mi/h, July 1, 2000
- SCCA Formula Continental Race: Jeff Shafer, Nemesis, 1:29.771 sec. = 100.255 mi/h, July 1, 1997
- SCCA A Sports Racer Race: Jerry Hansen, Lola T333, 1:25.880 sec. = 104.797 mi/h, May 1, 1980
- SCCA C Sports Racer Race: Tony Coniewski, Swift, 1:27.130 sec. = 103.294 mi/h, July 4, 2004
Major Events
- NHRANational Hot Rod AssociationThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
– Mac Tools U.S. NationalsMac Tools U.S. NationalsThe Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is an NHRA-sanctioned drag racing event. The U.S. Nationals are considered the most prestigious drag racing event in the world. The distinction stems from the U.S. Nationals being the oldest, largest, and richest drag racing event worldwide...
– since 1961 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series (formerly Busch Series) – Kroger 200 – since 1982 - NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman Truck Series) – AAA Insurance 200 – since 1995
Former
- Hoosier Grand PrixHoosier Grand PrixThe Hoosier Grand Prix was a sports car, Formula Libre, and Champ Car race held at Indianapolis Raceway Park between 1961 and 1994. The race began as a round of the USAC Road Racing Championship. After being run for sports cars in its first year, the race switched to Formula Libre for the next two...
– USAC RRCUSAC Road Racing ChampionshipThe USAC Road Racing Championship was a sports car racing series in the United States held from 1958 until 1962. The series was organized by the United States Auto Club as a fully professional alternative to the Sports Car Club of America's SCCA National Sports Car...
, USAC National ChampionshipAmerican Championship Car RacingSince 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis...
, IMSA GTIMSA GT ChampionshipIMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
– 1961–1973