National Race Car Driven by Charlie Merz at the 1911 Indianapolis 500 Race, Photograph Taken by Henry Ford
Add to SetSummary
Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 with multiple races each season. In 1911, track promoters decided instead to host just one spectacular event each Memorial Day. The inaugural Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, with $27,500 in prizes, drew 40 qualifying cars and 80,000 spectators. Ray Harroun won with his yellow #32 Marmon Wasp, and the Indianapolis 500 became an American institution.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 with multiple races each season. In 1911, track promoters decided instead to host just one spectacular event each Memorial Day. The inaugural Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, with $27,500 in prizes, drew 40 qualifying cars and 80,000 spectators. Ray Harroun won with his yellow #32 Marmon Wasp, and the Indianapolis 500 became an American institution.
Artifact
Photographic print
Subject Date
1911
Creators
Keywords
United States, Indiana, Indianapolis
Racetracks (Automobile racing)
Merz, Charlie (Charles Cleveland), 1888-1952
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
P.O.2697
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 4.00 in
Width: 5.00 in
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