Editing Indianapolis 500 (section)

== History ==

===Early years===
[[File:1912 Indianapolis 500, Joe Dawson winning.jpg|thumb|[[Joe Dawson (racing driver)|Joe Dawson]] winning the [[1912 Indianapolis 500]]]]

The [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] complex was built in 1909 as a gravel-and-tar track and hosted a smattering of small events, including ones for [[motorcycle]]s.<ref>Kettlewell, Mike. "Indianapolis:  The Richest Race in the World", in Northey, Tom, ed. ''World of Automobiles'' (London: Orbis, 1974), Volume 9, p.1012.</ref> The first long-distance event, in "fearful conditions", was the 100-lap [[Prest-O-Lite]] Trophy in 1909, won by [[Bob Burman]] in a [[Buick]].<ref>He averaged {{convert|53.77|mph|abbr=on}} Kettlewell, p.1013.</ref> The breakup of the track surface led to two fatal accidents in the first two long-distance events (a {{convert|250|mi|abbr=on}} and {{convert|300|mi|abbr=on}}, which was shortened to {{convert|235|mi|abbr=on}} after two severe wrecks).<ref>[[William Bourque]] (Kettlewell, p.1013, mistakenly identifies him as William) and his [[riding mechanic]] were killed after hitting a pothole in the 250, and [[Charlie Merz]]'s riding mechanic, Claude Kellum, as well as two spectators, were killed in the 300; following Merz's crash, there was another serious crash, also. Kettlewell, p.1013.</ref>

The fact that these spectacles had attracted 15,000 paying customers (and crowds of up to 40,000)<ref>Kettlewell, pp.1012–3.</ref> persuaded principal owner [[Carl G. Fisher]] to spend $155,000<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013">Kettlewell, p.1013.</ref> on repaving the track with 3.2 million bricks;<ref name="INDY2">{{cite web|title=Yard of Bricks|url=http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/facility/35549-Yard-of-Bricks/|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=May 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515131035/http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/facility/35549-Yard-of-Bricks/|url-status=live}}</ref> he also added a {{convert|33|in|m|2|adj=mid}} concrete wall around the track's circumference.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013" /> During the 1910 [[Decoration Day]] weekend, the first events on the newly paved circuit drew 60,000 spectators; [[Ray Harroun]] won the {{convert|200|mi|adj=mid}} Wheeler-Schebler Trophy in a [[Marmon Motor Car Company|Marmon]].<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013" />

The crowds grew progressively smaller for the rest of the season, however, so the track owners chose to focus on a single race, and considered a 24-hour contest, in the fashion of [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]], or a {{convert|1000|mi|adj=on|spell=in}} event.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013" /> They decided on {{convert|500|mi}}, the estimated distance a race car could run before dark descended on the track,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Martin|first1=J. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AgChAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA24|title=American Auto Racing: The Milestones and Personalities of a Century of Speed|last2=Saal|first2=Thomas F.|date=2004-03-05|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786412358|pages=24|language=en}}</ref> and a spectacular [[prize money|purse]] of $25,000, [[Gold Standard Act|equivalent]] to {{convert|82.93|lb}} of pure [[gold]].<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013" /> The combination allowed the track to rapidly acquire a privileged status for automobile races.

The [[1911 Indianapolis 500|first "500"]] was held at the Speedway in 1911 on [[Memorial Day|Decoration Day]], May 30,<ref name="INDY3">{{cite web|title=IMS Milestones: 1906–1911|url=http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/history/35207-1906-1911-Milestones/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606234641/http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/history/35207-1906-1911-Milestones/|archive-date=2010-06-06|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway}}</ref> (as it was known from its inception in 1868 to 1967, when federal law made "Memorial Day" the official name), run to a {{convert|600|cid|adj=mid}} maximum engine size formula.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013" /> It saw a field of 40 starters,<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1013" /> with Harroun piloting a Marmon Model 32-based ''Wasp'' racer—outfitted with his invention, the [[rear view mirror|rear-view mirror]].<ref name="INDY4">{{cite web|title=The Marmon Wasp|url=http://www.marmon.com/MarmonWasp.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616001944/http://www.marmon.com/MarmonWasp.asp|archive-date=2010-06-16|publisher=The Marmon Group}}</ref> Harroun (with relief from [[Cyrus Patschke]])<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014">Kettlewell, p.1014.</ref> was declared the winner, although [[Ralph Mulford]] protested the official result. Eighty thousand spectators were in attendance, and an annual tradition had been established. Many considered Harroun to be a hazard during the race, as he was the only driver in the race driving without a [[riding mechanic]], who checked the oil pressure and let the driver know when traffic was coming.<ref>Leerhsen, Charles, "100 Years of the Indy 500", ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', 30 May 2011, pp. 52–56.</ref>
{{Wikisource|Train and Trolley Bear in Thousands}}
In 1912, the purse was raised to <!--US-->$50,000,<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014" /> the field was limited to 33 (where it remains), and a riding mechanic was made mandatory.<ref>Kettlewell, p.1014</ref> This second event was won by [[Joe Dawson (racing driver)|Joe Dawson]] in a [[National Motor Vehicle Company|National]],<ref>The company was owned by Speedway investor [[Arthur C. Newby]].</ref> after [[Ralph DePalma]]'s [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]] broke.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014" /> Although the first race was won by an American driver at the wheel of an American car, European makers such as the [[Italy|Italian]] [[Fiat]] or [[France|French]] [[Peugeot]] companies soon developed their vehicles to try to win the event, which they did from 1912 to 1919. The 1913 event saw a change to a {{convert|450|cid|adj=mid}} maximum engine size.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014" />

After [[World War I]], the native drivers and manufacturers regained their dominance of the race, and engineer [[Harry Arminius Miller|Harry Miller]] set himself up as the most competitive of the post-war builders.<ref name="INDY5">{{cite web|title=Miller History|url=http://www.milleroffy.com/Racing%20History.htm#Miller_History|publisher=The Miller/Offenhauser Historical Society|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425221353/http://www.milleroffy.com/Racing%20History.htm#Miller_History|url-status=live}}</ref> His technical developments allowed him to be indirectly connected to a history of success that would last into the mid-1970s.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

For musical entertainment before the start of the race, the [[Purdue All-American Marching Band]] has been the host band of the race since 1919. In 1946, American [[opera]]tic tenor and car enthusiast [[James Melton]] started the tradition of singing "[[Back Home Again in Indiana]]" with the [[Purdue All-American Marching Band|Purdue Band]] before the race when asked to do so on the spur of the moment by Speedway president [[Tony Hulman]]. This tradition has continued through the years, notably by actor and singer [[Jim Nabors]] from 1972 until 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Melton Autorama|url=http://www.lostparks.com/melton.html|publisher=Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions|access-date=March 5, 2011|archive-date=June 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618182147/http://lostparks.com/melton.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Nabors announced in 2014, citing health-related reasons, that the 2014 Indy 500 would be the last at which he would sing the song. In 2015, the [[a cappella]] group [[Straight No Chaser (group)|Straight No Chaser]] sang the song before the race, and in the two races held after Nabors' retirement (and before he became the regular singer), the singing of the song was done on a rotating basis, with the Spring 2014 winner of ''[[The Voice (U.S. TV series)|The Voice]]'' [[Josh Kaufman]] performing in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch Straight No Chaser step into Jim Nabors' shoes, sing to kick off the Indy 500|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/24/straight-no-chaser-performs-indy-500|access-date=1 May 2016|work=Entertainment Weekly's EW.com|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126094930/https://ew.com/article/2015/05/24/straight-no-chaser-performs-indy-500/|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the Speedway has returned to a standard singer with [[Jim Cornelison]] doing it since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title='(Back Home Again in) Indiana': Reaction to Jim Cornelison's booming rendition|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/indy-500/2019/05/26/indy-500-jim-cornelison-back-home-again-in-indiana/1245174001/|access-date=2019-05-28|website=Indianapolis Star|language=en|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026051025/https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/indy-500/2019/05/26/indy-500-jim-cornelison-back-home-again-in-indiana/1245174001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Miller and Offenhauser===
[[File:Mercedes w154 indianapolis.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Mercedes-Benz W154]] entered by Don Lee at the [[1947 Indianapolis 500]] with [[Duke Nalon]] as driver]]

Following the European trends, engine sizes were limited to {{convert|183|cid|cc|abbr=on}} during 1920–1922, {{convert|122|cid|cc|abbr=on}} for 1923–1925, and {{convert|91|cid|cc|abbr=on}} in 1926–1929.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014" /> The 1920 race was won by [[Gaston Chevrolet]] in a [[Frontenac Motor Corporation|Frontenac]], prepared by his brothers, powered by the first eight-cylinder engine to win the 500.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014" /> For 1923, riding mechanics were no longer required.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1015">Kettlewell, p.1015.</ref> A [[Supercharging|supercharged]] car, ID, first won the race in 1924.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1015" /> In 1925, [[Pete DePaolo]] was the first to win at an average over {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, with a speed of {{convert|101.13|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1014" />

In the early 1920s, Miller built his 3.0-liter (183 in<sup>3</sup>) engine, inspired by the [[Peugeot]] [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]] engine which had been serviced in his shop by [[Fred Offenhauser]] in 1914, installing it in [[Jimmy Murphy (racing driver)|Jimmy Murphy]]'s [[Duesenberg]] and allowing him to win the 1922 edition of the race.<ref name="INDY5" /> Miller then created his own automobiles, which shared the 'Miller' designation, which, in turn, were powered by supercharged versions of his 2.0- and 1.5-liter (122 and 91 in<sup>3</sup>) engine single-seaters, winning four more races for the engine up to 1929 (two of them, 1926 and 1928, in Miller chassis).<ref name="INDY6">{{cite web|title=1926 Miller 91 FWD|url=http://www.supercars.net/cars/2458.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223173430/http://www.supercars.net/cars/2458.html|archive-date=2013-02-23|publisher=Supercars.net}}</ref> The engines powered another seven winners until 1938 (two of them, 1930 and 1932, in Miller chassis), then ran at first with stock-type motors before later being adjusted to the international 3.0-liter formula.

After purchasing the Speedway in 1927, [[Eddie Rickenbacker]] prohibited supercharging and increased the displacement limit to {{convert|366|cid|cc|abbr=on}}, while also re-introducing the riding mechanic.<ref name="Kettlewell, p.1015" />

In 1935, Miller's former employees, Fred Offenhauser and [[Leo Goossen]], had already achieved their first win with the soon-to-become famous 4-cylinder [[Offenhauser]] or "Offy" engine. This motor was forever connected with the Brickyard's history with a to-date record total of 27 wins, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged form, and winning a likewise record-holding 18 consecutive years between 1947 and 1964.<ref name="INDY7">{{cite news|title=All time Indianapolis 500 winners|newspaper=USA Today|url=http://sports.usatoday.com/2015/05/24/all-time-indianapolis-500-winners/|access-date=December 31, 2016|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930222129/https://sports.usatoday.com/2015/05/24/all-time-indianapolis-500-winners/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===European incursions and links to Formula One===
Meanwhile, European manufacturers, gone from the Indianapolis 500 for nearly two decades, made a brief return just before [[World War II]], with the competitive [[Maserati]] 8CTF allowing [[Wilbur Shaw]] to become the first driver to win consecutively at Indianapolis, in 1939 and 1940.<ref name="INDY12">{{cite web|title=Boyle Special|url=http://www.maserati.com/maserati/en/en/index/passion/Boyle-special.html|publisher=Maserati|access-date=2010-05-27|archive-date=2010-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607103236/http://www.maserati.com/maserati/en/en/index/passion/Boyle-special.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{HAER|survey=IN-112|id=in0543|title=1938 Maserati 8.C.T.F., Indianapolis, Marion County, IN|photos=37|color=4|data=23|cap=2}}</ref> {{As of|2025}}, these remain the only Indy 500 victories obtained by fully Italian cars. With the 500 having been a part of the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Drivers' Championship]] between 1950 and 1960,<ref name="INDY12A">{{cite web|title=1950 Indianapolis 500|url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1950/381/|publisher=Formula One Administration|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214024115/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1950/381/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="INDY13">{{cite web|title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Indiana, USA)|url=http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/318/329/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116054013/http://f1complete.com/content/view/318/329/|archive-date=2010-01-16|publisher=F1complete.com}}</ref> [[Ferrari]] made a discreet appearance at the 1952 event with [[Alberto Ascari]],<ref name="INDY14">{{cite web|title=1952 Indianapolis 500|url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1952/609/|publisher=Formula One Administration|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=December 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201112405/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1952/609/|url-status=live}}</ref> but European entries were few and far between during those days. Among the Formula One drivers who did drive at the speedway was one-time world champion [[Italians|Italian]] [[Giuseppe Farina]], who failed to qualify for the 1956 and 1957 races, and five-time world champion [[Argentinians|Argentinian]] [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], who failed to qualify for the 1958 race.

It was not until the Indianapolis 500 was removed from the World Championship calendar that European entries made their return. In 1963, technical innovator [[Colin Chapman]] brought his [[Team Lotus]] to Indianapolis for the first time, attracted by the large monetary prizes, far bigger than the usual at a European event. Racing a mid-engined car, [[Scotland|Scotsman]] [[Jim Clark]] was second in his first attempt in 1963,<ref name="INDY16">{{cite news|title=Jim Clark, the Scottish driver who became an American idol|newspaper=The Scotsman|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/jimclarkrally/Jim-Clark-the-Scottish-driver.3953077.jp|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=March 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323054436/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/jimclarkrally/Jim-Clark-the-Scottish-driver.3953077.jp|url-status=live}}</ref> dominated in 1964 until suffering suspension failure on lap 47, and completely dominated the race in 1965, a victory which also interrupted the success of the Offy, and giving the 4.2-liter [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] V8 its first success at the race.<ref name="INDY17">{{cite web|title=RACING HISTORY: The Great Races: 1965 Indianapolis 500|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2001/05/21/021379.html|publisher=The Auto Channel|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801211306/http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2001/05/21/021379.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, 1966, saw another British win, this time [[Graham Hill]] in a [[Lola Cars|Lola]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]].<ref name="INDY18">{{cite web|title=50th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Monday, May 30, 1966|url=http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1966|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024931/http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1966|archive-date=July 13, 2011|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway}}</ref>

The Offenhauser engine was also paired with a European maker, [[McLaren]], obtaining three wins for the chassis, one with the [[Roger Penske|Penske]] team in 1972 with driver [[Mark Donohue]],<ref name="INDY19">{{cite web|title=56th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday, May 27, 1972|url=http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1972|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025045/http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1972|archive-date=July 13, 2011|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway}}</ref> and two for the McLaren works team in 1974<ref name="INDY20">{{cite web|title=58th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 26, 1974|url=http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1974|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025050/http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1974|archive-date=July 13, 2011|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway}}</ref> and 1976 with [[Johnny Rutherford]].<ref name="INDY21">{{cite web|title=60th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 30, 1976|url=http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1976|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025055/http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1976|archive-date=July 13, 2011|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway}}</ref> This was also the last time the Offy would win a race, its competitiveness steadily decreasing until its final appearance in 1983. American drivers continued to fill the majority of entries at the Brickyard in the following years, but European technology had taken over. Starting in 1978, most chassis and engines were European, with the only American-based chassis to win during the CART era being the Wildcat and [[Galmer]]<ref name="INDY22">{{cite web|title=76th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, May 24, 1992|url=http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1992|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025102/http://alpha.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/stats/boxscore/?year=1992|archive-date=July 13, 2011|publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway}}</ref> (which was technically built in [[Bicester]], England) in 1982 and 1992, respectively. Ford and [[Chevrolet]] engines were built in the UK by [[Cosworth]] and [[Ilmor]], respectively.

As of 2025, the most recent active Formula One driver to have entered the 500 is [[Fernando Alonso]], who drove in the [[2017 Indianapolis 500|2017]] race. Alonso was the first Formula One driver to enter the 500 since [[Teo Fabi]] in [[1984 Indianapolis 500|1984]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2017 |title=Alonso extends long line of F1 greats competing in Indy 500 |url=https://www.indycar.com/news/2017/04/04-12-f1-indy-drivers-history |access-date=March 29, 2023 |website=indycar.com}}</ref>

===World Series===
[[File:Fittipaldi indy.jpg|thumb|left|[[Emerson Fittipaldi]] driving the [[Penske PC-23]] at the [[1994 Indianapolis 500|1994]] event]]

After foreign cars became the norm, foreign drivers began competing in the Indianapolis 500 regularly, choosing the United States as their primary base for their motor racing activities. [[Brazilians|Brazilian]] [[Emerson Fittipaldi]], [[Italian people|Italian]] [[Teo Fabi]], and [[Colombian people|Colombian]] [[Roberto Guerrero]] were able to obtain good outings in the 1980s, as was [[Dutch people|Dutchman]] [[Arie Luyendyk]]. In 1993, [[1992 Formula One World Championship|reigning]] [[Formula One]] World Champion [[Nigel Mansell]] shocked the racing world by leaving Formula One for [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]]. While he came in only third in [[1993 Indianapolis 500|the 500]], he won the [[1993 PPG Indy Car World Series|1993 CART championship]].<ref name="INDY23">{{cite web|title=Nigel Mansell|url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/43/|publisher=Formula One Administration|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=March 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311070430/http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/43/|url-status=live}}</ref> Foreign-born drivers became a regular fixture of Indianapolis in the years to follow. Despite the increase in foreign drivers commonly being associated with the CART era, three of the first six [[List of Indianapolis 500 winners|Indianapolis 500 winners]] were non-American drivers.

===Centennial Era===
[[File:Martin Auto Museum-1963 Chrysler 300-Pace Setter-2.jpg|250px|thumb|The [[Chrysler 300 letter series#1963 300J|Chrysler 300]] pace setter used in [[1963 Indianapolis 500|1963]] in the 47th running of the Indianapolis 500]]
In 2009, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began a three-year-long "Centennial Era" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the track (1909), and the 100th anniversary of the [[1911 Indianapolis 500|first Indy 500]] (1911).<ref name="INDY11">{{cite web|title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era, 2009–2011|url=http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/homepageed2.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528143939/http://in.gov/visitindiana/homepageed2.aspx|archive-date=2010-05-28|publisher=Indiana Office of Tourism Development}}</ref> As a gesture to the nostalgic ''Centennial Era'' celebration (2009–2011), tickets for the [[2009 Indianapolis 500|2009 race]] donned the moniker "93rd 500 Mile International Sweepstakes".<ref>{{cite web |title=Dixon Unveils Ticket For 93rd Indianapolis 500 In Indiana Statehouse |url=http://www.indy500.com/news/13296/Dixon_Unveils_Ticket_For_93rd_Indianapolis_500_In_Indiana_Statehouse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409115250/http://www.indy500.com:80/news/13296/Dixon_Unveils_Ticket_For_93rd_Indianapolis_500_In_Indiana_Statehouse |archive-date=April 9, 2009 |access-date=May 1, 2016 |website=[[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]]}}</ref> It is the first time since 1980 that the "Sweepstakes" title has been used. In May 2009, the ordinal (93rd) was used very sparingly, and for the first time since 1981, was not identified on the annual logo. Instead, in most instances in print, television, and radio, the race was referred to as the "2009 Indianapolis 500". Since the race was not held during the United States' participation in the two World Wars (1917–1918, 1942–1945), the advertised Centennial Era occurred during the 93rd to 95th runnings. To avoid confusion between the 100th anniversary, and the actual number of times the race has been run, references to the ordinal during the ''Centennial Era'' were curtailed.

In the [[2014 Indianapolis 500|2014]] meeting, the road course became part of the race meeting for the first time. The [[GMR Grand Prix]] road course event, and the three upper tiers of [[Road to Indy]], participated in road course events at the Speedway during the first week of activities.

Six years later, in [[2016 Indianapolis 500|2016]], the race celebrated its 100th running with about 350,000 in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Jenny |last2=Tuohy |first2=John |date=May 25, 2016 |title=Indy 500: What you need to know |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/05/25/what-you-need-know-before-you-head-indy-500/84900670/ |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=IndyStar |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615193931/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/05/25/what-you-need-know-before-you-head-indy-500/84900670/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Four local actors were hired to portray the Founding Four of James Allison, Carl Fisher, Frank Wheeler, and Arthur Newby during multiple Centennial Era events and the 100th race. Harold Hefner (Allison), Tom Harrison (Fisher), Jeff Angel (Wheeler), and Matthew Allen (Newby).<ref>{{cite web |last=Abernathy |first=April |date=May 28, 2011 |title=From Frankton to Founding Four |url=https://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/from-frankton-to-founding-four/article_1a1c907f-6354-5dcf-9475-3aaabbc7da5b.html |access-date=July 7, 2021 |work=The Herald Bulletin}}</ref>

In 2020, the race was delayed for the first time from its usual Memorial Day running to August due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. There was no audience in attendance, so as to comply with pandemic guidelines. The road course race was moved to the NASCAR weekend in July (which led to an IndyCar road course race added to the [[2021 Verizon 200|NASCAR weekend permanently in 2021]]), and the support races on the road course moved to its own September weekend. As races were cancelled because of local restrictions, the Speedway added two more road course races in October as part of the [[Intercontinental GT Challenge]] meeting, where attendance was capped to 10,000 per event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Nate |date=July 18, 2020 |title=Famed Indianapolis 500 race will take place in August |url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/07/18/when-is-indy-500-nascar-brickyard/ |access-date=July 7, 2021 |work=NBC Sports}}</ref>

In 2024, the race was delayed for over four hours due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area.<ref name="2024indy">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/indy-500-delayed-as-severe-weather-forces-fans-to-leave-indianapolis-motor-speedway |title=Indy 500 delayed as severe weather forces fans to leave Indianapolis Motor Speedway |department=Nation |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |publisher=[[PBS]] |language=en-US |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=2024-05-26 |access-date=2024-05-26 |first=Dave |last=Skretta |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526223135/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/indy-500-delayed-as-severe-weather-forces-fans-to-leave-indianapolis-motor-speedway |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Race name===
The race was originally advertised as the "International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race"<ref name="INDY3" /> from 1911 to 1916. However, from its inception, the race has been widely known as the Indianapolis 500 or, more simply "the 500", as for many years, it was the only noteworthy auto race of such distance. In 1919, the race was referred to as the "Liberty Sweepstakes" following [[World War I|WWI]].<ref name="INDY8">{{cite news|date=May 6, 1919|title=Limit Auto Race Entries: Only Thirty-Three Drivers to Start in Indianapolis Sweepstakes|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1919/05/06/archives/limit-auto-race-entries-only-thirtythree-drivers-to-start-in.html|access-date=2015-05-28|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726013453/https://www.nytimes.com/1919/05/06/archives/limit-auto-race-entries-only-thirtythree-drivers-to-start-in.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1920 to 1980, the race officially reverted to the "International Sweepstakes" moniker, as printed on the tickets and other paraphernalia, with slight variations over the years.

Following [[World War II|WWII]], the race was commonly recognized as "The 500", "The 500-Mile Race", "Indianapolis 500-Mile Race", "Indianapolis 500", or the simple form "Indy 500". Usually the [[Ordinal numeral|ordinal]] (e.g. "50th") preceded it. Often the race was also advertised on the radio as the "Annual Memorial Day race", or similar variations. By the late 20th century, the term "Indy 500" had slowly emerged as the most common and most popularly used moniker. As such, since 2016, the official race logo has used the contemporary and colloquial term "Indy 500".

For the [[1981 Indianapolis 500|1981 race]], the name "65th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race" was officially adopted, with all references as the "International Sweepstakes" dropped. Since 1981, the race has been formally advertised in this fashion, complete with a unique annual logo with the ordinal almost always included. Around that same time, in the wake of the [[1979 Indianapolis 500|1979]] entry controversy, and the formation of [[Champ Car|CART]], the race changed to an invitational event, rather than an [[Open (sport)|Open]], rendering the "[[sweepstakes]]" description inappropriate.

For nearly a century, the race eschewed any sort of [[naming rights]] or [[Sponsor (commercial)|title sponsor]], a move, though uncommon in the modern sports world, that was well received by fans. This tradition finally ended in [[2016 Indianapolis 500|2016]] when a presenting sponsor, PennGrade, was added for the first time. In the 21st century, the facility has also slowly added sponsorship ads on the retaining walls and infield grass. The ESPN-produced ABC telecast of the event did not recognize this sponsorship and instead had [[Firestone Tires]] as its presenting sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ABC's 54th Indianapolis 500 Telecast Bringing Consecutive Streak to Close|url=https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2018/05/abcs-54th-indianapolis-500-telecast-bringing-consecutive-streak-to-close/|access-date=2018-05-28|website=ESPN MediaZone|date=23 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134255/https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2018/05/abcs-54th-indianapolis-500-telecast-bringing-consecutive-streak-to-close/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Borg-Warner Trophy]], introduced in 1936,<ref name="INDY9">{{cite web|title=The Borg-Warner Trophy|url=http://www.indymotorspeedway.com/borg.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329101035/http://www.indymotorspeedway.com/borg.htm|archive-date=2010-03-29|publisher=IndySpeedway.com}}</ref> proclaims the event as the "Indianapolis 500-Mile Race", with no reference at all to the name "International Sweepstakes".

===Winners===
:''See: [[List of Indianapolis 500 winners]]''