[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 18, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 190--RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                       INDIANAPOLIS 500 MILE RACE

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Coats) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 190

       Whereas the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest 
     spectator sporting facility in the world, with more than 
     250,000 permanent seats;
       Whereas founders Carl G. Fisher, Arthur C. Newby, Frank H. 
     Wheeler, and James A. Allison pooled their resources in 1909 
     to build the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 5 miles from 
     downtown Indianapolis as a testing ground to support the 
     growing automotive industry of Indiana;
       Whereas on August 14, 1909, the first motorized races, 
     using motorcycles, took place on the recently completed 2.5-
     mile oval, which had a racing surface composed of crushed 
     stone and tar;
       Whereas on August 19, 1909, the first 4-wheeled automobile 
     races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway took place;
       Whereas for 63 days in late 1909, 3,200,000 paving bricks, 
     each weighing 9.5 pounds, were laid on top of the crushed 
     stone and tar surface to upgrade the Indianapolis Motor 
     Speedway, leading the facility to be nicknamed ``The 
     Brickyard'';
       Whereas a 3-foot horizontal strip of that original brick 
     remains exposed at the start and finish line, known as the 
     ``Yard of Bricks'';
       Whereas on May 30, 1911, the first Indianapolis 500 Mile 
     Race took place and was won by Ray Harroun at an average 
     speed of 74.602 miles per hour;
       Whereas the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day 
     spectator sporting event in the world, has occurred on every 
     Memorial Day weekend since 1911, except during the 
     involvement of the United States in world wars from 1917 
     through 1918 and 1942 through 1945;
       Whereas in 1977, Janet Guthrie became the first woman to 
     compete in the Indianapolis 500;
       Whereas in 1991, Willy T. Ribbs became the first African-
     American driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500;
       Whereas the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, by hosting the 
     IZOD IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the MotoGP 
     Series, and the Formula One Series, is the only facility in 
     the world that has played host to these 4 elite worldwide 
     racing series;
       Whereas every May since 1981 the Indianapolis Motor 
     Speedway has served as the backdrop for the annual Armed 
     Forces Induction Ceremony, in which citizens of Indiana who 
     have volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces are 
     administered the oath of enlistment;
       Whereas in 1987, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 
     officially listed on the National Park Service list of 
     National Historic Landmarks as the oldest continuously 
     operated automobile racecourse; and
       Whereas the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race has played an 
     enormous part in shaping and defining the City of 
     Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, United States 
     motorsports, and the United States automobile industry, and 
     is a great source of pride to all citizens of Indiana: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the 100th anniversary 
     of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

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