[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8370]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST INDIANAPOLIS 500

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day Weekend means many things to 
Americans. It is a time to remember those who have taken up arms on our 
behalf and did not make it home. It is also the unofficial start of 
summer. But to Hoosiers and race fans across the country, this weekend 
also means that it is time to head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 
for this year's Indianapolis 500.
  For just over one hundred years, the center of the auto racing world 
has been located in central Indiana. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway 
has been the testing ground that has led to the development of many of 
the technologies that we see in today's passenger vehicles.
  This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the Speedway's premier 
event: The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Over the last century, race fans 
from all walks of life have been treated to some of the most compelling 
stories ever seen in the sporting world.
  The winner of the 1911 race completed the 500 miles with an average 
speed of 75 miles per hour, while the racers attempting to make history 
this weekend will circle the 2.5 mile track at speeds well in excess of 
200 miles per hour.
  Like many Hoosiers, I look forward to the Race, one of our proudest 
traditions each and every year. We have come to know the names of 
Harroun, Foyt, Unser and Andretti in the time since Carl Fisher, Arthur 
Newby, Frank Wheeler and James Allison helped found the Speedway back 
in 1909.
  Following World War II, Indiana businessman Tony Hulman purchased the 
track from then-owner, World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Since 
that time, the Speedway has been owned by the Hulman-George family.
  The stewardship of Mari Hulman and Tony George, along with entire the 
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Board of Directors has helped the 500 Mile 
Race become the world's largest single day sporting event, and you can 
bet that the more than a quarter of a million seats at the Speedway 
will be packed with race fans this weekend from Indiana and beyond.
  So, this weekend my family and I will once again return to the 
Speedway to see history made at amazing speeds and I am eager to once 
again be Back Home Again in Indiana for the Greatest Spectacle in 
Racing.

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