IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 277 
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the inaugural Indianapolis 500 held 
at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 24, 2011 
Mr. CARSON of Indiana (for himself, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, Ms. KAPTUR, 
Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. PENCE, Mr. ROKITA, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. BURTON 
of Indiana, and Mr. YOUNG of Indiana) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the inaugural Indian-
apolis 500 held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911. 
Whereas the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day spec-
tator sporting event in the world, has taken place on Me-
morial Day weekend every year since 1911 except during 
the United States involvement in world wars, from 1917 
to 1918 and 1942 to 1945; 
Whereas the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s 
largest spectator sporting facility, with more than 
250,000 permanent seats; 
Whereas the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a pioneer in 
introducing seating areas specifically for people with dis-
abilities; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
05:36 May 25, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR277.IH
HR277
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 277 IH 
Whereas in 1987, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was offi-
cially listed on the United States National Park Service’s 
list of National Historic Landmarks as the oldest con-
tinuously operated automobile race course in the world; 
Whereas founders Carl G. Fisher, Arthur C. Newby, Frank 
H. Wheeler, and James A. Allison pooled their resources 
in early 1909 to build the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 
on a site 5 miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis to 
provide an automobile testing ground to support Indi-
ana’s growing automotive industry; 
Whereas the first motorized races, using motorcycles, took 
place August 14, 1909, on the recently completed 2.5- 
mile oval, which had a racing surface composed of 
crushed stone and tar; 
Whereas a series of automobile races at the Indianapolis 
Motor Speedway, the first four-wheeled races at the facil-
ity, took place August 19, 1909; 
Whereas in a span of 63 days in late 1909, 3,200,000 paving 
bricks, each weighing 9.5 pounds, were laid on top of the 
crushed rock and tar surface to upgrade the Speedway 
and leading to the facility’s popular nickname, ‘‘The 
Brickyard’’; 
Whereas a 3-foot horizontal strip of that original brick still 
is exposed at the start-finish line, known as the ‘‘Yard 
of Bricks’’; 
Whereas the first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race took place May 
30, 1911, and was won by Ray Harroun at an average 
speed of 74.602 mph; 
Whereas Harroun’s Marmon ‘‘Wasp’’ race car was the first 
automobile to use a rearview mirror, one of countless 
firsts in automotive technology and safety devised or de-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:10 May 25, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR277.IH
HR277
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 277 IH 
veloped at the Speedway through the years, including the 
first use of a Pace Car (1911), the first use of four-wheel 
hydraulic brakes (1921), the first installation of color 
warning lights (1935), the first mandatory use of helmets 
(1935), and the first use of crash-data recorders (1993) 
and the SAFER Barrier (2002), an energy-absorbing 
barrier affixed to concrete walls that has become the 
standard at all major United States oval tracks; 
Whereas Janet Guthrie became the first woman to compete 
in the Indianapolis 500 in 1977, making IndyCar racing 
the first and only major sport where men and women 
compete according to the same rules, against each other; 
Whereas Willy T. Ribbs became the first African-American 
driver to compete at the Indianapolis 500 in 1991, the 
first of several African-Americans to compete in IndyCar 
racing; 
Whereas in 2005, Danica Patrick became the first female 
driver to lead the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race when she 
acquired the lead near the 140-mile mark; 
Whereas in 2009, Helio Castroneves became a three-time 
winner of the 500 Mile Race and Danica Patrick finished 
in third place, the best finish ever by a woman in the 
race; 
Whereas 8 drivers have won the Indianapolis 500 on their 
first attempt, Ray Harroun (1911, inaugural race), Jules 
Goux (1913), Rene Thomas (1914), Frank Lockhart 
(1926), George Souders (1927), Graham Hill (1966), 
Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), and Helio Castroneves 
(2001); 
Whereas three drivers have won the Indianapolis 500 four 
times each, A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Al 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:10 May 25, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR277.IH
HR277
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 277 IH 
Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987), and Rick Mears (1979, 
1984, 1988, 1991); 
Whereas, on May 10, 1999, Arie Luyendyk’s turned a lap of 
239.260 during practice, making it the fastest unofficial 
lap ever recorded at the Speedway; 
Whereas since 1956, the winner of the Indianapolis 500 has 
celebrated by drinking milk in Victory Lane in accord-
ance with a tradition started by three-time Indianapolis 
500 winner Louis Meyer; 
Whereas each May since 1981, the Indianapolis Motor Speed-
way has served as the backdrop for the annual Armed 
Forces Induction Ceremony, in which Hoosiers who have 
volunteered to serve the United States in the Armed 
Forces are administered the oath of enlistment; and 
Whereas the Indianapolis 500 is the premier motorsports 
event in the world and is a great source of pride to all 
Hoosiers: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:10 May 25, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR277.IH
HR277
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS