On August 19, 1911, the first race was held at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, now the home of the world’s most famous
motor racing competition, the Indianapolis 500.

Built on farmland five miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana,
the speedway was started by local businessmen as a testing         
facility for Indiana’s growing automobile industry.

Ray Harroun won the race in his Harmon Wasp with an
average speed of 74.6 mph.

        
       
        
        
        
        
       
The first-place prize of 5,000 francs—a value of around
$40,000 today—was shared equally between the French
manufacturers Panhard & Levassor and Les Fils de
Peugeot frères for hewing closest to the competition’s
ideals.

The real winner of the Paris-Rouen Trial, however, was
the automotive industry itself.

(FOX NEWS) – Rex White, who was NASCAR’s oldest living
champion and a 2015 inductee into the Hall of Fame, has
died. He was 95.

NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame confirmed White’s
death on Friday. No additional details were provided.

NASCAR chairman Jim France said, ‘Rex epitomized the
formative days of NASCAR – a true pioneer whose
contributions helped shape the foundation of our sport.’

On May 29, 2005, 23-year-old Danica Patrick became the first
female driver to take the lead in the storied Indianapolis 500.

Having previously distinguished herself in the Toyota Atlantic
series, Patrick had qualified fourth—another best for a woman,
for the 89th Indianapolis 500, only her fifth Indy Racing League
event.

Danica Sue Patrick (43) is the most successful woman in
the history of American open-wheel car racing. She retired
after the 2018 season.

On April 20, 2008, 26-year-old Danica Patrick wins the Indy
Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan, making
her the first female winner in IndyCar racing history.

Danica Patrick was born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit,
Wisconsin. She became involved in racing as a young
girl and as a teenager moved to England in pursuit of
better training opportunities.

In 2005, Patrick started competing in IndyCar events, which
include the famed Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway in Indiana.