The 1911 international 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race took place at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1911. This event
marked the first running of the Indianapolis 500, one of the most
prestigious automobile races in the world.

Ray Harroun, an engineer with the Marmon Motor Car Company,
came out of retirement to drive, and won the inaugural event
before re-retiring for good in the winner’s circle.

Ray Wade Harroun (1879 – 1968)

A Pacific Northwest sports legend, Baseball Hall of Famer and
former Seattle Mariner, Ken Griffey Jr., will drive the 2024
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray pace car the 108th running of the
Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26.