1911day.year
At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first Indianapolis 500 ends with Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp becoming the first winner of the 500-mile auto race.
The inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 was won by Ray Harroun in a Marmon Wasp, launching a legendary racing tradition.
Conceived by automobile enthusiasts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first Indy 500 challenged drivers to complete 500 miles over 200 laps. On May 30, Ray Harroun took the checkered flag after nearly seven hours of racing at an average speed of around 74 miles per hour. Notably, he drove without a riding mechanic, using a rear-view mirror as a pioneering innovation. The event awarded him a prize purse of $14,000 and captured the public's imagination. It quickly became an annual spectacle and is now one of motorsport's most prestigious races.
1911
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Ray Harroun
Marmon Wasp