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First Indy 500 Race Actually Took Place 105 Years Ago

By Joe Hren

Posted May 29, 2016

The year was 1946. Harry Truman was president, Sylvester Stallone was born and the Indianapolis 500 hadn't been run in five years.

The headline reads... "Field of 33 Ready for Start of 500-Mile Classic Tomorrow."

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates the 100th running of the Indy 500 this week, but the first race actually took place 105 years ago. That's because the war effort became top priority.

The first break took place when the US officially entered World War I, canceling the race in 1917 and 1918.

25 years later when World War II began, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Eddie Rickenbacker was faced with a similar decision. He was previously a driver in the 500 and a flying ace in World War I.

Indiana Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson says ultimately, Rickenbacker decided to cancel the races from 1942 through 1945.

"It had sat there for five years with nothing done to it and it was terribly, I mean the infield was like a jungle, it was just terribly overgrown," Davidson says.

When Tony Hulman purchased the speedway in 1945, he didn't know if people would show up for the race. The speedway only had six months to clean up.

"It was just the biggest crowd that had ever been there and they had horrendous traffic jams," Davidson says. "People were still trying to get in long after the race had started," Davidson says.

George Robson was the winner of the 1946 Indy 500. He led 138 of the 200 laps clocking in with an average speed of 138 MPH. The race has been held every year since and 70 years later, James Hinchcliffe will start at the top the pole with a qualifying speed of 230 MPH.

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