The Greatest Spectacle remains an American icon
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis 500 has outlasted two world wars, the decline of the automobile industry, a bitter split in open-wheel racing and more death than anyone cares to recall.
The Greatest Spectacle in Racing might as well be called the Greatest Survivor in Sports.
Through it all, though, this iconic event in America’s heartland has endured. And after another round of pageantry, another rendition of “Back Home Again in Indiana,” it will run Sunday for the 100th time.
“I know football fans and everyone says the Super Bowl is the biggest thing around, but by the same token, we’re 100 years this year,” three-time champion Bobby Unser said. “One hundred! And it’s still at the top of the heap. That tells you all you need to know about its place in America.”
Those closest to it have fond memories.
As a kid, NASCAR star Tony Stewart would rush home from school every day in May to watch the field turn laps on TV. Fellow NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon stood in line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Rick Mears’ autograph. Sam Hornish Jr. made the trek from Ohio each year with his family to sit in the grandstands and watch the spectacle unfold.
“My parents were working really hard at that time trying to establish a business,” Hornish said. “I always knew where my parents were at night, but there were not a whole lot of days spent with them. So it was really exciting to be able to go and spend a day at the race track with them.”
His own Indy 500 victory a decade ago is a blur, but Hornish’s early days as a fan are crystal clear.
Indianapolis is where A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser became household names. The trio represents the only fourtime winners, and Unser, his brother Bobby and son Al Jr. are the only multi-generational winners.
Mario Andretti, despite his gripping duels with Foyt, won only once. His heartbreak in the race has been passed down to his son, Michael, and grandson, Marco. Between five Andrettis, they have just that 1969 win, though Marco will look once more to break the family curse Sunday. So big is this centennial event, IMS officials have announced it is sold out for the first time in 100 years and the race will be shown live on TV in central Indiana for just the third time. The last time it was aired live was in the 1950s.