Description

The Indianapolis 500 is an annual American open-wheel car race held on American Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), in Speedway, Indiana. It was first held in 1911 after the track's owners had experimented with several other long-distance auto races over the previous two years. The race was not held in 1917 or 1918 and again from 1942 to 1945 because of war. It was administered by the American Automobile Association between 1911 and 1955, then by the United States Auto Club from 1956 to 1997, and finally by the Indy Racing League/IndyCar beginning in 1998. The event usually covers 200 laps over a total distance of 500 mi (800 km). Each winning racer and team is presented with a small replica of the Art Deco sterling silver Borg-Warner Trophy, a replica of the pace car, a large sum of money, and a championship ring as prizes for winning the race. In the 109 editions of the Indianapolis 500 that have occurred as of the 2025 event, 76 different drivers have won.