Indianapolis Speedrome


The Indianapolis Speedrome is the oldest operating figure 8 track in the United States as it opened in 1941. It is believed by many historians that this is the first figure 8 track where cars intersect.
The Speedrome is home to the World Figure 8 Championships, the Annual Spring Shootout, and the 3 Hour Endurance Race.
The Speedrome is the USAC's most active track with 496 events held, and also produced Tony Stewart’s maiden USAC win on August 9, 1991.

History

[Image:Figure 8 Action.jpg|thumb|Figure 8 racing late 1940s at the Indianapolis Speedrome]

Events

Carb Night Classic

The Speedrome hosted the carb night classic from 1962 to 1964 and then once again in 1979.

Three-hour figure 8 championship

The three-hour figure 8 championship is an annual three-hour endurance race featuring late models.
It began in 1977 and like any other sport had sprees of dominance.
YearChampion
1977Jim Fox
1978-82Kenny St John
1983Wayne Arnold
1984Bobby Ellett
1985Wayne Arnold
1986Rance Harmon
1987Mike St John
1988Leonard Basham
1989Wayne Arnold
1990-91Mike St John
1992Duane Lee
1993-94Jack Dossey Jr
1995Duane Lee
1996-99Jack Dossey Jr
2000Bruce Tunny
2001Bobby Douthitt
2002Curtis McMurtrey
2003Bill Tunny Jr
2004-05Bruce Tunny
2006Curtis McMurtrey
2007Doug Greig
2008Fred Bear Jr
2009Ben Tunny
2010RJ Norton Jr
2011Doug Greig
2012Ben Tunny
2013Mark Tunny
2014Danny Smith
2015Ben Tunny
2016Austin Tunny
2017Mike Hadley Jr
2018Mark Tunny
2019Eddie VanMeter
2020Jesse Tunny
2021Ben Tunny
2022Mark Tunny
2023Austin Tunny
2024Mark Tunny

The death of Don Vogler

On May 1, 1981, Don Vogler and his son Rich Vogler were registered for a USAC midget car feature. Don was about to complete his final warm up lap when he suddenly collided with the wall on turn 3, flipping over the concrete barrier and coming to rest in the catch fence. He was seen gripping his chest before the accident by multiple witnesses. He was pronounced dead in a local hospital a few hours later from blunt force trauma. The cause of accident is believed to be a heart attack. His son later raced in IndyCar and NASCAR but died in 1990 at Salem Speedway.

Job Corps riot of 1965

During a Saturday night race in 1965 there were 35 Job Corps men and youths invited as special guests for that night's race. The Job Corps members were siting in the back of a pickup truck, when they started yelling obscenities at women entering the restroom. Later, 15 of the youths were standing by the restroom and continued to yell obscenities at race goers until the spectators confronted and attempted to silence the youths. While the youth were being finally escorted out they began throwing sticks and stones into the crowd. A woman suffered lacerations to her arms.

COVID-19 guideline violations

On October 3, 2020, a picture of the Speedrome at full capacity surfaced on the media. At this time, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place in Marion County had a guideline requiring that all sporting events were to be held at 25% capacity. The Speedrome was fined $1000.