Ghosts of the Brickyard

An in-depth, year by year look at the Indianapolis 500, once a podcast but now a Substack. Also: @100YearsIndy500. Inquries: [email protected].

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

If you listen closely you can hear Carl Fisher clamoring for the 24 hour race he always wanted to have at IMS

[Indianapolis Motor Speedway @IMS]

Working on our night moves 🕺

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

ICYMI:

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Did you know the land Indianapolis Motor Speedway is on might have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?

Read more here: https://t.co/8zOQXAqe4V

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Did you know the land Indianapolis Motor Speedway is on might have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?

Read more here: https://t.co/8zOQXAqe4V

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Most biographies about James Allison include that he became frustrated with writing utensils and so he invented his own fountain pen and sold it. This was James Allison’s first foray into innovation. But what if I told you everybody was wrong: https://t.co/6esBimF5Ng

[Mark G Dill @1Superspeedway]

Driver Johnny Aitken swept the three Harvest Classic Races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 9, 1916. This picture shows the starting formation of the feature event, a 100-miler. Speedway President Carl Fisher drove the pace car (6). https://t.co/MFVYmk1rbC

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Most biographies about James Allison include that he became frustrated with writing utensils and so he invented his own fountain pen and sold it. This was James Allison’s first foray into innovation. But what if I told you everybody was wrong: https://t.co/6esBimF5Ng

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

What he leaves out is that Mauri Rose and Wilbur Shaw started on the front row of their eleventh start but they also both won in their eleventh starts, not just their twelfth which changes the situation imo

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Not to be That Guy but I could not find anything that indicated Mauri Rose had a pilots license. He worked with airplanes though

[Chad Smith @Chad200]

Fun fact about today’s IR-28 test driver:

🇺🇸 Licensed pilot and American driver Wilbur Shaw started on the front row in his 11th Indy 500 start, and won the race on May 30 in his 12th start.
🇺🇸 Licensed pilot and American driver Mauri Rose started on the front row in his 11th Indy 500 start, and won the race on May 31 in his 12th start.
🇺🇸 Licensed pilot and American driver Rodger Ward started 4th in his 11th Indy 500 start, and won the race on May 30 in his 12th start.
🇺🇸 Licensed pilot and American driver @AlexanderRossi started on the front row in his 11th Indy 500 start, and makes his 12th start on May 30 next year.

#INDYCAR #INDY500 @IMS

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Like the way people just say things about Indy 500 history and everybody just nods and goes "cool!" and never is like "hey where did you find that information?" is BEYOND ME

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

ICYMI:

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Did #IMS and #Indy500 co-founder Frank Wheeler actually make and lose two fortunes before arriving in Indianapolis? I uncover the truth in this week's Ghosts of the Brickyard -- Read here: https://t.co/SbA4aYKeLs

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Did #IMS and #Indy500 co-founder Frank Wheeler actually make and lose two fortunes before arriving in Indianapolis? I uncover the truth in this week's Ghosts of the Brickyard -- Read here: https://t.co/SbA4aYKeLs

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

This car appears to be the National that finished in seventh place in the inaugural #Indy500. It was originally driven by Indianapolis local, Charlie Merz (with relief from Len Zengel). Charlie Merz went on to serve as the Chief Steward for the Indy 500 from 1935 to 1939.

[NTT INDYCAR SERIES @IndyCar]

Hang on, @wbuxtonofficial! 😅

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Ever wonder where the heck #IndyCar 's championship trophy came from? Look no further ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.co/R7W9LRlLg3

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

ICYMI:

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

To best tell you the story of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we need to start before 1909. Actually I think we need to go back about a century and talk about the history of the bicycle.

I know, I know. But stay with me and read more here:
https://t.co/n8Mw2sB0PI

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

To best tell you the story of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we need to start before 1909. Actually I think we need to go back about a century and talk about the history of the bicycle.

I know, I know. But stay with me and read more here:
https://t.co/n8Mw2sB0PI

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

It is such a shame that motorsport history is so undervalued, even by other historians/adjacent communities.

[Matthew Dillner @MatthewDillner]

WHAT⁉️⁉️⁉️

“We agree that the Fairgrounds Speedway site is a historic property. But not because of Auto Racing”

“There is no such thing as historic asphalt or cinder block” - Mike Kopp (head of the Restore Our Fairgrounds Coalition.

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

Otherwise, I'll post the links here too. Always free. Might also repost other motorsport history content as well

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

So here's the thing. I've realized that I don't really like podcasting but I do like to write. And so I'm turning this project into a Substack so if you'd like to subscribe to that to get the posts sent to your email: https://t.co/DWGK7oZ95s

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

So anyway, I know I don’t owe anybody an explanation but I very much appreciate the kindness and enthusiasm people have shown me and this project. I’m hoping to get both 1912 Indy 500 and 1913 Indy 500 seasons up in 2026 🤞🏼

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

I’d like to take a second to thank everybody that listened to the podcast this year — despite only publishing episodes in the first two months of the year 🫣

Rest assured, this is still 100% an active project

[Ghosts of the Brickyard @BrickyardGhosts]

I am also doing all of this by myself. This is also a hobby which means oftentimes when my life gets hectic, this is what gets shelved first. I also have ADHD and I’ll admit, I get side tracked often.