To mark the 100th anniversary of the completion of its famous brick racing surface, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) iis offering a unique keepsake to commemorate this significant day in the track’s history.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, exactly 100 years to the day that the final brick was laid, any fan who purchases four reserved Race Day tickets to any IMS event in 2010 will receive a commemorative plaque containing a replica of the contract used to purchase the bricks and a casing of original brick pieces from the racing surface. The offer is valid on new purchases only for new or existing IMS ticket customers. All plaques will be shipped at a later date.
Tickets for the Indianapolis 500 (May 30), Brickyard 400 (July 25) and Red Bull Indianapolis GP (Aug. 29) can be purchased three ways: Online at www.imstix.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To celebrate the historic anniversary, the original brick contract and several original bricks will be on display Dec. 17 in the lobby of the IMS Administration Building.
When IMS opened in the summer of 1909, the first races took place on a track surface composed of crushed stone and tar. To provide a smoother racing surface for the competitors, IMS purchased more than 3 million paving bricks and began laying them in fall 1909. On Dec. 17, 1909, Indiana Gov. Thomas Marshall laid the ceremonial final "golden" brick in place.
