Indianapolis

===Motorsports===
[[File:Defense.gov photo essay 120527-A-MG757-086.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|An [[open-wheel car]] crosses the Yard of Bricks during practice for the [[2012 Indianapolis 500]]]]
Indianapolis is a global center for [[auto racing]], home to numerous motorsports facilities and events, two sanctioning bodies ([[INDYCAR]] and [[United States Auto Club]]), and more than 500 motorsports-related companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indychamber.com/files/3914/3990/6100/2015_Indianapolis_Region_-_Motorsports_Industry.pdf |title=Motorsports Industry |publisher=Indy Chamber |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908084834/http://indychamber.com/files/3914/3990/6100/2015_Indianapolis_Region_-_Motorsports_Industry.pdf |archive-date=September 8, 2015}}</ref> Indianapolis, or Indy, is a [[metonymy|metonym]] for auto racing, particularly when referring to [[American open-wheel car racing]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=August 28, 2013 |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2013/08/28/indianapolis-motor-speedway/2723017/ |title=RetroIndy: Indianapolis Motor Speedway |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |publisher=Gannett Co. |access-date=November 12, 2022}}</ref>

Completed in 1909 as an automotive test track, the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] is a [[National Historic Landmark]] and the world's largest [[List of sports venues by capacity|sports venue by capacity]], with 235,000 permanent seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/69197-largest-stadium-overall-capacity |title=Largest stadium (overall capacity) |website=guinnessworldrecords.com |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref> Since 1911, the {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} rectangular oval has hosted the annual [[Indianapolis 500]], an open-wheel automobile race. It is contested as part of the [[IndyCar Series]] and traditionally held over [[Memorial Day]] weekend. Considered part of the [[Triple Crown of Motorsport]], the Indianapolis 500 is the world's largest single-day sporting event.<ref name="Keefer"/><ref name="Davidson"/> The track also hosts the [[Grand Prix of Indianapolis]] and NASCAR's [[Brickyard 400]] and [[Pennzoil 150]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last=Davidson |first=Donald |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/indianapolis-motor-speedway/ |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref>

[[Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park]] (in nearby [[Brownsburg, Indiana|Brownsburg]]) contains a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} road course, a {{convert|4400|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} [[dragstrip]], and a {{convert|0.69|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[Oval track racing#Short track|oval short track]]. Each [[Labor Day]] weekend, the facility hosts the [[NHRA U.S. Nationals]], the largest and most prestigious [[drag racing]] event in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hembree |first=Mike |date=September 3, 2015 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motor/nhra/2015/09/03/chevrolet-performance-us-nationals-drag-racing-prestigious-event/71667052/ |title=Drag racing stars are made at NHRA U.S. Nationals |newspaper=USA Today |publisher=Gannett Co. |access-date=May 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Indianapolis Raceway Park |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last=Watson |first=Michael |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/indianapolis-raceway-park/ |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> The city's [[Indianapolis Speedrome]] is believed to be the oldest operating [[figure 8 racing]] venue in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schoettle |first=Anthony |date=March 2, 2017 |url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/62796-storied-racetrack-revved-for-a-restart-under-new-owner |title=Storied racetrack revved for a restart under new owner |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |access-date=October 27, 2023}}</ref>