A Brief History of the Indianapolis 500

Start Your Engines
Modern Indy cars, like these leaving their pits in 2005, muster 650 hp and routinely reach speeds above 200 mph. Dutch driver Arie Luyendyk clocked the fastest race in 1990, winning in 2 hours 41 minutes at an average speed of 186 mph. On turns, drivers can endure 4 g's, equivalent to what Space Shuttle astronauts experience on takeoff.

• Photos: Formula 1
• Photos: The Kentucky Derby