A Brief History of the Indianapolis 500

Tragedy on the Track
When you're covering the length of a football field every second, disaster can be just a moment away. Accidents and collisions have killed more than a dozen drivers over the years, along with track workers, mechanics and even spectators. More have died during practice and qualifying rounds. As a memorial page on the Indy 500's website puts it: "Racing is a sport, but it's not a game." Above, a fatal crash in 1964.

• Photos: Formula 1
• Photos: The Kentucky Derby