Indy MotoGP

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 as a test track and the first 500 internatonal Sweepstake Race was held in 1911. The track was repaved in 1910 with several million bricks, hence its nickname "The Brickyard". Greater changes have taken place at Indianapolis since the ´90s with a NASCAR Winston Cup race for stock cars in 1994, the split between CART and the IRL, and shortening of practice and qualifying for the 500 race itself - it used to take the whole month of May. The oval itself has also andergone some changes in the last few years, with redesigned pit entry and exit lanes, raised retaining walls and slightly reprofiled corners, all in the interests of increased safety.