Walt Disney World Speedway was a racing facility located on the grounds of the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida , near Orlando .
129-707: It was built in 1995 by IMS Events, Inc., a subsidiary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and was designed primarily as a venue for the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, an Indy Racing League event. The circuit's primary use was as a venue for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and the Indy Racing Experience, programs that allow fans to drive or ride in real race cars. After
258-672: A Formula Ford 2000 support race on January 26, 1996, followed the next day with the Indy Racing League 's Indy 200 car race. On February 7, 1997, the first racing experience program, the Richard Petty Driving Experience, opened at the Speedway. On March 27, 2015, it was announced that the speedway would close on August 9, 2015, and be razed. Demolition began late August to make way for "transportation improvements", namely expanding and reconfiguring
387-800: A colonial American town set during the American Revolutionary War . The land contains recreations and replicas found in Philadelphia and Boston such as Independence Hall , the Liberty Tree , and the Liberty Bell . The Hall of Presidents is a film presentation and stage show themed to the American presidency and featuring all 46 individual American presidents in Audio-Animatronic form. Tucked away in
516-445: A 2.5-mile (4.0 km) oval to leave room for the grandstands. Reshaping of the land for the speedway took 500 laborers, 300 mules and a fleet of steam-powered machinery. The track surface consisted of graded and packed soil covered by 2 inches (5 cm) of gravel, 2 inches (5 cm) of limestone covered with taroid (a solution of tar and oil), 1–2 inches (3–5 cm) of crushed stone chips that were also drenched with taroid, and
645-435: A 500-mile (800 km) tire test approved by the government for Firestone. Shaw was shocked at the dilapidated state of the speedway and contacted owner Eddie Rickenbacker, only to discover that it was for sale. Shaw then sent out letters to the automobile industry to try to find a buyer. All the responses indicated that the speedway would be turned into a private facility for the buyer. Shaw then looked around for someone to buy
774-623: A Small World , Mickey's PhilharMagic in Fantasyland Theatre, Mad Tea Party , The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh , and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel . Outside of the castle courtyard is Fantasyland Forest, featuring attractions based on other Disney princesses and heroines: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train , is a mine cart roller coaster based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ; The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
903-416: A better means of testing cars before delivering them to consumers. At the time, racing was just getting started on horse tracks and public roads. Fisher noticed how dangerous and ill-suited the makeshift courses were for racing and testing. He also argued that spectators did not get their money's worth, as they were able to get only a brief glimpse of cars speeding down a linear road. Fisher proposed building
1032-474: A circular track 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) long with smooth 100–150-foot-wide (30–45 m) surfaces. Such a track would give manufacturers a chance to test cars at sustained speeds and give drivers a chance to learn their limits. Fisher predicted speeds could reach up to 120 mph (190 km/h) on a 5-mile (8 km) course. He visited the Brooklands circuit outside London in 1907, and after viewing
1161-413: A controversy where exhaust pipe rules were clarified after qualifications began and certain teams with an altered exhaust pipe were "locked into" the field, USAC held an additional qualification round on the day before the race, announcing that any driver who could post a faster speed than the slowest qualifier (Roger McCluskey) would be allowed to start the race. Bill Vukovich and George Snider were added to
1290-458: A desolate corner of Liberty Square is The Haunted Mansion , a dark ride omnimover attraction themed to a haunted New England manor . The Liberty Belle riverboat's dock is located on the shores of Liberty Square. Fantasyland is themed to Disney's animated fairy tale feature films . Depicted in a medieval-faire style, Fantasyland features multiple attractions featuring various Disney characters and stories, including Peter Pan's Flight , It's
1419-426: A final topping of crushed stone. Workers also constructed dozens of buildings, several bridges, grandstands with 12,000 seats, and an 8-foot (2.4 m) perimeter fence. A white-with-green-trim paint scheme was used throughout the property. The first event ever held at the speedway was a helium gas-filled balloon competition on Saturday, June 5, 1909, more than two months before the oval was completed. The event drew
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#17327810599231548-452: A fracture of his lower back, and missed two races. Two weeks later, on January 23, 1997, IRL driver Davy Jones broke his neck after a practice crash in turn three. On January 6, 2000, IRL driver Sam Schmidt was paralyzed after a crash in preseason testing. The track was built before the SAFER barrier was introduced, which many feel may have lessened the injuries in all three cases. After
1677-572: A great track. In the 1950s, cars were topping out at 150 mph (240 km/h), helping to draw more and more fans. The low-slung, sleek cars were known as roadsters, and the Kurtis, Kuzma, and Watson chassis dominated the field. Nearly all were powered by the Offenhauser , or "Offy", engines. The crowd favorite Novi , with its unique sound and look, was the most powerful car of the decade that dominated time trials. However, they would never make
1806-403: A lap near the 125 mi (201 km) mark while cycling through pit stops. Dan Wheldon would go on to win the 2005 Indianapolis 500 . Sam Hornish Jr. became the first driver to ever overtake for the lead on the race's final lap, ultimately winning the 2006 Indianapolis 500 in the last 450 feet (140 m) by a 0.0635-second margin over rookie Marco Andretti . Dario Franchitti became
1935-498: A largely irregular schedule, the Indy Racing Experience made the track its permanent year-round home. On January 16, 2012, a new driving experience started business at Walt Disney World Speedway geared towards high end "supercars" called the Exotic Driving Experience. Modifications were made to the speedway's infield to create an "Exotics Course" which was a one-mile layout that ran clockwise and combined part of
2064-467: A mile away from its parking lot, on the opposite side of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon. Upon arrival, guests are taken by the parking lot trams to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), which sells admission into the parks and provides transportation connections throughout the resort complex. Guests using city buses, non-Disney hotel shuttles or ridesharing services are also dropped off at
2193-622: A practice used frequently at street circuits and other tracks without garages. The initial savings in construction costs was significant. Temporary bleachers and restroom facilities would be erected each year beginning in November, in preparations for the races in January. The lack of permanent grandstands also allowed track officials to adjust the configuration and capacity of seating annually reflecting ticket demand. This practice, however, would prove to be inconvenient and increasingly expensive in
2322-480: A professional driver and served as the track's primary function, year-round. It was the only track used by the RPDE that, weather permitting, operated roughly 365 days a year. To assist in the increased ingress and egress, a one-lane automobile tunnel was built for the 1997 season. In the summer of 1999, a new visitor's center and gift shop was built to permanently house operations for RPDE . A new modest garage facility
2451-494: A rather compact schedule, the one-mile (1.6 km) track was completed with ten miles (16 km) of safety restraint cabling, 2 acres (8,100 m) of fencing, 1,800 yards (1,600 m) of concrete for outside walls, 2,300 feet (700 m) of concrete for pit walls and 5,200 tons of asphalt for the track surface. Despite 1995 having the wettest June–July in Orlando on record (75 inches of rain), including Hurricane Erin ,
2580-522: A reported 40,000 people. Nine balloons lifted off "racing" for trophies; a balloon by the name of Universal City won the race, landing 382 miles (615 km) away in Alabama after spending more than a day aloft. The first motorsport event at the track consisted of seven motorcycle races, sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM), on August 14, 1909. This was originally planned as
2709-555: A snake-charmer, Minnie Mouse as a magician, and Pluto as a special performer. Storybook Circus opened with a "streetmosphere" circus act called The Giggle Gang, which had a two-year run from 2012 until 2014. Tomorrowland is themed to the concept of the future inspired by the optimism and scientific advancements of the Space Age and Atomic Age . Several attractions include Astro Orbiter , Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin , Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor , Tomorrowland Speedway ,
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#17327810599232838-627: A train station, town square, movie theater, city hall, firehouse, restaurants, emporium, shops, arcades, and several varieties of horse-drawn and motor-powered vehicles. Guests enter the park underneath the main station of the Walt Disney World Railroad and into the town square. At the far end of Main Street, U.S.A. is the park's hub, anchored by Cinderella Castle and the Partners statue . Symbolically, Main Street represents
2967-450: A two-day, 15-race program, but ended before the first day was completed due to concerns over suitability of the track surface for motorcycle use. These early events were largely planned by one of the top names in early auto racing promotion, Ernest Moross , who earned fame for his bold and sometimes outlandish barnstorming events at fairgrounds tracks with racing star Barney Oldfield . On August 19, 1909, fifteen carmakers' teams arrived at
3096-490: Is Cinderella Castle , inspired by the fairy tale castle featured in the 1950 animated film . In 2023, the park hosted 17.72 million visitors, making it the most visited theme park in the world for the seventeenth consecutive year and the most visited theme park in North America for at least the past twenty-three years. The park has become a cultural touchstone and symbol of modern American pop culture . Walt Disney
3225-763: Is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida , it opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division, the official park name has changed slightly over the years, from Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (1971–1994) and The Magic Kingdom (1994–2017), the park was initialized by Walt Disney and designed by WED Enterprises . The park layout and attractions were based on Disneyland in Anaheim, California , and are dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters. The park icon
3354-499: Is a Polynesian musical Audio-Animatronic show drawing from American tiki culture in the Sunshine pavilion. Swiss Family Treehouse is an interactive walk-through treehouse attraction based on the 1960 film, Swiss Family Robinson . The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is an aerial carousel -style ride based on the 1992 film, Aladdin . Frontierland is a romanticized portrayal of the American frontier , particularly elements from
3483-547: Is a dark ride omnimover attraction based on The Little Mermaid ; Be Our Guest Restaurant is a themed restaurant with character dining themed to Beast 's castle in Beauty and the Beast ; Enchanted Tales with Belle, and Ariel's Grotto . Storybook Circus is a subsection of Fantasyland, themed to a traveling circus stopped along a railroad route just outside of Fantasyland Forest. The land's marquee attractions include Dumbo
3612-465: Is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together. Roy O. Disney , October 25, 1971 Magic Kingdom Park opened as
3741-429: Is designed like a wheel with a hub and spoke design. Pathways spoke out from the hub across the 107 acres (43 ha) of the park and lead to these six lands. The Walt Disney World Railroad circles around the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) perimeter of the park. Main Street, U.S.A. is modeled after an idealized early-20th century American town, inspired by Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri . Main Street features
3870-566: Is owned by Roger Penske 's company Penske Corporation , following its 2019 purchase of Hulman & Company and its assets, which included the Speedway, the IndyCar Series , and associated enterprises. Indianapolis businessman Carl G. Fisher first envisioned building the speedway in 1905 after assisting friends racing in France and seeing that Europe held the upper hand in automobile design and craftsmanship. Fisher began thinking of
3999-587: Is still the closest finish in race history. The 500 got a new look in 1996 when it became an Indy Racing League event, formed as a rival to CART. There was another qualifying controversy in 1996 and 1997, arising over the IRL's "25/8 rule" which locked the previous year's top-25 overall points finishers into the Indianapolis race, regardless of their qualifying speed, leaving only eight spots open for entries to qualify on speed alone. The rule effectively locked out
Walt Disney World Speedway - Misplaced Pages Continue
4128-736: Is the Rivers of America , an artificial waterway based on the untamed rivers found across the United States, that flows through Frontierland and Liberty Square. Traversing through the Rivers of America is the Liberty Belle Riverboat , a steam-powered riverboat attraction themed to a 19th-century sternwheeler . Other attractions include the Country Bear Musical Jamboree . Liberty Square is inspired by
4257-627: Is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 and formerly the home of the United States Grand Prix and Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix . It is located six miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis . Constructed in 1909, it is the second purpose-built, banked oval racing circuit after Brooklands and the first to be called a 'speedway'. It is the third-oldest permanent automobile race track in
4386-742: Is used by the Express Line with direct service between the TTC and Magic Kingdom, while the inner track is the Resort Line with additional stops at the Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Polynesian Village resorts. Epcot is also accessible from the TTC on a spur monorail line that was added upon that park's opening in 1982. The hotels in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area are connected to the park by walking paths, ferry boats, or
4515-483: The 1961 race. The Cooper used a smaller (2.7-liter) and less powerful Coventry Climax engine compared to the 4.4-liter Offy engines used by the other 32 cars and was slower on the straights, but many took note of the British car's superior handling through the turns. Brabham qualified 17th and after running as high as third, would ultimately finish ninth after completing all 200 laps. Despite this, many doubters claimed
4644-504: The 2000 IRL season, series officials and Walt Disney World were not able to come to an agreement for a race date for 2001 . IRL officials were dissatisfied with the January date, as it was seen to be too early for most teams to be prepared for the season. There was typically a six-week gap until the second race of the season. Disney officials also were concerned with the impending conflict with Super Bowl XXXV , to be held in Tampa presumably
4773-709: The AAA (as were the Indianapolis 500 races through 1955). 1910 also saw the speedway host the National Aviation Meet, featuring Wilbur and Orville Wright and highlighted by Walter Brookins setting a world record by taking a plane up to 4,938 feet (1,505 m). A change in marketing focus led to only one race per year beginning in 1911. An estimated 80,000 spectators attended the first 500-mile (800 km) race on Memorial Day , May 30, 1911. Forty cars competed with Ray Harroun winning at an average speed of 74.602 miles per hour (120.060 km/h). While all
4902-795: The American Old West , including cowboys , Native Americans and Western saloons . Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a mine train roller coaster featuring a runaway mine train through mine shafts and canyons of the American Southwest . Tiana's Bayou Adventure is a log flume ride inspired by the 2009 film, The Princess and the Frog . Tom Sawyer Island is inspired by the literary characters and stories of Mark Twain 's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , featuring interactive trails and scenic outlooks. Surrounding Tom Sawyer Island
5031-475: The COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there are four "phases" of park closure when Magic Kingdom exceeds capacity, ranging from restricted access for most guests (Phase 1) to full closure for everyone, even cast-members (Phase 4). "Magic Kingdom" was often used as an unofficial nickname for Disneyland before Walt Disney World was built. The official tagline for Disneyland is "The Happiest Place On Earth", while
5160-777: The Epcot parking lot. Race spectators would walk to the nearby Speedway, while all guests to the Magic Kingdom were required to take the monorail or a bus from Epcot to the Transportation and Ticket Center. There, they would transfer to a monorail on the Magic Kingdom loop, a somewhat circuitous trip which resulted in numerous guest complaints. In 1997, the IRL race was shortened by a sudden rainstorm, causing fans to hurry to their cars and resulting in severe traffic gridlock on World Drive and surrounding roads which lasted for several hours. Starting in 1998, race spectators were diverted to park at Epcot, and were taken by shuttle bus to
5289-643: The National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, it is the only such site to be affiliated with automotive racing history. In addition to the Indianapolis 500, the speedway also hosts NASCAR 's Brickyard 400 and Pennzoil 250. From 2000 to 2007, the speedway hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and from 2008 to 2015 the Moto GP . The speedway served as
Walt Disney World Speedway - Misplaced Pages Continue
5418-533: The PeopleMover , and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress , except for Stitch's Alien Encounter Character Greeting! as a meet and greet location. A pair of thrill ride roller coasters are located on the western edge of Tomorrowland: Space Mountain , themed to space exploration through the cosmos; and TRON Lightcycle / Run , based on the digital software world of the Grid from Tron . Magic Kingdom lies more than
5547-561: The Walt Disney World Monorail System . Disney-owned hotels in other resort areas have Disney Transport buses to the Magic Kingdom, but these do not serve the TTC. Instead, they operate from three bus loops directly adjacent to the park's main gate. In 2012, Jon Favreau announced he was planning a film called Magic Kingdom . The film was described as “ Night at the Museum at Disneyland ,” meaning that
5676-740: The banked layout , it solidified his determination to build the speedway. With dozens of car makers and suppliers in Indiana, Fisher proclaimed, "Indianapolis is going to be the world's greatest center of horseless carriage manufacturer, what could be more logical than building the world's greatest racetrack right here?" Fisher began looking around the Indianapolis area for a site to build his track; he rejected two potential sites before finding level farmland, Pressley Farm, totaling 328 acres (133 ha) about 5 miles (8 km) outside Indianapolis. In December 1908, he convinced James A. Allison , Arthur C. Newby , and Frank H. Wheeler to join him in purchasing
5805-560: The 1925 event, Pete DePaolo became the first to average 100 mph (160 km/h) for the race, with a speed of 101.13 mph (162.75 km/h). In July 1926, the neighborhood around the racetrack voted to incorporate itself (along with the track) as the independent town of Speedway, Indiana . In 1926, Fisher and Allison were offered "a fortune" for the speedway site by a local real estate developer. They refused, selling instead to former racing driver (and World War One fighter ace ) Edward V. Rickenbacker in 1927. How much he paid
5934-565: The 1946 race. Since the record 42 cars that started the 1933 edition of the 500, the field size has been set at 33 drivers, with only three exceptions to this rule, the first being 1947, when only 30 cars started due to a strike by certain teams affiliated with the ASPAR drivers, owners and sponsors association. Since then the speedway has continued to grow. Stands have been built and remodeled many times over, suites and museums were added, and many other additions helped bring back Indy's reputation as
6063-498: The 2000 racing season, it was no longer used as a track for major motorsports racing series, but was used by many racing teams from IndyCar to NASCAR as a test venue due to the warmer climate than other tracks around the United States during the off season for racing. However, the track closed permanently on August 9, 2015. AutoWeek magazine and the Orlando Sentinel dubbed the track " The Mickyard " (a portmanteau of
6192-508: The CART series regulars from competing for qualifying spots in the Indy 500. CART responded by holding their own event, the U.S. 500, on the same day as the 1996 Indianapolis 500. While the new qualifying format was not a factor in 1996, it would backfire in 1997 when two drivers who posted qualifying speeds fast enough to make the race were bumped to make room for slower locked-in cars with more 1996-97 championship points. Hemelgarn Racing, who owned
6321-666: The Disney icon Mickey Mouse and Indianapolis Motor Speedway 's nickname, the "Brickyard"). The track was a three-turn tri-oval , designed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief engineer Kevin Forbes, and the location was chosen in September 1994 by Greg Ruse of Buena Vista Construction. The track was situated on a triangular plot of land adjacent to the Magic Kingdom 's parking lot near Disney's Polynesian Resort . Plans for
6450-486: The F1 drivers at the time raced in the 500 in 1952. Five-time world champion Juan Fangio practiced at the speedway in 1958 but ultimately decided against racing there. The 1950s were also the most dangerous era of American racing. Of the 33 drivers to qualify for the 1953 race, nearly half, 16, eventually died in racing accidents. In October 1961, the final remaining brick sections of the track were paved over with asphalt, with
6579-491: The Flying Elephant , an aerial carousel-style ride based on the 1941 film Dumbo ; The Barnstormer , a family roller coaster featuring Goofy as a daredevil stuntman; and Casey Jr. Splash 'n' Soak Station . Originally, Storybook Circus was the location of Mickey's Toontown Fair , which closed permanently on February 11, 2011. Some elements of Mickey's Toontown Fair were demolished, and others were re-themed to fit
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#17327810599236708-496: The Grand Prix road course. Buddy Rice became the first American driver since 1998 to win the race in the rain-shortened 2004 Indianapolis 500 . At the time, Rice drove for the team co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and the Indiana native television talk show host and comedian David Letterman . In 2005, Danica Patrick became the first female driver to lead the race at Indianapolis, after acquiring it for
6837-494: The IRL as Rahal Letterman Racing . Castroneves repeated his Indianapolis 500 win in 2002 despite controversial circumstances involving a late-race caution and a pass made by Tracy, and his teammate de Ferran won in 2003. In 2003, the Indy Lights Series, a minor league series to the IndyCar Series , made history with the first May race at the track since 1910, other than the 500. The Freedom 100 , first held during
6966-488: The IRL full-time for the 2003 season. Michael Andretti, who had left his long-time ride at Newman-Haas Racing because he wanted to run the Indianapolis 500 again (something they were not willing to do), bought a majority interest in CART's Team Green, which returned to Indianapolis in 2002 with Dario Franchitti , Paul Tracy and Michael Andretti, and moved it to the IRL that same year as Andretti Green Racing , and in 2004 former CART champion Bobby Rahal 's operation moved to
7095-464: The IRL schedule permanently. That same year, the IRL added a race at Homestead , in south Florida, and in 2005 added St. Petersburg , near Tampa, both which helped fill the void in Florida. During the off-season in 1997, the track began hosting the Richard Petty Driving Experience, a stock car-based racing organization that allowed the general public to drive real NASCAR machines, or ride along with
7224-531: The Indianapolis 500 after a five-year absence and was joined by Ganassi, Walker Racing and Michael Andretti , driving for Team Kool Green in a separate effort headed by Kim Green, known as "Team Motorola". For the second straight year, an Indy rookie won the race as Hélio Castroneves took the checkered flag. Roger Penske then elected to move his entire operation over to the IRL beginning in 2002, taking Castroneves and teammate Gil de Ferran with him. After fielding one car in 2002, Ganassi Racing followed Penske to
7353-494: The Magic Kingdom exclusive of Liberty Square , rather than the Disneyland New Orleans Square . The Walt Disney Company promised to increase this number with a combination of replicas and unique attractions. While there is no individual dedication to Magic Kingdom, the dedication by Roy O. Disney for the entire resort was placed within its gates. The only land added to the original roster of lands in
7482-410: The Magic Kingdom parking lot and parking entrance. Ultimately a large lake was created on the site in addition to expanded Magic Kingdom parking. Walt Disney World Speedway was constructed on a very limited budget. By design, permanent features of the facility were built at a minimum. The track plans called for only the track surface, retaining wall, and catch fence to be constructed. The remainder of
7611-471: The Speedway while guests to the Magic Kingdom were directed to park, as usual, in the Magic Kingdom parking lot. While this eased many theme park guest complaints, it was now inconvenient for race spectators as it necessitated them to arrive earlier to account for the additional travel time. It additionally resulted in a significant cost increase in race operations, as the Disney Transport bus fleet
7740-596: The TTC. To travel between the TTC and the Magic Kingdom, guests have their choice of taking a ferry boat or the Walt Disney World Monorail System . The three ferries are clad in different trim colors and are named for past Disney executives: the General Joe Potter (blue), the Richard F. Irvine (red) and the Admiral Joe Fowler (green). The main monorail loop has two tracks. The outer track
7869-446: The U.S. government moved to ban all auto racing, primarily on account of rationing. The race would not be held for four years (1942–1945). The track was more or less abandoned during the war and fell into a state of disrepair. Many of the locals conceded that the speedway would be sold after the war and become a housing development. With the end of the war in sight, on November 29, 1944, three-time 500 winner Wilbur Shaw came back to do
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#17327810599237998-413: The circuit, Joe Dawson made up the deficit to win. Three of the next four winners were European, with DePalma being the exception as an American national, though originally Italian born. These races gave Indy a worldwide reputation and international drivers began to enter. The 1916 race was shortened to 120 laps, for a number of reasons including a lack of entries from Europe (there were so few entries that
8127-431: The circus concept. An expanded Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride was built, with an interactive queue, and a second Dumbo ride was built next to it, in order to increase capacity. The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm was re-themed to "The Great Goofini". A big top area was built for meet-and-greets, called Pete's Silly Sideshow . This attraction features Goofy as a stuntman, Daisy Duck as a fortune-teller, Donald Duck as
8256-408: The closing stages, the limits were abandoned, though the use of pump gasoline was still mandatory. By the early 1930s, rising race speeds began to make the track increasingly dangerous, and in the period 1931–1935, there were 15 fatalities. This forced another repavement, with tarmac replacing the bricks in parts of the track. In addition, during the 1935–36 seasons the inside wall was removed in
8385-521: The construction was completed on-time, with final paving completed October 18, 1995. The track was dedicated on November 28, 1995. Indy Racing League drivers Arie Luyendyk , Eddie Cheever , Eliseo Salazar , Lyn St. James and Davey Hamilton drove a five-car "Flying V" formation amongst fireworks. Initial testing at the facility for the Indy Racing League took place November 27–December 9, 1995. The race track hosted its first car race,
8514-412: The corners, the outside wall was realigned (to change the angle compared to the track, reducing the potential for cars to vault over it), hard crash helmets became mandatory, and the first yellow light system was installed around the track. The continuing track dangers during this period, however, did not stop Louis Meyer or Wilbur Shaw from becoming the first two three-time winners, with Shaw also being
8643-481: The crash. Ten laps later, driver Bruce Keen struck a pothole and crashed into a bridge support. The race was then halted and the remaining drivers were given engraved certificates instead of trophies. The race resulted in the AAA boycotting any future events at the speedway until significant improvements were made. Fisher and his partners began looking into the idea of paving the track with bricks or concrete. Paving in 1909
8772-534: The decade included Danny Sullivan , Bobby Rahal , and F1 veteran Emerson Fittipaldi . The 1989 race came down to a final ten-lap, a thrilling duel between Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr. , culminating in Unser crashing in the third turn of the 199th lap after making contact with Fittpaldi's right front tire. The early 1990s witnessed Arie Luyendyk winning in what was then the fastest 500 to date , with an average speed of 185.981 mph (299.307 km/h). That record
8901-495: The decision to run vehicles clockwise (instead of counterclockwise as the track was designed for) may have been a factor in the incident, it was an accident and no charges were filed against the driver since it was on private property. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Former: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a motor racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana , an enclave suburb of Indianapolis , Indiana . It
9030-430: The depression. The rules were indeed changed, but it was due to an effort by the speedway to get more car manufacturers involved in the race by discouraging the entry of specialized racing machines that dominated the 500 during the mid- to late-1920s. The rule changes, in fact, were already being laid out before the market crash. In 1931, Dave Evans performed a remarkable feat when his Cummins Diesel Special completed
9159-543: The development of the Walt Disney World Resort. It features stylistic influences from around the country. Taking its inspiration from New England to Missouri , this design is most noticeable in the four corners in the middle of Main Street, where each of the four corner buildings represents a different architectural style. The second and third stories of all the buildings along Main Street are designed with forced perspective , and are actually shorter than
9288-420: The dissident teams formed their own racing body, Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). USAC responded by barring six of the most famous teams in the sport from qualification (including Roger Penske and Dan Gurney), for "undermining the well-being of USAC". The ruling would sideline former Indy winners Bobby Unser, Al Unser Sr., Gordon Johncock, and Johnny Rutherford. After a court injunction in favor of CART, and
9417-464: The entire 500 miles without a pit stop . It was also the first diesel entrant. In 1933, a record 42 cars started the 500. For 1934, a maximum fuel consumption limit was imposed, 45 US gal (37 imp gal; 170 L). It became 42.5 US gal (35.4 imp gal; 161 L) in 1935 and 37.5 US gal (31.2 imp gal; 142 L) in 1936. When the limits resulted in several top competitors running out of fuel in
9546-570: The exception of a distinct three-foot-wide line of bricks at the start-finish line. The "Brickyard" thus became known for its "Yard of Bricks". After being widely ignored by Formula One drivers when it was an F1 World Championship event, a wave of F1 drivers went to the speedway in the 1960s, and the rear-engine revolution that was started by the Cooper F1 team changed the face of the 500 as well, with 1959 and 1960 world drivers' champion Jack Brabham of Australia qualifying his Cooper in 13th for
9675-531: The expansion of Fantasyland. The Walt Disney World Railroad station in Mickey's Toontown Fair, which opened with Mickey's Birthdayland in 1988, was closed for the duration of the construction. In 2012, the space where Mickey's Toontown Fair sat reopened as a part of Fantasyland, in a sub-section called the Storybook Circus, where an updated Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction was relocated. The Barnstormer
9804-411: The facility, such as seating areas, restrooms, and race support areas would be built on a temporary, as-needed basis. This strategy had never been used on an oval race track, but had been widely successful for years in temporary street circuits (such as Long Beach ). No permanent garages were built on the premises, but this was not entirely unusual. Race teams would simply work out of their transporters,
9933-405: The film would tell a story where all the characters at Disney come to life at night. Marc Abraham and Eric Newman of Strike Entertainment were scheduled to produce the film. Writer-producer Ronald D. Moore had previously written an original script for the project, which the studio eventually declined to use, stating that Favreau and a new screenwriter would develop a new script. In 2021, it
10062-729: The final qualifying weekend, has been moved to "carb day" on the Friday before the 500. From 2005 to 2007, the Indy Lights became the first racing series since 1916 to run at the racecourse twice in one year. The first event being the Freedom 100, held on the oval track as part of the Indianapolis 500 weekend, and the second event, the Liberty Challenge , during the United States Grand Prix weekend, competing on
10191-574: The first back-to-back winner in 1939 and 1940. At the beginning of the 1940s, the track required further improvements. In 1941, about a third of the " Gasoline Alley " garage area burned down before the race. With U.S. involvement in World War II , the 1942 500-mile race was canceled in December 1941. Owner Eddie Rickenbacker said the race would be suspended for the duration of the war. In 1942, AAA Contest Board suspended all auto racing, and
10320-535: The first native of New Zealand to win, in the 2008 Indianapolis 500 . In the 100th anniversary year of the construction of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hélio Castroneves became the sixth three-time winner of the 500 in the 2009 Indianapolis 500 . Danica Patrick also had her best finish ever (third place) in the race, also the best finish ever by a woman in the history of the Indianapolis 500. Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park
10449-399: The first native of Scotland since Jim Clark 's victory in 1965 to win, in the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500 . In mid-February 2008, Champ Car filed for bankruptcy. In late February, an agreement was reached for Champ Car to be merged with the IRL, and the first IRL IndyCar Series season since the unification took place in 2008. Scott Dixon , driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, became
10578-444: The first part of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971, commencing concurrently with Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort . It opened with twenty-three attractions, three unique to the park and twenty replicas of attractions at Disneyland, split into six themed lands, five copies of those at Disneyland ( Main Street, U.S.A. , Adventureland , Frontierland , Fantasyland , and Tomorrowland ) and
10707-401: The first stories. The musical soundtrack played at the entrance includes musical selections from the 1943 Broadway musical Oklahoma! and the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man . The Dapper Dans , a men's a cappella singing group, typically perform throughout Main Street. Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring exotic lands and features several attractions themed to resemble
10836-590: The first three years of operation. The Silver Bullet 50 was a 50-lap, 50-mile (80 km) race for the USAC Silver Crown Series . During its first running, it was held in support to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. For 1999–2000, it was held as a support race to the Indy Racing League event. From 1995 to 2015, the track experienced one fatal accident. On April 12, 2015, driving instructor Gary Terry, 36,
10965-420: The first two of four drivers, to date, to win four times each, while Bobby Unser won the race three times, with Andretti only ever winning the race once, in 1969 . Andretti would go on to race in F1 and win the world championship in 1978 with Team Lotus , who had been the first rear-engine winners at Indy, with Clark, in 1965. From 1970 to 1981, Indianapolis had a twin in the city of Ontario, California , by
11094-518: The following year in his first attempt, eventually becoming the only driver to date to achieve auto racing's " Triple Crown of Motorsport " of winning the Monaco Grand Prix , Indianapolis 500, and Le Mans 24 Hours . There were enough Americans to compete with them, with A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti , and the Unser brothers Bobby and Al leading the charge in the 1960s and 1970s, of whom Foyt and Al Unser would eventually become, respectively,
11223-603: The full 500 mi (800 km) in first place, often breaking down before the end or having to make too many pit stops because of the massive engine's thirst for fuel and the weight that went with the extra fuel. The track's reputation improved so much that the 500-mile race became part of the Formula One World Championship for 11 years (1950–1960), even though none of the Indy drivers raced in Formula One and only Ferrari's Alberto Ascari of
11352-465: The gaps filled with mortar. At the same time, a concrete wall 33 inches (840 mm) tall was constructed in front of the main grandstand and around all four corners to protect spectators. The final "gold" brick (actually gold-plated brass) was laid in a special ceremony by Governor Thomas R. Marshall . Before the work was completed, locals nicknamed the track The Brickyard . Today, 3 feet (0.91 m), or one yard, of original bricks remain exposed at
11481-577: The last races other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held on the grounds for seventy-eight years. Racing was interrupted in 1917–1918 by World War I when the facility served as a military aviation repair and refueling depot, designated the Speedway Aviation Repair Depot, commanded by Captain Patrick Frissell. When racing resumed, speeds quickly increased. In 1921, speedway co-founder Wheeler committed suicide. At
11610-555: The lineup, bringing the field to 35. A crisis was averted for the moment, but USAC's handling of both issues was seen as bungling by some people, and as outright manipulation by others, and that year spelled the beginning of the end for USAC's governance of the Indy Car series. The 1980s brought a new generation of speedsters, led by four-time race winner Rick Mears who also broke the 220 mph (350 km/h) speed mark in qualifying ( 1989 ) and won six pole positions. Other stars of
11739-447: The long run since the grandstand area encompassed a portion of the Magic Kingdom parking lot. That area of the lot would be unusable for nearly three months, including during the busy Christmas and New Year's holiday season at the theme park. Three linked ponds in the track's infield are formed in the shape of Mickey Mouse . The pond, dubbed "Lake Mickey", was built a year after the track opened due to drainage concerns. Initially,
11868-633: The name of the Ontario Motor Speedway . This track was known as the "Indianapolis of the West" and the home of the California 500, but was a financial failure due to poor management and not holding enough races on the racetrack. In the 1977 Indy 500, Janet Guthrie made history when she became the first female driver to qualify for the race. Guthrie started the race from 18th position but retired with timing gear failure after 27 laps. She
11997-463: The other drivers in the race had a riding mechanic in their car, Harroun decided to save weight and go faster by driving solo. So, to be able to see what was happening behind his No. 32 Marmon "Wasp" , he installed a rear-view mirror . It was the first time such a device was used in an automobile. A classic race followed in 1912 , when Ralph DePalma lost a five-lap lead with five laps to go after his car broke down. As DePalma pushed his car around
12126-451: The oval with a street-style course. The fastest official race lap records at Walt Disney World Speedway are listed as: The Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Indy 200 was the first event held at the track. The 1996 running marked the first race conducted by the IRL , and the original intent for the facility. The Chevy Trucks Challenge was a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event held at
12255-569: The park is built on the second story, giving the Magic Kingdom an elevation of 108 feet (33 m). The area around the utilidors was filled in with dirt removed from the Seven Seas Lagoon , which was being constructed at the same time. The utilidors were built in the initial construction and were not extended as the park expanded. The tunnels were intended to be designed into all subsequent Walt Disney World parks but were set aside mostly because of financial constraints. Walt Disney World
12384-422: The park officially became the second Magic Kingdom-style park to serve alcohol at all table service restaurants, after Disneyland Paris in 1993. Early in 2024, a Disney executive confirmed that the park will expand with the addition of a 12-to-14-acre (4.9 to 5.7 ha) land located “beyond Big Thunder .” Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed "lands." The center of the park in front of Cinderella Castle
12513-609: The park since its opening, but this policy has gradually changed. In 2012, the Be Our Guest Restaurant opened selling wine and beer for the first time. This was the only place in the park where alcohol was permitted until December 2014 when four additional restaurants began selling beer and wine including Cinderella's Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony's Town Square Restaurant, and the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen. And finally in 2018,
12642-435: The park was Mickey's Toontown Fair . The land originally opened in 1988 as Mickey's Birthdayland to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 60th birthday. Later the land was renovated as Mickey's Starland and eventually to Mickey's Toontown Fair. The land was home to attractions such as Mickey's Country House , Minnie's Country House, The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm , and Donald's Boat. It closed on February 12, 2011, to make way for
12771-408: The park's " opening credits ", where guests pass under the train station (the opening curtain) at left or right, then view the names of key personnel along the windows of the buildings' upper floors. Many windows bear the name of a fictional business, such as "Seven Summits Expeditions, Frank G. Wells President", with each representing a tribute to significant people connected to the Disney company and
12900-560: The property for $ 72,000. The group incorporated the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company on March 20, 1909, with a capitalization of $ 250,000, with Fisher and James Allison in for $ 75,000 apiece and Frank Wheeler and Arthur Newby on board for $ 50,000 each. Construction of the track started in March 1909. Fisher had to quickly downsize his planned 3-mile (5 km) oval with a 2-mile (3 km) road course to
13029-413: The rear-engine cars were for drivers who liked to be pushed around, though as Brabham said "It started the rear-engined revolution at Indy". A. J. Foyt , who had won his first 500 in 1961, won the 1964 Indianapolis 500 , which was the last ever win for a front-engine car, and since Jim Clark 's win driving the rear-engine Lotus 38 in 1965 , every winner has driven a rear-engine car. Graham Hill won
13158-568: The remaining events. Fisher promised the track would be repaired by the next day and convinced officials that the show should go on. The second day saw 20,000 spectators, no major incidents, and additional speed records broken. On the third day of racing, 35,000 spectators showed up to watch the grand finale 300-mile (480 km) race. At 175 miles (282 km) into the race, the right front tire blew on Charlie Merz 's car. His car mowed down five fence posts and toppled dozens of spectators. Two spectators and his mechanic, Claude Kellum, were killed in
13287-704: The remote landscapes of Africa , Asia , the Middle East , South America , the Caribbean , and the South Pacific . Jungle Cruise is a comedic riverboat cruise attraction that travels along wild waterways from around the world. Pirates of the Caribbean is a dark ride depicting the exploits and plundering of a pirate siege on Caribbean island town featuring several characters from the subsequent eponymous film series . Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
13416-415: The rival CART series begin to cross over to compete at the Indianapolis 500. In the 2000 Indianapolis 500 , multiple CART champion team Chip Ganassi Racing brought their drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Jimmy Vasser to Indianapolis. Montoya qualified second, led 167 laps, and won the race convincingly, becoming the seventh Indy 500 rookie to win the race. The next year , Team Penske made its return to
13545-401: The same weekend. Initial talks planned to move the race date to Labor Day weekend, and ultimately to a new facility to be built near U.S. 192 . The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series had already declined to renew its contract with the Speedway for similar reasons after 1998. The talks quietly ceased between the IRL and Disney, and the race was not scheduled for 2001. It was ultimately removed from
13674-498: The speedway itself entered several cars), a lack of oil, and out of respect for the war in Europe . On September 9, 1916, the speedway hosted a day of short racing events termed the " Harvest Classic ", composed of three races held at 20-, 50-, and 100-mile (32, 80 and 160 km) distances. In the end, Johnny Aitken , in a Peugeot , would win all three events, his final victories at the facility. The Harvest Classic contests were
13803-487: The speedway, who would reopen the racetrack as a public venue. He found Terre Haute businessman Tony Hulman . Meetings were set up and the speedway was purchased on November 14, 1945. Though not officially acknowledged, the purchase price for the speedway was reported by the Indianapolis Star and News to be $ 750,000. Major renovations and repairs were made at a quick pace to the frail speedway, in time for
13932-544: The start-finish line. In December 1909, eleven drivers and a few motorcyclists returned for speed trials. Drivers soon reached speeds of up to 112 mph (180 km/h) on the new surface. Racing returned in 1910, with a total of 66 automobile races held during three holiday weekends ( Memorial Day , Independence Day and Labor Day ). Each weekend featured two or three races of 100 to 200 miles (160 to 320 km), with several shorter contests. Each race stood on its own and earned its own trophy. All races were sanctioned by
14061-523: The tagline for Magic Kingdom is "The Most Magical Place On Earth". Up until the early 1990s, Magic Kingdom was officially known as Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom , and was never printed without the Walt Disney World prefix. This purpose was to differentiate between the park and Disneyland in California. In 1994, to differentiate it from Disneyland, the park was officially renamed Magic Kingdom Park. Alcoholic beverages had been prohibited from
14190-430: The track for practice. The track surface again became a concern with drivers being covered in dirt, oil, and tar and with ruts and chuckholes beginning to form in the turns. Speedway workers oiled and rolled the track prior to the gates opening to the public. Fifteen to twenty thousand spectators showed up, paying at the most $ 1 for a ticket. Halfway through the first 250-mile (400 km) event, race leader Louis Chevrolet
14319-466: The track from 1997 – 1998 . It served as the season opening event of both years. The race was discontinued after 1998 due to the wide gap (10 weeks) it created until the second event of the season. The Formula Ford Walt Disney World Challenge was a 50-lap, 50-mile (80 km) race for the USAC Formula Ford 2000 series . It was held as a support race to the Indy Racing League event for
14448-468: The track location, which was adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot, was seen to be convenient. However, after a couple of years, traffic control on race days became overwhelming. Because race spectators would arrive at the same time and place as regular Magic Kingdom theme park guests, overflow parking was required. In 1996–1997, Disney officials reacted by parking all race spectators in the Magic Kingdom parking lot, and diverting all Magic Kingdom guests to
14577-487: The track were first announced on January 23, 1995. The track was designed to fit within the boundaries of the existing infrastructure, requiring minimal rerouting of existing roads. On June 27, 1995, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George took part in a groundbreaking ceremony. She presented the track with one of the original paving bricks from the famous "Brickyard." In
14706-485: The track, along the backstretch, and four holes in the infield. The site is among the most visited attractions in the Indianapolis metropolitan area , with 1 million guests annually. The track is nicknamed "The Brickyard" (see below), and the venue self-describes as the "Racing Capital of the World". The garage area is known as Gasoline Alley , though Indy 500 racecars have used methanol and currently ethanol. The Speedway
14835-414: The two cars victimized in the scenario, protested to the IRL that the field would not include the 33 fastest cars. After Bump Day was completed, the series elected to add the two bumped cars, driven by Johnny Unser and Lyn St. James, back into the field, bringing the number of starters to 35. This marked the last time the 500's starting field has been larger than 33 drivers. The early 2000s saw drivers from
14964-731: The venue for the opening ceremonies for the 1987 Pan American Games . On the grounds of the speedway is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum , which opened in 1956, and houses the Hall of Fame . The museum moved into its current building located in the infield in 1976. Also on the grounds is the Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort, which originally opened as the Speedway Golf Course in 1929. The golf course has 14 holes outside
15093-779: The world, behind Brooklands and the Milwaukee Mile . With a permanent seating capacity of 257,325, it is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world . The track is a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its construction. It has two 5 ⁄ 8 -mile-long (1,000 m) straightaways, four geometrically identical 1 ⁄ 4 -mile (400 m) turns, connected by two 1 ⁄ 8 -mile (200 m) short straightaways, termed "short chutes", between turns 1 and 2, and between turns 3 and 4. The turns have 9°12' banking, considered relatively flat by American standards. A modern, FIA Grade One infield road course
15222-418: Was built as a larger, improved version of Disneyland in California. Magic Kingdom was built over a series of tunnels called utilidors , a portmanteau of utility and corridor , allowing employees (called "cast members") or VIP guests to move through the park out of sight. Because of Florida's high water table , the tunnels could not be put underground, so they were built at the existing grade, meaning
15351-417: Was built for them also. The operation had previously worked out of trailers and tents, without significant utilities. On November 13, 2008, it was announced that the track would be shared with the Indy Racing Experience, a similar program to RPDE . The IndyCar two-seater machine would be used for fan ride-alongs, and Indy cars would also be available to be driven by fans. After appearing at various tracks on
15480-466: Was completed in 2000, incorporating part of the oval, including the main stretch and the southwest turn, measuring 2.605 mi (4.192 km). In 2008, and again in 2014, the road course layout was modified to accommodate motorcycle racing, as well as to improve competition. Altogether, the current grounds have expanded from an original 320 acres (1.3 km ) on which the speedway was first built to cover an area of over 559 acres (2.3 km ). Placed on
15609-424: Was eventually classified 29th. 1977 also saw A. J. Foyt make history when he became the first driver to win the race four times. 1979 saw the second exception to the 1934 33-driver field rule. By the late 1970s there arose some resistance from certain car owners and drivers as to the direction being taken by USAC , the auto racing sanctioning body that among other things, governed the Indianapolis 500 event. Some of
15738-443: Was fatally injured after a crash during a run as part of the Exotic Driving Experience. Terry was riding in the passenger seat of a Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera , when the driver lost control and crashed into a metal guardrail. Terry died at the scene while the driver, identified as 24-year-old Tavon Watson, was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Florida Highway Patrol investigated and announced that, while
15867-427: Was highly involved in planning the Walt Disney World resort complex and park, coming to Florida in person to survey the land, meeting with local officials and announcing the project to the media. But he died in 1966, before he could see the vision through. After Walt's death, his brother Roy Disney took over the project. Walt Disney Productions began construction on Magic Kingdom and the entire resort in 1967. The park
15996-457: Was not big enough to accommodate the race shuttle operation. As a result, outside bus companies had to be hired to run the race shuttle service. In its first few years of operation, the track was used frequently as a year-round test facility, due to the warm winter weather in Orlando. However, the track suffered three major accidents. During a week of preseason testing, on January 11, 1997, IRL driver Eliseo Salazar crashed in turn one. He suffered
16125-403: Was not eclipsed for almost a quarter of a century until Tony Kanaan won the 2013 race with an average speed of over 187 mph (301 km/h). Rick Mears became the third four-time winner after a late-race duel with Michael Andretti in 1991 , and in 1992 , Al Unser Jr. eked out a hard-fought victory by defeating last-place-starting driver Scott Goodyear by 0.043 of a second, a margin that
16254-484: Was not revealed. Rickenbacker built a golf course in the infield. The next year, Allison died from pneumonia . With the Great Depression hitting the nation, the purse dropped from a winners share of $ 50,000 and a total of $ 98,250 in 1930 to $ 18,000 and $ 54,450, respectively. There is a common misconception the rules were "dumbed down" to what was called the "junkyard formula" to allow more entries during
16383-426: Was retained and was re-themed to The Great Goofini . Since opening day, Magic Kingdom has been closed temporarily because of eight hurricanes: Floyd , Charley , Frances , Jeanne , Wilma , Matthew , Irma , and Ian . The first non-hurricane related day the park has closed is on September 11, 2001, due to the terrorist attacks that day . Walt Disney World was closed from March 15, 2020, to July 11, 2020, due to
16512-438: Was still relatively new with only a few miles of public roads paved, leaving little knowledge of what would work best. Traction tests were conducted on bricks, proving they could hold up. Less than a month after the first car races, the repaving project began. Five Indiana manufacturers supplied 3.2 million 10-pound (4.5 kg) bricks to the track. Each was hand laid over a 2-inch (51 mm) cushion of sand, then leveled and
16641-443: Was temporarily blinded when a stone smashed his goggles. William Bourque , driving in a Knox, suffered a suspected rear-axle failure resulting in his car flipping end over end on the front stretch before crashing into a fence post. Both he and his mechanic, Harry Halcomb, died at the scene. The first day of car racing resulted in four finishes and two land speed records, but concerns over safety led AAA officials to consider canceling
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