The 2008 Indy 500 is just around the corner and Wheldon is already tearing up the practice sessions. In a rain-shortened second day of practice on Wednesday, Wheldon became the first driver this month to break the 226-mph mark at Indy. Wheldon took only seven laps to post a fastest lap of 226.391 mph (39.7543 seconds), which topped his leading time posted on the first practice day.

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the oldest and richest motorsport events in the world, having the largest attendance and onle of the largest radio and television sporting event worldwide! The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909. It has a 2 mile rectangular-shaped track built for testing and racing. Ray Harroun won the first Indy 500 on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911.
Ray Harroun was an American who drove a Marmon "Wasp" outfitted with his invention, the rear-view mirror. 80,200 spectators paid $1 admission to watch history in the making. An annual tradition had been established. Many considered Harroun to be a hazard during the race, as he was the only driver in the race driving without a riding mechanic, who checked the oil pressure and let the driver know when traffic was coming.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 as a testing facility for the local automotive industry. The track was first paved with crushed rock and tar but was soon repaved with brick; hence, the speedway is often called the “Brickyard.” Resurfacing with asphalt has covered all but a 36-inch (91-cm) strip of bricks at the start/finish line. The 2.5-mile (4-km) track has two 3,300-foot (1,000-metre) straightaways, two 660-foot (200-metre) straightaways, and four quarter-mile (400-metre) turns each banked at an angle of about 9 degrees. The speedway is also home to a 400-mile (644-km) stock-car race (August) and a Grand Prix race of Formula One cars.

2008 INDY 500 Results

1. (1) Scott Dixon, 200 laps, 143.567 mph.
2. (8) Vitor Meira, 200.
3. (7) Marco Andretti, 200.
4. (4) Helio Castroneves, 200.
5. (10) Ed Carpenter, 200.
6. (20) Ryan Hunter-Reay, 200.
7. (9) Hideki Mutoh, 200.
8. (17) Buddy Rice, 200.
9. (14) Darren Manning, 200.
10. (12) Townsend Bell, 200.
11. (25) Oriol Servia, 200.
12. (2) Dan Wheldon, 200.
13. (23) Will Power, 200.
14. (18) Davey Hamilton, 200.
15. (29) Enrique Bernoldi, 200.
16. (21) John Andretti, 199.
17. (32) Buddy Lazier, 195.
18. (28) Mario Moraes, 194.
19. (27) Milka Duno, 185.
20. (15) Bruno Junqueira, 184.
21. (31) A.J. Foyt IV, 180.
22. (5) Danica Patrick, 171, accident.
23. (3) Ryan Briscoe, 171, accident.
24. (11) Tomas Scheckter, 156, mechanical.
25. (19) Alex Lloyd, 151, accident.
26. (26) E.J. Viso, 139, mechanical.
27. (16) Justin Wilson, 132, accident.
28. (24) Jeff Simmons, 112, accident.
29. (6) Tony Kanaan, 105, accident.
30. (22) Sarah Fisher, 103, accident.
31. (30) Jaime Camara, 79, accident.
32. (33) Marty Roth, 59, accident.
33. (13) Graham Rahal, 36, accident.

2007 INDY 500 Result