In which Indiana town is the Indianapolis 500 held?

The Indianapolis 500 is held in Speedway, Indiana.

The race takes place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a historic racing facility located in the town of Speedway, an enclave surrounded by the larger city of Indianapolis. Although the event’s name refers to Indianapolis, the track is not within the municipal boundaries of Indianapolis itself. Speedway is an independent Indiana town immediately west of the city.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909, and the first Indianapolis 500 was run there in 1911. The circuit’s famous oval is 2.5 miles long, so completing the traditional 200-lap race produces the advertised 500-mile distance. The venue is also nicknamed the “Brickyard,” recalling its original brick racing surface.

The location can cause a predictable quiz mistake: Indianapolis is the metropolitan city and the event’s namesake, while Speedway is the legally correct town. Bloomington, Gary, and Carmel are Indiana cities, but none hosts the Indianapolis 500. The track also hosts other major events, including NASCAR races, yet the Indy 500 remains its signature competition.