The 1916 Indianapolis race was shortened to what distance?

The 1916 Indianapolis race was shortened to 300 miles. It was scheduled for 120 laps of Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval, making it the only Indy 500 run at less than the traditional 500-mile distance.

The event was officially known as the International 300-Mile Sweepstakes. Speedway management deliberately reduced the distance in an effort to create a shorter, more appealing race for spectators. Although the change is often linked to the disruption caused by World War I, the historical explanation is more specific: the shortened format was a promotional decision by the track’s management.

Dario Resta won the 1916 race in a Peugeot, completing the 120 laps in about 3 hours and 34 minutes. The race was held on May 30, as was customary during the event’s early years.

The Indianapolis 500 returned after a wartime interruption, with no races held from 1917 through 1918. The 1919 event was also given a different name, the Liberty Sweepstakes, but it returned to the familiar 500-mile distance. Thus, 1916 stands out as a unique abbreviated edition rather than a new permanent format.