What is the nickname of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

The nickname of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is “The Brickyard.”

The name comes from the track’s original surface. When the speedway opened in 1909, its oval was paved with more than three million bricks instead of asphalt. The brick surface was considered a major improvement over the dusty, uneven roads used by early racers.

Most of the speedway was later covered with asphalt, but a three-foot-wide strip of the original bricks remains at the start-finish line. Drivers cross those bricks every lap, and the feature has become one of the most recognizable traditions in American motorsport.

“The Brickyard” refers specifically to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is sometimes confused with the Indy 500 itself. The track hosts other major events as well, including NASCAR races. Its nickname reflects the speedway’s physical history rather than its oval shape or its role as a racing venue.