What was the original formal name of the Indianapolis 500 when the race began in 1911?

The Indianapolis 500 originally had the formal name International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race.

The inaugural event was held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, 1911, during the Memorial Day holiday period. The race was created as a major long-distance automobile contest, and its original title emphasized both its international ambitions and its 500-mile distance.

The shorter name “Indianapolis 500” became standard over time. It is also widely called the “Indy 500.” The event’s connection with Memorial Day weekend is traditional, but the race is not itself a federal memorial ceremony or an official part of the holiday.

Ray Harroun won that first running in a Marmon Wasp. The event later became one of the three races in motorsport’s unofficial Triple Crown, alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix, although no official governing body created that designation.