Which car won the first Indianapolis 500, held in 1911?

The Marmon Wasp won the first Indianapolis 500, held in 1911. Ray Harroun drove the yellow Marmon to victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30, completing the race in 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 8 seconds.

Harroun’s victory was notable because he used a single-seat design rather than the two-seat configuration used by most competitors. He also fitted the Wasp with a rear-view mirror, reducing the need for a riding mechanic to watch traffic behind the car.

The race covered 500 miles over 200 laps. Harroun averaged about 74.6 mph and finished ahead of Ralph Mulford, although the official result and scoring were debated for many years because of timing and scoring disputes.

The event was originally called the International 500-Mile Sweepstakes. The name “Indianapolis 500” became the familiar short form, and the race later developed into one of the most important events in American automobile racing.