This folder has numerous articles on the inaugural auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These races occurred only days after the Speedway hosted the Federation of American Motorcycles (FAM) race meet. The auto races were a blend of success and tragedy. Most of the major American drivers entered – Barney Oldfield, Ray Harroun, Bob Burman, Tom Kincaid, Lewis Strang, Louis Chevrolet, Jap Clemens, Charlie Merz, Eddie Hearne, Ralph De Palma and Tobin DeHymel among them. With the exception of a Fiat and a Benz, the entries were American, including: Marmon, Marion, Stearns, National, Jackson, Stoddard-Dayton, Buick and Apperson. Tragedy came in the loss of several lives, including Willfred Bourque, who became the first driver to die in a racing accident at the Speedway.

Racing's Safety Issues - 1909

In the early days of racing people struggled with the brutal aspect of the sport. These attached articles probably were largely in response to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's tragic first auto racing event in August 1909.
Jackson Banned - 1909

This article in attachment IMSAAA101209 first appeared in the October 12, 1909 Indianapolis Star and reports on the decision by the contest board of the American Automobile Association (AAA) to ban the Jackson Automobile Company from auto racing until January 1, 1910.
Oldfield "On the War Path" - 1909

The article in attachment Oldfield101009 was originally published October 10, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star.

This is a collection of articles published during the Fall of 1909 concerning the work to pave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with 3.2 million bricks. The great speed facility was tagged with the name, "The Brickyard" before the work was done.

Pavement Choices - 1909

The article in the attachment IMSNews091109 was originally published in the September 11, 1909, Indianapolis Star. This article discusses the Speedway management's considerations for the best way to pave the oval with a durable running surface.
 
Brick Paving Begins

The article in attachment IMSpave091609 originally appeared in the September 16, 1909, Indianapolis Star. It is a significant artifact as it notes the exact day that work began to pave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with bricks. After considering other paving material options Speedway management selected bricks.
 
Brick Paving Underway - 1909

The article in attachment IMSdeath091909 was originally published on September 19, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star. The article is an update on the brick paving work going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that reportedly began September 16.
 
Speedway Transformation - 1909

The brief article in attachment IMSchanges100109 was originally published on October 1, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star. It is an update on the brick paving work going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that reportedly began September 16.
 
Impossible Deadline

The article in attachment IMSpaving100309 discusses the ongoing push to complete the brick paving of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in time for a desired November 1 race. This article was published October 3, 1909, in the Indianapolis Star.
 
On the Olympics & Vitrified Surfaces

The article in attachment IMSplans102409 was originally published on October 24, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star. Almost unfathomable, but Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials still harbored ambitions of holding a race meet on the new Brickyard on November 1.
 
Purpose of the Brickyard

The article in attachment IMSavail102109 was published in the Indianapolis Star on October 21, 1909. The story reads like a public announcement as it declares that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would not only be a facility simply for racing but also a test track for automobile manufacturers. The article forecasts that the Speedway would be open and available for testing by November 1.