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.

National Dominates Lexington - 1909

The article attached here is a digest of news events for August 10, 1909, and was printed in the Indianapolis News.
IMS Auto Race Entries - 1909

Here find in the attachments below two Indianapolis News articles about the entries for the first auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August 1909.
Indianapolis Police Corral Potential Pickpockets - 1909

This is an interesting article focusing on the threat of pickpockets at the first automobile race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 19, 20, and 22 (no racing on the Sabbath!), 1909. It was originally published in the August 18, 1909, Indianapolis News - the eve of the races at the track.
IMS "Spin" on Track Quality - 1909

The attached Indianapolis News article (download below) on the new, rushed-into-service  Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a curiosity if for no other reason than it discusses track's suitability for upcoming auto races on the very day it was opening for the motorcycle racers of the 
AAA Addresses 1909 IMS Fatalities

In the wake of the disaster that was the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the American Automobile Association (AAA) had to make a public statement and at least appear to be doing something to mitigate future carnage.
Records Melt @ IMS - 1909

The Indianapolis News article in attachment IMSNews082109 below provides colorful detail about the final day of the first weekend of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Death of Colonel Albert Pope

This article concerning the passing bicycling and automotive pioneer Colonel Albert Pope first appeared in the August 11, 1909, Indianapolis News. It was supported by an image found elsewhere on First Super Speedway.
 
Oldfield, Baker & Half Mile Records

Attached are a pair of very brief Indianapolis News articles about mile records set on half-mile tracks in August and September 1909. The article in attachment OldfieldNews082609 reports that Barney Oldfield lowered his own mark on half-mile tracks from 1:14.6 to 1:06.6. He covered the first lap at 33.5 seconds.
Hackensack Meadows Rivals IMS

The August 20, 1909, Indianapolis News article contained in the attachment below is about bold, ambitious plans to build a super speedway to dwarf the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but is perhaps more closely tied to the "good roads" movement of the early 20th Century.

The first competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a national championship gas filled balloon race organized by Speedway President Carl Fisher. Fisher and his co-founders James Allison, Frank Wheeler and Arthur C. Newby were anxious to recover their investments in the Speedway. Since construction of the track did not begin in earnest until April 1909 it took months to prepare the track for motorized competition. Fisher, fascinated with aviation, sought to host the national championship balloon racing competition - and generate revenue for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company. He formed the Aero Club of Indiana, became the 21st person to earn a balloon pilot's license in the United States and worked with mentor George Bumbaugh to develop balloon vehicles. Their craft was called the Indiana and together they survived a harrowing ride through turbulent wind currents. Check out a photo gallery of this great event elsewhere on First Super Speedway.

IMS Championship Balloon Race Winner, University City, Destroyed?

The article the attachment FisherBalloonNews092809 below is from the September 28, 1909, Indianapolis News and reports on plans for the October 4 championship balloon races at the St.