2009 Indianapolis 500 Program

No shock, May is a special month for me. This is a special time with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway centennial underway. The printed, magazine-style programs the graphic services team at the Speedway produces are the best in the business, the best, I believe in all sports. This year's program is exceptional with the centennial celebration of the founding of the Speedway in 1909. It's also amazingly affordable at only $12 a pop.
 
I wrote five of the articles in their giant history section on some of the most interesting storylines of the Speedway's earliest days. These are:
 

• A profile of the four founding fathers of the Speedway.
• The first - and tragic - auto races ever held at the Speedway in August 1909.
• The effort to pave the great track with bricks and the subsequent time trials that proved it viability in December 1909.
• A profile of one of the most interesting drivers from the early days: David  Bruce-Brown.
• The harrowing flight of Speedway founder and president Carl Graham Fisher, who competed in the track's first competition, the June 5, 1909 national championship balloon races.

 
Of course there is much more in the program and if you don't read anything else to get prepared to fully enjoy the 2009 edition of the Indianapolis 500, this is the Bible.